Zion Shuttle Bus Info
 

Hi all! As discussed (at length : )) in another thread, my family of four is going to be travelling to the Utah NPs in early May. We're going to be spending a few days in Zion National Park and look forward to some great hiking. That said, I've just discovered that using the shuttle bus is MANDATORY in Zion between March 15 and October 25!?! Generally I would say that we like to stick away from shuttle buses, and strongly prefer to see the sights on our own. Given that this is not possible, I'd love some feedback on the shuttle bus experience - how does it work? Is it still enjoyable? Are the shuttle buses only for the Canyon Scenic Drive, or does it mean that we can't drive in the park on our own at all (e.g. to get to some of the hikes)? Given that we're going to be traveling with young kids, it's always handy to have the car closeby to any trailhead, for the purposes of getting whatever may be needed. Any feedback here would be welcome!!!

Thanks,
Jenn

Jenn

No you cannot drive in the main part of the park, unless you are staying at the national park lodge. Even then you are only allowed to drive and park in the lodge lot. No driving anywhere else.

Once you get to Zion you will understand why. It's a narrow canyon that gets millions of visitors every year. Places to park are extremely limited and before the shuttle bus system the natural beauty was being destroyed by traffic car exhaust and illegal parking witch made the canyon h***. It used to be that even once you sat for hours in traffic, there was no place to park at any of the trailheads and traffic couldn't even get by all the cars and RVs parked in both sides do the narrow road. I think you are getting the picture.

The shuttle buses are the best thing that has happened to Zion (and Yosemite) and have literally saved these parks. They are free.

You get on the shuttle at the Visitors Center. Buses run frequently, stop at all the trailheads and points of interest. They do take about 45 minutes to reach the Furthest point in the canyon. The drivers usually give a good talk along the way and are quite helpful.

Everyone can drive through the park on hwy 9 out the east entrance. This is a state highway but it sometimes has delays while large vehicles are escorted through the tunnel because this closes the tunnel down to one lane.

When you get on the shuttle take all your gear and snacks/lunch with you in day packs. Otherwise you have a long way back to the car. There is a snack bar at the lodge and a nice big shady lawn where you can enjoy a nice cream. Sure tastes good after a long hike!

Have a good time!

Good grief. Please excuse all the auto correct mispellings!

Jenn,

I normally feel as you do. Take my car and the convenience.

However, if cars were permitted in Zion during the higher season you'd never be able to drive or park anywhere. The parking areas are extremely small.

It's not a tour bus but a transportation bus. They come by every few minutes.

The only disadvantage would be if you leave some things such as extra water, etc in the car you don't have the car with you.

If you're staying at the lodge you can park there and it's actually in the middle of the park. However, if you're staying outside such as in Springdale then you have to park in the lot near the entrance.

It could be a bit of an inconvenience but otherwise it would be impossible to see the park.

Every 15 to 20 minutes.

Be sure to look at times for first/last bus. The in park shuttle and the Springdale shuttle do not align perfectly.

I hate going in shuttle season. The park is so crowded.

I like the location of cable mountain lodge in Springdale. It is immediately outside the park pedestrian entrance, right where the town shuttle drops you off, so it's convenient to just walk into the park and catch the park shuttle.

I totally agree that the shuttle makes the park more enjoyable and if they did this in Yosemite, it would make it better too.

The shuttle buses are great because as everyone else has mentioned parking was impossible to find on the scenic drive which is the only place the shuttle buses run in the park. The shuttle buses also run in Springdale but they are optional there. You can leave your car parked where your lodging is and ride the shuttle bus to the walk in entrance and you won't have to worry about finding parking in the park. Most days the Visitor Center parking fills before noon. Kids love riding the shuttle bus. One of my favorite reasons to have the shuttle buses is so we can get off at the Zion Lodge do the Emerald Pools hike and then take the Kayenta trail down to the Grotto Area and we don't have to worry that are car was parked back at the Lodge.

There are some down sides like during weekends and holidays the shuttle buses can get full and sometimes you have to stand but most of the time we've found we could get a seat.

There are places to fill your water containers at the Visitor Center, Zion Lodge area and at the Temple of the Sinawava at the end of the shuttle bus stop where the Riverside Walk/Narrows hike begins so you should carry water but you will have places to fill up so you don't have to carry it ALL at once.

I would recommend a back pack for a couple people in your party to carry items like food, sunscreen and drinks.

Most of us are so attached to the car that the shuttles can be a bit off-putting. But they work really well.
Pros:
-They are great for easing the congestion in the park, (which if you come on a spring weekend before the shuttles begin you can still get a sense of how much it helps to have the shuttle),
-the drivers do provide some narrative which is great for an introduction to the park.
-They allow that Grotto to Emerald Pool via the Kayenta trail loop with out having to walk back or have your own shuttle.
-They allow a nice way to ride a bike through the canyon- without all the cars you can ride a bike without interference and it is such a great way to enjoy it. Take a bike on the shuttle to the end of the canyon and ride it back.
-during the busiest times they come every 7 min (not 15-20 as mentioned earlier), it is never a long wait
Cons:
- They only drive 6am-9pm (during the summer, different in spring and fall), so for someone wanting an early start to the Narrows or a late pick up you are out of luck.
-They can get crowded. Toward the end of the day when everyone is heading out for dinner in Springdale they are full and you may wait more than one shuttle to get on.
-You have to take everything with you that you want or think you will need, because it is time consuming and a little annoying to go back and forth to the car. (one good reason for families with young children to stay at the in park lodge as it is much closer and more convenient.)


You will still be able to get to all the trailheads and explore on your own, and on your own time schedule. You will not miss anything you would have been able to see on your own. You will still be able to drive the other roads in the park.

The shuttle is a huge plus with some minor inconveniences and everyone who has been there and used it understands it is one of the best improvements in the park.

The shuttle in Bryce is optional, but encouraged as parking there is also limited at the trailheads and viewpoints.

Google:

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Vaga

Thanks to all of you for your great, detailed responses! I can't believe that I didn't realize sooner that we'd have to take the shuttles! I totally appreciate the sentiment that the shuttle buses make Zion a much better place. That said, I still wish that we didn't have to take them : )

I'm glad we're staying at the Cable Mountain Lodge, which sounds convenient for the shuttle. And I'm hoping that because we're in Zion on a Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday in early May, that the crowds won't be at their worst.

Thanks again!
Jenn

You can drive in to the lodge if you have a reservation to stay in the park, or if you go in the winter when there are no crowds.

After a weeklong stay in Zion a few years ago, my husband and I can still recite some of the recorded commentary from the shuttles. For us, the minor inconvenience they posed was more than compensated for by their environmental friendliness. Plus, we spent a day riding bikes along the park road. That would not have been safe or enjoyable with vehicle traffic. I think they cut down on car traffic in Springdale as well. That has to be a bonus during peak times.

We just got back from our trip. We did Zion & Bryce as an overnight trip from Vegas. We got to Springdale Friday evening about 2 hours before sunset and drove Hwy 9 through the tunnel out to the eastern entrance and back. The next morning we did the shuttle to the end and walked the mile long path to the beginning of the Narrows. Then we took the shuttle back out, got in the car, drove Hwy 9 again to the eastern entrance and onto Bryce, and then back to Vegas that late that evening.
I was blown away by the scenery along Hwy 9 that first night. So amazing. But then the next morning on the shuttle I was much less impressed at the view. It's a completely different look being in the canyon. Not that it was bad, I just liked the other better. We had planned on spending all day using the shuttle and hiking in Zion. But after going up the canyon, we decided to head to Bryce (which was amazing.)
So we were at Zion on a Saturday. Our shuttle in was packed with people standing. Coming back was packed, but everyone had a seat. When we got back to the visitor center, there was a huge line for the shuttle. Conclusion: go early and go during the week if you can.
Also: don't view the shuttle as a sightseeing tour. View the shuttle as a shuttle to get you to the views. Get out at each stop and hike around some.

If they allowed you to drive your car into the park, they'd have to let everyone do it and then you'd hate the experience. You can't have you cake and eat it too.

There are definitely Bryce lovers and Zion lovers and until you actually visit you won't know which one is your favorite. DH and I are the Zion lovers. :)

Utahtea

Three Zion views:
1. From the bottom (roads) looking up. Traditional tourist view
2. From the top, looking down
3. Hiking through the Narrows from Chamberlain Ranch

Of course, I've done # 1.
I have not done # 3, but have from the other end starting at Temple of Sinawava (Riverside) for a a few miles. I have been to the trailhead of # 3, but no further. Need permits - long waiting line.
# 2 Been to Angel's landing and Observation Point. Both are excellent with Observation Point the best especially on 21 June. No trip to Zion is complete without being at one of these view points.


Challenge:
# 1 - There is a petroglyph panel east of the tunnel.
# 2 - An ancient Anasazi storage ruin in an alcove at the west side of the tunnel


Vaga

Vaga

Hi

We stayed in the Park at the Zion Lodge. It really was great with the shuttles. We did do the ranger guided tour which starts at the visitor center and took it to the end and did hiking there and took the shuttle back. The advantage of the guided shuttle was that it did make stops at at least two areas where the regular shuttles do not stop. The advantage of being at the lodge is that there are so many trails that start/edned right there. We did not miss our car at all. The shuttles were very frequent, maybe a 15 minute wait at most. We were also surprised that the 2 story units at the lodge actually had television, nice balconies, and the lodge had really good food.
The really best part of having a car is coming in to see the drive from the south at the Mt Carmel road through the tunnel and the scenery. After that we just parked the car, hiked and shuttled.

Have a wonderful trip.
Mary Ann

So much valuable information -- greatly appreciated! Without a car with us, I just know that we'll have to be far more organized in terms of what stuff we need with us and also regarding what hiking we want to do and in what order... I'm sure this will cause more questions being posed here on fodors : )