Getting Oriented

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• Zion Canyon. This area defines Zion National Park for most people. Free shuttle buses are the only vehicles allowed February through November, the busiest months in the park. The backcountry is accessible via the West Rim Trail and the Narrows, and 2,000-foot cliffs rise all around.
• Kolob Canyons. The northwestern corner of Zion is a secluded 30,000-acre wonderland that can be reached only via a special entrance. Don't miss the West Temple and the Kolob Arch, and keep looking up to spot Horse Ranch Mountain, the park's highest point.
• The Narrows. A quintessential slot canyon, this is one of the national park system's best hiking trails. Following the north fork of the Virgin River, there's something for everyone in the Narrows, whether you're a day-tripper or an overnight explorer.
• Lava Point.This unique high-elevation destination is accessed via scenic Kolob Terrace Road. The Lava Point Overlook is one of the highest points in the park, and the primitive six-site campground fills up fast during summer with visitors looking for cooler weather and a break from the busy Zion Canyon area (about an hour's drive from here).