The Zion Lodge

At a glance

• Location: Zion Canyon in Zion National Park
• Type: Lodge
• Historic status: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
• On-site facilities: Restrooms, parking, shuttle service, and drinking water
• Food: Coffee, ice cream, grill service, seasonal café service, and table-service dining
• Other amenities: Gifts, books, souvenirs, trash receptacles, a trailhead, and a bottle-filling station
• Accessibility: An accessible restroom is available
• Park hours: Zion National Park is open every day of the year

Why visit

The Zion Lodge sits in the center of Zion Canyon, surrounded by views of high sandstone cliffs. It combines accommodations, meals, visitor services, and trail access in one location.

It is the only place inside Zion with dining. Red Rock Grill serves meals in the main dining room. Castle Dome Café operates seasonally. The lodge also provides coffee, ice cream, and grill service.

Visitors may stop for shade during hot weather, eat beneath the canyon cliffs, or join ranger-led activities. Ranger programs at the lodge began in 1935. The lodge has become an established part of many visits to Zion.

Getting there

The lodge is in the Zion area of Zion National Park. The Zion Canyon visitor center is about 4 miles away. Springdale, Utah, is about 5 miles away in a straight line. Hurricane, Utah, is about 19 miles away in a straight line.

Both up-canyon and down-canyon Zion Lodge shuttle stops are about 0.1 miles away. The Zion Lodge parking lot is also about 0.1 miles away.

Air travelers may use St. George Regional Airport, identified by the code SGU, or Harry Reid International Airport, identified by LAS.

What to see and do

The lodge provides views of Zion Canyon’s towering sandstone walls. Visitors can stay at the lodge, eat at its restaurant or seasonal café, and shop for gifts, books, and souvenirs.

Red Rock Grill is the main table-service dining room. Castle Dome Café opens seasonally. Other listed options include coffee, ice cream, and a grill.

The lodge is also a starting point for nearby walks and longer trails. The Pathways Trail begins here and is about 0.4 miles as mapped by the National Park Service. Emerald Pools trail access is about 0.2 miles away.

Ranger-led activities may be offered at the lodge. These programs continue a tradition that began in 1935. Check current schedules before visiting.

For information about eating, visiting, or staying, use the lodge website at www.zionlodge.com. The lodge can also be reached at 435 772-7700.

History and nature

Railroads played an important role in developing early national park lodging. At Zion, the Utah Parks Company drove that work. The company was a Union Pacific Railroad subsidiary.

A railroad branch reached nearby Cedar City in 1923. This gave visitors a more comfortable and convenient route to Zion. Lodging became the next major project.

Early plans called for a very large building. Park officials instead decided that lodging within the narrow canyon should match the landscape’s scale and character.

Gilbert Stanley Underwood accepted the design challenge. He was an architect associated with many national park lodges. Construction used 265,000 board feet of lumber.

The Cable Mountain Draw Works moved that lumber down from the plateau. The Utah Parks Company developed a welcoming main building intended to convey warmth.

The lodge was finished in May 1925. Separate cabins were added nearby later. Together, these developments marked a significant change in the experience of visiting Zion National Park.

The original main building remained for more than 40 years. Fire destroyed it on January 26, 1966. A replacement made from prefabricated components opened only 108 days later.

That rapid reconstruction reflected the lodge’s importance to the park. Its historic role is now recognized through its National Register of Historic Places designation.

When to go

Zion National Park remains open every day of the year. Castle Dome Café is seasonal, so confirm its operating status before planning a meal there.

Weather varies widely across Zion. Temperature changes are connected to elevation, and daytime and nighttime readings may differ by more than 30°F, or 16°C.

Summer temperatures often rise above 100°F, or 38°C. Monsoon conditions occur from mid-July through September, increasing flash-flood danger. Storms and lightning are also concerns.

Winters are generally mild. Conditions can still vary, so check the park’s current weather and alerts before leaving.

Accessibility

The Zion Lodge has an accessible restroom. Other listed facilities include flush toilets, drinking water, a bottle-filling station, shuttle stops, parking, and trash receptacles.

The provided information does not describe accessibility for lodging, dining spaces, trails, parking spaces, or shuttle vehicles. Contact the lodge for details relevant to a specific visit.

Fees and rules

Zion National Park charges the following entrance fees:

• Private vehicle: $35
• Motorcycle: $30
• Snowmobile: $20
• Per person: $20

These are park entrance charges. The provided information does not list lodging, dining, or activity prices.

Follow posted park rules and dispose of waste in the available receptacles. Leave no trace during walks and trail visits.

Nearby trails and places

The Grotto trailhead is at the lodge area. The Pathways Trail also begins here and is about 0.4 miles as mapped by the National Park Service.

Other nearby trails include:

• Wrangler Trail: About 0.2 miles away; about 0.9 miles as mapped
• Middle Emerald Pools Trail: About 0.2 miles away; about 0.9 miles as mapped
• Kayenta Trail: About 0.5 miles away; about 0.7 miles as mapped
• West Rim Trail: About 0.6 miles away; about 14.4 miles as mapped
• Deertrap Mountain Trail: About 0.6 miles away; about 3.9 miles as mapped

The Emerald Pools trailhead is about 0.2 miles away. The Zion Grotto, Grotto Restroom, and Grotto up-canyon shuttle stop are each about 0.6 miles away.

Closer services include the Zion Lodge Shuttle Stop Restroom, parking lot, drinking water, and both lodge shuttle stops. Each is about 0.1 miles away.

Before you go

Check current conditions, weather, alerts, ranger-program schedules, and shuttle information on the park’s National Park Service website. Confirm seasonal dining operations with the lodge.

Carry water and use the available bottle-filling station. Pack layers because temperatures can change considerably between day and night. Summer visitors should prepare for extreme heat.

From mid-July through September, review flash-flood conditions before entering vulnerable areas. Stay alert for storms and lightning. Follow posted rules and leave no trace.

Questions