The Zion Canyon Shuttle is Back–But You’ll Need a Ticket
In order to limit crowds and enforce social distancing, Zion will require riders on the park’s shuttle to reserve tickets.
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If you’ve ever been to Zion National Park, you know the main attractions for most visitors, including Angels Landing and the Narrows, lie in a 6-mile stretch of the park. Because of the limited amount of space that’s available for parking within the canyon, Zion National Park began offering a free shuttle in the 1920s. Last year, however, Covid and the resulting social distancing guidelines forced a halt to shuttle operations.
Now, the shuttle is coming back, but with limited capacity and reservations. The park expects to start offering weekend shuttle service on February 13, with daily service returning a month later.
Those who are interested in visiting the park via shuttle can purchase a non-refundable ticket for $1 via Recreation.gov; drivers may ask ticket holders for a photo ID when boarding. Tickets will be available up to two weeks in advance, with purchases opening up at 9 am Mountain. The park will also reserve a portion of those tickets for prior-day reservations and first-come, first-serve pickup.
The tickets are valid for a one-hour block, and holders must enter the area during the time block that their ticket lists in order to avoid crowding.
Visitors who want to bypass the shuttle system entirely might consider riding a bicycle throughout the park. Bicycles are allowed in the same regions of the park where cars are permitted, with the exception of the Zion-Mt. Caramel Tunnel. Updates on the park’s Covid safety profiles are available on its website.