Zion National Park has some of the most famous hikes in the country and with amazing scenic drives and breathtaking overlooks, it is one of the busiest national parks. April is a great time to visit with fewer crowds but you run the risk of trails being closed. Our RV stay at Zion River Resort RV Park & Campground in Virgin, Utah, was perfect to explore local attractions.
Key Takeaways:
- Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is closed to personal vehicles from March to November; free shuttle service is available to stops along the route.
- The crowds were manageable during our April stay, but some trails were closed, including The Narrows
- Dogs are only allowed on the Pa’rus Trail, which starts at the Visitor Center
- Zion River Resort & RV Park is an exceptional RV stay in Virgin, about 15 miles from Zion National Park
Campground Review:
Zion River Resort RV Park & Campground is a wonderful RV stay in Virgin, Utah, 15 miles from Zion National Park. The full-hookup sites were large with grassy areas and fire pits. Amenities include a heated swimming pool and spa, off-leash dog parks, high-speed internet and a camp store. The park is adjacent to the Virgin River, which was running very fast during our visit. Our dogs liked their walks around the park and the off-leash dog park.
What to do:
- Zion National Park
- Start at the Visitor’s Center for maps and updates on trail and road closures
- Walk the dogs on the Pa’rus Trail (3.5 mile out and back) – even in April the trail became very heated during sunny afternoons.
- Take the shuttle bus (dogs not allowed) from the Visitor’s Center to Stop #9, Temple of Sinawava; hike the Riverwalk Trail up to the bottom-up Narrows Trail and back; catch the Shuttle to Stop #7, Weeping Rock Trail; take the Shuttle to Stop #, Grotto, and hike back to Zion Lodge
- Hike the Narrows Trail if open – the water was too high during our visit and the trail was closed – plan ahead for this strenuous hike, go early and rent appropriate gear for the weather
- Hike the Canyon Overlook Trail at sunrise; arrive well before sunrise to find a parking spot; this is a moderate 1-mile round trip with 163 ft. elevation change with beautiful canyon vistas at the top
- Hike to Angels Landing – a strenuous 5.4-mile hike with 1,488 feet elevation change; a permit is required to hike to Angels Landing – one of the most famous and difficult hikes in the park – unfortunately we were not up for this hike.
- Hike Observation Point on the East Mesa Trail; schedule a shuttle from Zion Ponderosa to avoid mud and parking issues; this 7-mile hike with 700 feet elevation change provides expansive views of the canyon, higher than Angels Landing
- Drive the Scenic Byway from Highway 9 through the main entrance to Zion National Park, through the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel to the east entrance; stop at overlooks along the way
- Drive through Zion National Park to Cedar Breaks National Monument; at 10,000 feet, this area was closed during our April visit due to heavy snow; follow the Cedar Breaks Scenic Byway to Cedar City – a picturesque town with a great farmer’s market, shops and restaurants. We enjoyed the dog-friendly IG winery in downtown Cedar City
- Spend some time in the town of Spingdale, Utah, located at the entrance to Zion; explore fun shops, restaurants and museums; sample local beers and good food at the Zion Canyon Brewpub
Tips for Visiting Zion National Park
- Zion is a busy park, plan to arrive at the Visitor’s Center before 9 if you want a place to park and to avoid long lines for the shuttle.
- The Shuttle service is very reliable with buses running every 10 minutes at stops – no dogs on the shuttle.
- The Pa’rus Trail is the only dog-friendly trail in the park; no shade on this trail, go early morning for an easy hike.
- Know your hiking limits; everyone wants to do Angel’s Landing but not everyone can; plan ahead for a permit for this hike.
- The Narrows Hike is another iconic experience; go early morning to avoid crowds and rent proper gear.
- A Spring visit will have fewer people but not all trails will be open; our April visit was great for hiking with manageable crowds but the Narrows Trail was closed due to high water levels.
- Check the park website or visitor’s center for information on toxic cyanobacteria blooms; dogs are very subsceptible to cyanotoxin exposure; warnings were in effect for the Virgin River and park water sources during our visit.
- Plan to do the Canyon Overlook Hike at sunrise – arrive at least 30 mins before sunrise for parking; wear a headlamp.
Zion Riverwalk Trail
Riverwalk Trail
Canyon Overlook Hike
Pa’rus Trail
Pa’rus Trail
Cedar on Pa’rus Trail
Zion Drive
Drive to Bryce Canyon
Canyon Overlook Trail
Canyon Overlook Sunrise
Weeping Rock
Zion Canyon
Chili & Cedar’s Review:
Zion River Resort RV Park & Campground is very nice. We had a grassy area by our site and enjoyed our walks around this large resort. We also liked the dog park. No river walks for us; water was too high and there were lots of snake signs around.
Campground Rating: 4.7 PAWS out of 5 PAWS
We had fun driving through Zion National Park! We also liked the Pa’rus Trail – it was too hot in the afternoon for us, but we enjoyed our morning hikes. We couldn’t go in the water due to bacteria – oh well, that’s just the way it goes. Zion is beautiful!