Zion Canyon is closed to your car for most of the year

Follow paths people have walked for thousands of years. Massive sandstone
cliffs of cream, pink and red soar into a brilliant blue sky, and the tall
stretching walls of a narrow slot canyon close in around you. Zion's array
of plants and animals sits alongside a deep human history.

The two things to plan around

1. You will probably not drive the canyon.

The South Entrance and administrative offices are near **Springdale,
Utah**. That area — Zion Canyon — is where most campsites and the popular
hikes are. It can also be reached through the East Entrance, west of Mt.
Carmel Junction.

Inside the park, Zion Canyon is explored via the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive,
and for most of the year that road is open only to shuttle buses. Board
them at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center. A trip planned around parking at a
trailhead will not work here.

2. The monsoon.

**Zion experiences monsoons from mid-July into September, which bring an
increased risk of flash floods.** In a park whose signature experience is
walking inside a narrow slot canyon, that is not a general weather note — a
slot canyon is the worst place to be in a flash flood, and the storm producing
it can be miles away and out of sight.

Always be aware of the threat of storms and lightning.

The rest of the weather

Zion is known for a wide range of conditions. Temperatures vary with
elevation, and day and night can differ by over 30°F (16°C). In summer
they often exceed 100°F (38°C). Winters are generally mild.

Pack for the range rather than the forecast.

Location: National Park, Utah. Source: U.S. National Park Service.