Planning a visit to Zion in 2023? There’s a lot to see in the park in the New Year! From the new permit system for Angels Landing to the growing popularity of e-bike rentals, like those you’ll find at Greater Zion E-Bikes, there’s a lot to experience.
If you’re ready to start planning your next visit to the park, keep reading. We’re bringing you five things to do in Zion National Park in 2023.
1. Visit Kolob Canyons
Zion National Park covers almost 150,000 acres. Despite this, many visitors to the park see only a small portion of it. The park’s most popular features, like Angels Landing, the Narrows, the Zion Lodge, and the Visitor Center, are located in Zion Canyon. As a result, this 15-mile long canyon sees much of the park’s daily traffic.
The high number of visitors to the Lower Canyon, as well as a lack of parking and narrow roads, even prompted the park service to launch its shuttle service in the year 2000. But there’s plenty to see outside of Zion’s Lower Canyon as well.
Kolob Canyons is a section of Zion National Park that isn’t connected to the Lower and Upper Canyons. It’s located about 40 miles north of Zion Canyon. Here you’ll find a five-mile scenic drive that will take you through beautiful crimson canyons, with stunning overlooks, towering cliffs, plenty of hiking trails, and even some unique rock formations, including a natural arch.
Because Kolob Canyons is separate from the rest of the park and isn’t home to the more popular destinations found in the Lower Canyon, it sees far fewer crowds. This makes it a great choice for busy times of year when the rest of the park is busier. If you’ve never had a chance to visit this often-overlooked section of the park, make sure to see it during your next visit.
2. Hike Angels Landing
On the opposite end of the spectrum in terms of crowds is Angels Landing. But even though this trail has earned a reputation for being very busy in recent years, it’s still well worth the hype.
Angels Landing is a five-mile, challenging trail with over 1,500 feet of elevation change. The park has a few famous features, including the difficult Walter’s Wiggles, a series of steep, narrow switchbacks, and the final section of the trail before you begin your hike back, which has hikers traversing a narrow ridgeline with only a chain handrail between you and 1,000-foot drop-offs. But if you’re up for the challenge, you’ll be rewarded with the best view of Zion.
To help reduce crowding on the trails, the National Park Service began requiring permits to hike Angels Landing in early 2022. You’ll need to enter one or both of the two available lotteries to get your own reservation for this hike, so plan ahead if you want to hike Angels Landing during your visit.
3. Rent a Zion E-Bike
Looking for the best things to do in Zion National Park in 2023? A Zion e-bike rental should definitely be on your list! Zion e-bike rentals are the most exciting, easiest way to get around the park, particularly during busy times of the year. You can use your e-bike rental to skip the shuttle bus lines and ride from one trailhead or overlook to the next.
If you think that you need experience to rent an e-bike during your visit, think again. If you can ride a bike, you can ride an e-bike! At Greater Zion E-Bikes, we provide you with a brief but thorough orientation to get you started. We also provide helmets, bike locks, water bottle holders, phone mounts, and storage baskets to help make your ride safe and enjoyable. For those traveling with little ones, you can also add a Thule Yepp Child Seat or Passenger Package to your rental.
Use your Zion e-bike rental to cruise along any roads in the park, and on the beautiful Pa’rus Trail.
4. Visit the Park at Night
Most of Zion National Park’s daily visitors leave by mid to late afternoon. This can make the evenings a great time to experience popular trails and overlooks. But make sure to head back into the park after dark at least once during your visit!
Zion is a certified International Dark Sky Park. This certification, from the International Dark-Sky Association, recognizes the park’s efforts to minimize light pollution. This, coupled with the park’s remote location away from major cities, makes it an incredible spot to do some stargazing.
5. Visit During the Off-Season
Most of Zion’s more than five million annual visitors make their way to the park during the summer months. If you’ve only ever visited this time of year, make 2023 the year that you try something new!
Winter is one of the best times of year to visit Zion. Crowds are usually non-existent, temperatures are cooler, and the park and surrounding area experience mild weather this time of year.
The Best Things to Do in Zion National Park in 2023
If you’re looking for the best things to do in Zion National Park in 2023, this list is a great place to start. From a Zion e-bike rental to hiking Angels Landing, these are a few must-dos for your next visit.
Ready to start planning your own Zion e-bike adventure with Greater Zion E-Bikes? Reserve your rental today!