The Zion Lodge is the only sleeping accommodation and food services location inside Zion National Park.Relax and unwind at Castle Dome Cafe, or enjoy the taco buffet at Red Rock Grill Dining Room!
Exploring National Parks is a passion of mine, and I have written several posts about our adventures in the Parks. On this outing, our family had been exploring Zion National Park, and we decided to spend some time at the historic Zion Park Lodge.
The stunning scenery of Zion National Park will leave you breathless. The word Zion means ‘Place of refuge’, loosely translated, and it most certainly is that. Steep cliffs frame red sandstone canyons, making for an adventure lovers’ dream destination. I wrote up a full report on our exploration of Zion Park, and you can check that out here. I felt, though, that the Zion Park Lodge, tucked in among the soaring canyon walls, was worthy of its very own article.
The original Zion Lodge was built in 1924 but it was destroyed by a fire in 1966 and rebuilt soon after. The current lodge was remodeled in 1990 to restore the original design.
A Guide to Zion Lodge
Although we chose not to stay at the Zion Lodge, we thoroughly enjoyed exploring it! The lodge – and the surrounding area – offered tons of interesting activities. Here are the positives (along with a few possible negatives) so you can decide for yourself on staying inside the park or not.
At a Glance: What We Loved About the Zion Park Lodge
The main benefits of staying inside the park include:
- Parking privileges extend past Canyon Junction (stop #3).
- You won’t need to wake up super early to catch the Zion shuttle, which fills up quickly in the summer.
- The hotel is situated in a beautiful setting, offering limitless adventure options just steps from the lodge.
- Choose from cabins, hotel rooms, or suites.
- Great activities such as horseback riding are conveniently located near the lodge.
Possible downside:
- The options for food and amenities are fairly limited at Zion Park Lodge compared to lodging at Yosemite National Park.
Getting There: Follow Zion Canyon Scenic Drive
Zion Park is located in the southwest corner of Utah, just a few hours from Las Vegas. Driving into the park from any of its several entrances feels like stepping back in time to a wild expanse of untamed nature. Once inside the park, the lodge is situated at stop #5.
During the busiest times of the year, it’s important to note that private vehicles are not permitted in the park unless you have lodge reservations. All other visitors must use the Free Springdale/Zion Park shuttle and the free Zion Canyon Shuttle to access the park.
Park Shuttles: Free and Easy to Navigate
From spring to fall, visitors must use the park’s shuttle system. The Zion Shuttle is straightforward to use, runs frequently, and is free. You can board or disembark at any shuttle stop. The park’s numerous campgrounds, such as Watchman Campground, Lava Point Campground, and South Campground, are also accessible by shuttle for tent campers. However, please note that seating on the shuttle is on a first-come, first-served basis.
During peak season, the shuttle buses can fill up quickly, which may restrict access to the park. Additionally, there is a separate shuttle service between the nearby town of Springdale and the park. In most quieter winter periods, visitors are allowed to drive their vehicles to various spots within the park.
Limitless Adventure Right From the Lodge
Once you’re settled into Zion Park Lodge, adventure awaits. Choose from dozens of walks or hikes such as Riverside Walk, Weeping Rock Walk, Kanab Canyons excursions, and more. The Zion Canyon Visitor Center stocks maps of the most popular hikes.
The Historic Lodge sees many park visitors, not just guests at the lodge. The dining options draw in campsite patrons and day visitors to the park. Because of the close proximity of both Las Vegas and Salt Lake City, Zion National Park sees plenty of day visitors.
Historic – But Modernized
The original Zion Lodge was built in 1924 but it was destroyed by a fire in 1966 and rebuilt soon after. The current lodge was remodeled in 1990 to restore the original design.
Room options include historical cabins or newer hotel rooms and suites. The Zion Park Lodge is open year-round, and Christmas can be very busy. The best time to visit is early spring or fall. The lodge also has fun board games to play after your excursions.
Inside the lodge, there’s the Castle Dome Cafe for quick bites and Red Rock Grill. We tried both and the food was quite good. During lunch the Red Rock Grill had a la carte menu or taco buffet.
There is a well-stocked gift shop with lots of souvenir options.
You can refill your water/Camelbak for free at the bottle filling station. The filling stations are also available at stop #1 Visitor Center and #9 Temple of Sinawava.
Enjoy Local Craft Beer on the Lodge Patio
Optionally, you can also fill up with a local handcrafted ale from Zion Brewery. Sipping an icy tap beer while soaking up the scenery would be a great way to finish a day of adventure.
Besides lodging and food, you can also rent bikes and take horseback riding tours at Zion Lodge. Our children had never ridden horses before (aside from a pony in a petting zoo), so they wanted to give it a try. And why not?
Zion Canyon Horseback Rides
You can check out the ride details at Canyon Rides‘ site. We did the one-hour trip, and the minimum age to ride is 7. Riders must be 10 for a three-hour trip.
The 1-hour ride takes you from Zion Lodge to the Court of the Patriarchs along the Sand Beach Trail and back. The tour guides were very friendly and knew exactly what they were doing. So, even if you have never ridden a horse but have always wanted to try, we highly recommend it. The horses generally walk for the entire tour, so the risk level is relatively low.
Friendly Park Rangers and Helpful Park Staff
We found the park staff to be generally helpful, and the Park Rangers knowledgeable. The National Park Service maintains a comprehensive website that outlines park information, so doing your research before your visit is a good idea.
We had an incredible time, and if you want to explore more of the park, spending a few nights at the lodge would be an ideal base camp. Keep in mind that permits are required for many activities, such as the Angels Landing hike, even for lodge guests. Nevertheless, the convenience of staying at the lodge is a major advantage!
If you haven’t had the chance to read our Zion National Park Travel Guide, head on over.
For more national park posts, check out our detailed guide on Yosemite National Park Travel Guide and Bryce Canyon National Park (coming next).
