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Know before you go: Zion

How to stay safe here, what to pack and what to leave at home.

By The Green Adventures · Updated · How we check

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Alerts: National Park Service, checked hourly. Forecast: National Weather Service, for Zion Canyon Visitor Center. Always confirm on the official park site before you set out.

Stay safe

  • Wildlife: Keep at least 25 yards (23 m) from all wild animals, and 100 yards (91 m) from bears and wolves where they live. Never feed wildlife. Use pullouts to watch animals from the road.
  • Heat and water: Carry and drink at least one gallon (4 liters) of water per person per day, more when hiking in heat. Hike early or late in summer, eat salty snacks, and turn back when half your water is gone.
  • Flash floods: Rain miles away can flood canyons and washes. Check the flash flood forecast at the visitor center before narrow or slot canyon hikes and get to high ground if water rises.
  • Cell service: Coverage is patchy in most parks. Download offline maps and the park’s info before you lose signal.

What to pack

Start with the park service’s ten essentials:

  • Navigation: a paper map or offline map, plus a charged phone and battery pack
  • Sun protection: sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat
  • Layers: a warm layer and a rain shell, even in summer
  • Headlamp or flashlight
  • First aid kit
  • Fire starter (matches or a lighter) for emergencies
  • Repair kit and tools (a small knife, tape)
  • Extra food
  • Extra water and a way to treat it
  • Emergency shelter: a space blanket or tarp

For Zion also bring:

  • At least one gallon of water per person per day, plus electrolyte drinks or salty snacks
  • Lightweight long sleeves and a wide-brim hat
  • A cooler and shade for the car
  • A red light and a blanket for stargazing
  • Binoculars for wildlife watching from a safe distance
  • Camping: tent, sleeping bag rated for night temperatures, camp stove and fuel bought locally

What to leave at home

  • A drone: launching, landing or flying drones is banned in almost every national park site.
  • Firewood from home: it can carry tree-killing pests. Buy it where you burn it, ideally within 10 miles.
  • Pets: of the 17 hikes the park service lists here, 1 allow pets. Where pets are allowed they must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet.
  • Anything you plan to take home from the park: rocks, plants, antlers, artifacts and fossils must stay where you find them.
  • Food that wildlife can reach: store it as the park directs, in your car or a locker, never in a tent in bear country.

Weather

Zion is known for a wide range of weather conditions. Temperatures vary with changes in elevation and day/night temperatures may differ by over 30°F (16°C). In summer, temperatures in Zion National Park often exceed 100°F (38°C). Zion experiences monsoons from mid-July into September that result in an increased risk of flash floods. Always be aware of the threat of storms and lightning and be prepared for a wide range of weather conditions. Winters are generally mild.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Sources

Last checked 1 November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What should I pack for Zion?
The ten essentials (map, sun protection, layers, light, first aid, fire starter, tools, extra food, extra water and emergency shelter), plus at least one gallon of water per person per day, plus electrolyte drinks or salty snacks.
Can I fly a drone in Zion?
No. Launching, landing or operating drones is prohibited in national parks unless the superintendent approves it in writing.