Zion National Park

About This Tour

Stand beneath 2,000 to 3,000-foot vertical canyon walls that reveal millions of years of Earth's history. Zion spans 232 square miles where the Virgin River has carved one of the most awe-inspiring landscapes in the American Southwest.

This GPS-triggered audio tour covers all paved roads in Zion, including areas normally accessible only by shuttle. From the main canyon to the high plateaus of Kolob, discover a landscape that has drawn humans for over 8,000 years—from Archaic peoples and Ancestral Puebloans to Southern Paiutes and Mormon settlers who arrived in the 1860s.

This tour functions on the shuttle as well as in your own car. Grab a pair of headphones and take it with you on the shuttle.

Tour Coverage

Zion CanyonMain scenic drive with shuttle access to iconic trailheads

Mt. Carmel Highway1,700-foot climb through a mile-long tunnel carved in living rock

Kolob CanyonsFinger canyons at the western edge of the Colorado Plateau

Kolob Terrace25-mile drive ascending 4,000 feet to Lava Point at 8,000 feet

The tour plays stories anywhere you travel along the orange route. Just download the tour and start driving along the route.

What You'll Learn

• How the Virgin River carved this massive canyon over millions of years
• The story of 8,000+ years of human history in these canyons
• Why the Mt. Carmel Highway tunnel was an engineering marvel
• Where to spot Desert Bighorn sheep on the slickrock
• Tips for hiking Emerald Pools, West Rim Trail, and approaching The Narrows
• How altitude transforms the landscape from desert floor to forested plateau

What's Included

• 423 GPS-triggered story sites covering all park roads
• Offline functionality - no cell service needed
• Coverage of Zion Canyon, Mt. Carmel Highway, Kolob Canyons, and Kolob Terrace
• Shuttle system tips, timing, and stop-by-stop guidance
• Eastern access information for travelers heading to Bryce Canyon
• One-year access to the tour

Know Before You Go

• Free shuttle — A free shuttle operates in Zion Canyon and neighboring Springdale. No permit or reservation is needed to ride. Shuttles are mandatory (no personal cars) to experience Zion Canyon during the high season, approximately Jan–Nov and the Christmas season. Check the NPS shuttle page for exact dates because they are subject to change.
• Open year-round — No reservation or permit is needed to enter the park. Pay the entrance fee upon arrival.
• Angels Landing permit required — A permit is required to hike Angels Landing through the Angels Landing Pilot Permit Program.
• The Narrows — No permit needed from Temple of Sinawava, but high water may prevent travel. Check conditions before heading out.
• Large vehicle restrictions — Oversized vehicles have size limits on the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway. Check park guidelines before driving RVs.
• Your safety is your responsibility — Check current conditions before hiking, especially regarding water levels and weather.
• Contact the park — Call 435-772-3256 (rangers available 10 a.m.–5 p.m. MT) or email zion_park_information@nps.gov.

For more details, visit the National Park Service - Zion Plan Your Visit page.