Springdale Trip Overview
Explore Zion National Park with a self-guided audio tour! Zion’s raw landscape has it all: staggering mountain peaks, stunning natural pools and gorgeous vistas. See it all while driving, biking or taking the park shuttle. This GPS-enabled audio tour follows along and tells you what you’re seeing. You’ll see and learn about world-famous sights like Angel’s Landing and the Zion Narrows. Use this tour to experience Zion via car, bike or shuttle.
If driving, purchase one tour per car, not per person. If shuttling, one per person. Check the park’s website for driving permissions.
Within 30 min, we’ll send you two things: a unique password and an app. Download app onto your phone, enter password & download tour. Begin at the Springdale Visitor Center. Follow route & speed limit for the best experience.
BECAUSE OF THE POOR SIGNAL AT THE PARK, USE OFFLINE MODE WHEN TOURING.
THIS IS NOT AN ENTRANCE TICKET. CHECK OPENING HOURS AND PANDEMIC RULES BEFORE YOUR VISIT.
Additional Info
Duration: 2 to 3 hours
Starts: Springdale, United States
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Springdale Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Springdale, Utah, United States
Explore Zion National Park with a self-guided audio tour! Zion’s raw landscape has it all: staggering mountain peaks, stunning natural pools and gorgeous vistas. See it all while driving, biking or taking the park shuttle. This GPS-enabled audio tour follows along and tells you what you’re seeing. You’ll see and learn about world-famous sights like Angel’s Landing and the Zion Narrows. Use this tour to experience Zion via car, bike or shuttle.
If driving, purchase one tour per car, not per person. If shuttling, one per person. Check the park’s website for driving permissions.
Within 30 min, we’ll send you two things: a unique password and an app. Download app onto your phone, enter password & download tour. Begin at the Springdale Visitor Center. Follow route & speed limit for the best experience.
BECAUSE OF THE POOR SIGNAL AT THE PARK, USE OFFLINE MODE WHEN TOURING.
THIS IS NOT AN ENTRANCE TICKET. CHECK OPENING HOURS AND PANDEMIC RULES BEFORE YOUR VISIT.
Stop At: Zion National Park, Zion National Park, Utah
Zion National Park is a southwest Utah nature preserve distinguished by Zion Canyon’s steep red cliffs. Zion Canyon Scenic Drive cuts through its main section, leading to forest trails along the Virgin River. The river flows to the Emerald Pools, which have waterfalls and a hanging garden. Also along the river, partly through deep chasms, is Zion Narrows wading hike.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Springdale Visitor Center, 1101 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale, UT 84767-7762
Welcome to Zion National Park! This raw landscape has it all: staggering mountain peaks, stunning natural pools, and gorgeous vistas. We’ll explore it all today.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Zion Canyon Visitor Center, 118 Lion Blvd, Springdale, UT 84767-7724
Continue straight. Just before the bridge, you’ll see a path on the left. That’s the start of the Pa’rus Trail. And just after the bridge is another path — the Watchman Trail. Both are popular hikes with great views at the end.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Zion Human History Museum, 1 Zion Park Blvd Zion National Park, Springdale, UT 84767-9402
While we don’t know too much about those Ice Age hunters, newer residents left their stories behind. Around 300 BCE, people started settling down here and farming. They grew squash and corn, and gradually learned how to better cultivate the land and survive the unforgiving climate. One group, the Fremont, cultivated a drought- and cold-resistant species of corn which could thrive even at high altitudes.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Canyon Junction Bridge, Zion – Mount Carmel Hwy Hurricane, Hurricane, UT 84737, USA
We’re almost at Canyon Junction Bridge. There’s a lot going on there:
First, it’s a great sunset spot. Be sure to come back here later.
Second, there are great views of the Watchman and other mountains. If you find parking, take it and listen to the Learn More stories about the peaks.
Third, this is where the road splits:
Turn left if you want to drive along the Scenic Road and visit the Narrows, Angel’s Landing, or the Emerald Pools.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Court of the Patriarchs, Zion Canyon Scenic Dr., Zion National Park, UT 84767
Whew, what a view! Those three mountains are the iconic Court of the Patriarchs. And who are these patriarchs?
Well, a local Christian minister named them after three figures from the Bible: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, from left to right.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Zion National Park Lodge, 1 Zion lodge, Springdale, UT 84767, USA
The park service works hard to keep this place as natural and untouched as possible… while simultaneously handling over 4 million visitors each year. But that wasn’t the case in the early 1900s. No one knew about this place and that meant no revenue… and that meant… development.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Emerald Pools, Zion National Park, UT
First, bring lots of water! You may think you’ve got enough… but you probably don’t. This might seem obvious, but Utah’s heat is unforgiving, and heat-stroke or sun-stroke can easily ruin a fun vacation.
Second, make sure you don’t overtax yourself! Hiking around here is going to be more difficult than you might be used to, thanks to the elevation. Be sure you don’t embark on journeys you’re not certain you’ll be able to finish.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Angel’s Landing, West Rim Trail, Zion National Park, UT
This park has a ton of great trails, but Angel’s Landing stands in a league of its own. Those who complete the hike describe it as a breathtaking experience like no other, offering impossible views and a major adrenaline rush.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: The Grotto Picnic Area, Springdale, UT 84767, USA
his spot offers picnic tables, restrooms, and fire grates. But the surrounding trails are the main attraction!
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Weeping Rock Trail, 1 Zion Park Blvd., Zion National Park, UT
A continuous stream of water trickles down its face from a stream far above
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Big Bend Viewpoint, Springdale, UT 84767, USA
As we round the Big Bend of the Virgin River, we’ll approach the last viewpoint on this drive. Stop there for magnificent views of the Great White Throne and the towering peak of Angel’s Landing.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Temple of Sinawava Trail, Zion Canyon Temple of Sinawava Shuttle Station, Zion National Park, UT
To see the Narrows, you’ll want to follow the paved Riverwalk all the way to the end. It’s a flat, easy walk, full of beautiful greenery and towering natural skyscrapers. But before you set off, let’s talk about the Temple of Sinawava.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: The East Temple, Utah 84737, USA
That towering summit ahead is the East Temple, standing at 1,700 feet. Notice how the cliff isn’t all one color? You’ve probably seen this on the other rock faces as well. That’s because these cliffs are actually made of rock from a bunch of different eras in the earth’s history.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Zion scenic drive viewpoint 2, Apple Valley, UT 84737, USA
At the next hairpin turn, you’ll see a pull off. If there’s room, stop there for some incredible views. While stopped, click on Learn More to hear why the Mormons called this place Zion.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: The Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel, Zion – Mount Carmel Hwy, Hurricane, UT 84737, USA
Make sure to turn on those headlights — because the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel is just ahead! Once inside, you might be tempted to stop and take photos, but you’ll have to resist the urge: stopping is strictly prohibited.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Canyon Overlook Trail, Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel East Entrance, Zion National Park, UT
The Canyon Overlook Trail is one of East Zion’s finest — even though it’s short and easy. Why? Simple — the spectacular views from the top.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Altar of Sacrifice, Utah 84737, USA
If you look closely at the Altar of Sacrifice, you’ll notice that it’s got streaks of rusty red running down the sides. Early Mormon pioneers saw this and thought it looked like blood spilling from a sacrificial altar. Of course, there’s a much less gruesome explanation.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Checkerboard Mesa, Zion-Mount Carmel Hwy. 1 mi west of the East Entrance, Zion National Park, UT
Look at that mesa rising into the sky. Notice anything peculiar? As you get closer, you should be able to make out a strange grid of criss-crossed lines all over it. It looks a bit like a checkerboard, which is how it gets the name Checkerboard Mesa!
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: East Entrance Ranger Station, Orderville, UT 84758, USA
We’re at the East Ranger Station, which means we’ve reached the end of our tour. I hope you’ve enjoyed learning about the formation of this majestic place and all the people who’ve lived here over the millennia. If you’re planning to visit other parks in the southwest, such as Bryce, Arches, or Monument Valley, be sure to check out my other tours.
Duration: 10 minutes
