Accessibility

Shuttle busses provide lifts for wheelchairs and other mobility devices.

NPS Photo

Visitor centers, shuttle buses, restrooms, picnic areas, and Zion Lodge are all accessible. Several campsites are reserved for people with accessibility needs, and three trails offer more accessible hiking opportunities. Service dogs on a leash are permitted throughout the park. Keep reading for details on accessible activities and locations.

Accessible Ranger-Led Activities

Enhance your understanding and enjoyment of Zion National Park by participating in accessible ranger programs. Programs like "Ride with a Ranger" allow visitors with reduced mobility to experience the wonders of Zion Canyon.

Service Animals

Service Animals must always be under the control of their handlers while in the park. This includes trails, shuttles, wilderness areas, and buildings. Service animals are the only animals allowed on shuttle busses.

Wilderness Accessibility

In Wilderness areas, people with disabilities are allowed to use wheelchairs as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act: "a device designed solely for use by a mobility­-impaired person for locomotion, that is suitable for use in an indoor pedestrian area." Learn more about wilderness accessibility here.

 

Duration:

9 minutes, 47 seconds

Learn about wheelchair accessibility and how to plan an accessible visit to Zion National Park.

 

Note: Trail descriptions for the Pa'rus Trail and Riverside Walk have been updated since this video's creation. Visit our Trail Access Information page for updated trail conditions and accessibility details. Manual wheelchairs are not available for loan at any of the Visitor Center locations.

 

Zion Canyon Transportation

During the shuttle season, access into Zion Canyon is by shuttle bus only. All buses are wheelchair accessible. Visit the Zion Canyon Shuttle System page for schedules and information. To learn more about Zion Canyon while riding the shuttle, listen to or read the Shuttle Narration here.

During the shuttle season, use of personal vehicles on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is restricted to the following individuals:

• Those requiring additional vehicle-supported medical devices
• Those unable to ride the shuttle for medical reasons
• Those the shuttle bus cannot accommodate due to weight or size restrictions
  • The shuttle lift has a combined weight limit of 600 lbs and cannot accommodate chairs larger than 45" long or 25" wide.

A special permit for personal vehicle use up-canyon must be obtained from the information desk at Zion Canyon Visitor Center or Zion Human History Museum.

Trail Accessibility

Due to the park's natural terrain, none of Zion's trails are considered ADA accessible by law. The trails listed below are considered wheelchair-friendly at the visitor's own discretion. Wheelchair users may require assistance in some sections. Visit each page for detailed accessibility information:

• The Pa'rus Trail starts at Zion Canyon Visitor Center and follows along the Virgin River.
• Lower Emerald Pool Trail starts near Zion Lodge, giving impressive views of the canyon walls.
• Riverside Walk starts at the Temple of Sinawava and follows the Virgin River towards the Narrows.

Visit our Trail Access Information page for other trail descriptions and accessibility information. You can also explore Zion National Park through our Virtual Hikes.

 

Accessible Facilities

The following locations are accessible during normal hours of operation. Click the tabs below for information on each facility.

Zion Canyon Visitor Center

Located 0.2 miles from the park's South Entrance, this facility is the first stop for most visitors. Reserved parking spaces are available, with paved walkways leading to the building and nearby restrooms. Accessible information desks and sales displays are located inside the building, with accessible unisex restrooms and water fountains just outside. The building is cooled in summer and heated in winter.

Zion Human History Museum

Located 1 mile from the park's South Entrance, the Human History Museum offers accessible exhibits, park films, and sales displays. Reserved parking spaces are available with a ramp leading to the building. The building is cooled in summer, but it is closed in winter.

Zion Nature Center

Located ½ mile from the park's South Entrance, the Nature Center offers accessible exhibits, activities, and Junior Ranger programs. Visitors four and older can become a Zion Junior Ranger here! Reserved parking spaces are available with a ramp leading to the front door. The building is cooled in summer, but it is closed in winter.

Zion Lodge

Zion Lodge is located in the heart of Zion Canyon. The snack bar, dining room, gift shop, auditorium, and restrooms are all accessible. Four hotel rooms are accessible. A wheelchair is also available for loan. Contact the Zion Lodge for more information.

During the shuttle season, access to Zion Lodge is only available via the Zion Canyon Shuttle System. Only visitors with reservations can drive to the lodge during the shuttle season. Outside of the shuttle season, visitors can drive to the lodge in personal vehicles. Accessible parking is available with a ramp leading to the building.

Kolob Canyons Visitor Center

Located in the Kolob Canyons district of Zion National Park, this visitor center is a gateway to scenic viewpoints and crimson sandstone canyons. Reserved parking spaces are available with accessible walkways leading to the building. Accessible information desks, restrooms, and sales displays are found here.

 

Accessible Restrooms

There are accessible restrooms throughout the park, typically near trailheads and visitor centers. Accessibility varies by location — click the tabs below for a summary of each area.

Zion Canyon

Zion Canyon is home to many popular destinations, such as Angels Landing and Riverside Walk. This canyon is also where shuttles run during the summer season. Accessible restrooms can be found at the following locations:

1. Zion Canyon Visitor Center (Shuttle Stop 1)
   • Restrooms are located in the visitor center plaza, just across from the park store.
2. Zion Human History Museum (Shuttle Stop 2)
   • Restrooms can be found on the south end of the parking lot, near the shuttle stop.
3. Zion Nature Center
   • Restrooms are available during normal hours of operation.
4. Zion Lodge (Shuttle Stop 5)
   • Restrooms are located next to the shuttle stop and inside the lodge.
5. The Grotto (Shuttle Stop 6)
   • Restrooms are located next to the shuttle stop.
6. Weeping Rock (Shuttle Stop 7)
   • Accessible vault toilets can be found in a small building next to the parking lot.
7. Temple of Sinawava (Shuttle Stop 9)
   • An accessible portable toilet (porta-potty) can be found in the parking lot area.
   • Flush toilets are temporarily closed at this location.

All listed locations have accessible parking and ramps/paths connecting to each restroom. Remember that personal vehicles cannot drive on the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive during the shuttle season. Talk to a ranger at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center if you are unable to ride the park shuttle.

East Side (along Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway)

The park's east side offers two vault toilet buildings with accessible stalls. However, due to the natural terrain, there is often no designated accessible parking. For both of these locations, wheelchair access may be possible with assistance:

1. Canyon Overlook Trailhead has accessible restroom stalls, but accessible parking is only available at the lower parking lot, roughly 100 yards away.
2. A pullout halfway between the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel and East Entrance (sometimes called the "Many Pools" Trailhead) has accessible restroom stalls, but no designated accessible parking.

Kolob Terrace Road

Kolob Terrace Road is located roughly 40 minutes from Zion Canyon. This area offers vault toilets with accessible stalls, but due to the natural terrain, there is often no designated accessible parking. For all of these locations, wheelchair access may be possible with assistance:

1. Left Fork Trailhead has accessible restroom stalls, but there is no designated accessible parking.
2. Hop Valley Trailhead has accessible restroom stalls, but there is no designated accessible parking.
3. Wildcat Canyon Trailhead has accessible restroom stalls, but there is no designated accessible parking.

Kolob Canyons

Kolob Canyons is located in the northwest corner of Zion National Park. This area features multiple accessible restrooms. All listed locations have accessible parking and ramps/paths connecting to each restroom:

1. Kolob Canyons Visitor Center
   • Restrooms are located at the visitor center building.
2. Taylor Creek Trailhead
   • Accessible vault toilets can be found next to the accessible parking spaces.
3. South Fork Picnic Area
   • Accessible vault toilets are located next to the accessible parking spaces.
4. Timber Creek Overlook Trailhead
   • Accessible vault toilets can be found next to the accessible parking spaces.

 

Campgrounds & Picnic Areas

Accessibility varies at each campground and picnic area. Click the tabs below for details on each location/area.

Watchman Campground

Watchman Campground has seven standard accessible sites and two accessible group sites, all of which have easy access to accessible restrooms.

Fire grills are elevated, and picnic tables are extended. An asphalt trail leads to the Watchman Amphitheater, which offers accessible seating on the top row. Six restrooms are wheelchair accessible, though some restrooms have gravel pathways. Pavement in some sites is broken and can make wheelchair use difficult.

The road access route to the Visitor Center and Shuttle Stop has grades of up to 5% for 30-foot stretches, but has trench drain covers across sections of road with openings wider than 1 inch in certain locations. An alternate concrete and asphalt-paved pathway adjacent to the amphitheater through the river entrance plaza has slopes of up to 18% for 5-foot stretches and slopes up to 8% for 39-foot stretches.

In Loop B, a connector to the Pa'rus Trail can be traversed by wheelchairs with assistance. The Pa'rus Trail is a scenic, paved trail which starts at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center and follows along the Virgin River.

For more accessibility information, visit the Watchman Campground page.

South Campground

South Campground is currently closed for renovation. This renovation aims to improve infrastructure and accessibility within the campground.

South Campground has nine planned ADA accessible sites. New accessible restroom buildings are also being built. Accessible campsites will connect to these restrooms via paved pathways.

The Pa'rus Trail, a paved trail which connects to the campground, can be traversed by wheelchairs with assistance. This trail follows the Virgin River and connects to the Zion Canyon Visitor Center as well.

For more accessibility information, visit the South Campground page.

Lava Point Campground

Lava Point Campground is located high up the Kolob Terrace Road, about 80 minutes from the South Entrance of Zion Canyon. Due to the natural landscape and typical weather conditions, Lava Point Campground does not have accessible campsites. There are 6 primitive campsites available for reservation.

Vehicles over 19 feet in length are also not allowed. This campground only allows tent camping. 

Picnic Areas

Designated picnic areas are mostly accessible in Zion National Park. There are four designated picnic areas:

1. Zion Canyon Visitor Center Picnic Area
   • Located on the outer edge of the visitor center parking lot. Picnic sites are level with compacted gravel surfaces. Most tables are extended. An accessible unisex restroom is available in the visitor center plaza.
2. South Campground Picnic Area
   • Currently closed for renovation. Accessible surfaces and extended picnic tables are planned.
3. Grotto Picnic Area
   • Located at the Grotto, accessible only by shuttle bus during the shuttle season. Outside of the shuttle season, reserved parking spaces are available. Picnic grounds are level with compacted gravel surfacing. An accessible unisex restroom is located next to the shuttle stop.
4. South Fork Picnic Area
   • Located 3 miles up the Kolob Canyons Scenic Drive. Accessible parking is available, with an accessible restroom nearby. The picnic area is level with compacted gravel surfacing and extended tables.

 

 

Large Print Park Brochure

Download the large print Zion National Park brochure, which features enlarged text and images.

Elevations

Park elevations range between 3,666 to 8,726 feet (or 1,112 to 2,660 meters). Below are approximate elevations for some common locations:

• Zion Canyon Visitor Center: 4,000 ft (1,219 m)
• Zion Lodge: 4,300 ft (1,311 m)
• Temple of Sinawava: 4,500 ft (1,372 m)
• East Entrance/Checkerboard Mesa Viewpoint: 5,700 ft (1,737 m)
• Kolob Canyons Visitor Center: 5,200 ft (1,585 m)
• Kolob Canyons Picnic Area: 6,200 (1,900 m)