If you're planning on visiting Zion National Park, here's 5 things you NEED to know before you go!
1. It's Hot
Zion National Park is a desert, but not the sandy-dunes variety like you'd see in the Sahara. It is towering peaks of red and cream sandstone and it is so fucking hot. Especially right now, as we're under an excessive heat warning, reaching temperatures that rival and are likely to surpass previous record highs! And I'm not talking in 90°F/29°C, I'm talking about it being 110°F/43°C, or higher every day. If, for some reason, you still want to go hike Angel's Landing or something, TAKE WATER. A LOT OF WATER. AND DON'T BE PICKY. Or, perhaps, don't go hiking. Either one.
2. Drink Water In Excess
Drink water if you're thirsty. Drink water if you're hot. Drink water when you're not thirsty. Drink water if you're not hot. Please, for the love of all that is good and holy, DRINK. WATER. The thing that will save you above all is making sure you drink enough! In a desert, where the air feels like an oven, hot and dry, there is no such thing as drinking too much water. Many visitors make the mistake of taking nothing more than two or three 12 oz waterbottles with them on hikes, which is not nearly enough. People have been sent to the hospital almost daily from heat stroke and heat exhaustion, and people can easily die from the heat. The best way to combat it is to not go outside at all when it's over a hundred degrees dumbass drink, drink, drink!
3. It is crowded.
Gone are the days where Zion National Park was considered a small stop on the side of the road that few had heard of, if any. Gone are the days of skipping into the park and hopping on the shuttle to enjoy some peace and quiet up the Scenic Canyon. Zion is not quiet anymore, alas. When you come to Zion, you will be sharing the park with, no exaggeration here, 10,000 of your closest friends, at least. The plaza out and around the Zion visitor center resembles the streets of Disneyworld more and more every day. Be considerate, and be patient with those around you and especially those working in and for the park. Speaking of which...
4. Bring A Mask
As much as the news cycle and government and various other idiots would like to believe and convince you, the pandemic is not over, and numbers of deaths and reported cases are skyrocketing, especially in Utah. Masks are no longer required by the government on federal ground, but I, personally, exhort you to wear them in public again and practice social distancing whenever possible. They also are required in order to ride the shuttle bus, and the visitor center and rangers only have so many that they can give out. Please, be considerate of your fellow man and wear a mask.
5. Shuttle System
In Zion National Park, there is the free Zion Canyon Shuttle Service, that will take you up the Scenic Canyon. The Scenic Canyon is home to many of the hikes you likely know of already: Angel's Landing, The Narrows, Emerald Pools, etc. You do not need to purchase a ticket to ride the shuttle, you only need to wait in line. But, masks are required to ride the shuttle, whether or not you have been vaccinated. The first shuttle up the canyon leaves at 6am, and the last one to take people into the canyon leaves at 5pm. After that, it will only run to bring people out of the canyon.
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So there you go! 5 very important, bare-necessity things you need to know before you arrive at Zion National Park! If you have any further questions, please feel free to DM me or send an ask! Stay safe, drink water, and happy hiking!
-Tortoise
