Zion Canyon Scenic Drive Bike Climb - PJAMM Cycling

0.5
FIETS
6.2 mi
DISTANCE
447 ft
GAINED
1.1 %
AVG. GRADE

FULL CLIMB STATS

INTRO

This is one of the most beautiful bikes rides in the US. What it lacks in challenge (it is 1.1% for 6.2 miles, but we had to include it!) it MORE than makes up for in nearly unparalleled beauty. Bike is the best means of transportation in Zion NP, in our opinion. 
This is a scenic adventure more than a climb.  The average grade is barely above flat, but worth doing if you are visiting the Park. 87% of the climb is at grade 0-5% and the steepest quarter-mile is only 4.3%. 

See more details and tools regarding this climb's grade via the “Profile Tool” button.
Roadway:  The roadway is two lanes with a center stripe and in excellent condition.

Traffic:  Mild - there are very few parking spots in the canyon and most tourists travel by bus (none on bike during our ride other than a couple cruisers apparently rented at the nearby Zion National Park Lodge). 

Park Fee:  There is an entrance fee to walk or ride into the park ($15 in 2020). 

Parking:  Parking spaces fill quickly in the park.  We rode from our hotel in nearby Springdale, but you could park in the limited parking on the side of the road at the intersection of Highway 9 and Zion Canyon Scenic Drive if you get there early enough. 
Provisions:  There are food and beverages at and near Zion National Park Lodge area at mile 2.7.
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
Lodging:  We stayed in Springdale which is more reasonably priced than the Zion NP Lodge, but it sure would be fun to stay there.  There are many great house rental options around the park too. 

Getting Around and Hikes:  There’s also a great and free shuttle system that has nine stops and picks up/drops off about every 7-10 minutes during the day, beginning at 6 a.m. from the Visitor Center, and ending at 8:30 pm (into the canyon) and 10 pm (into Springdale). The shuttle generally runs from March through November. There is room for several bikes on the front of each shuttle, but we recommend cycling through the park. You can ride your bikes to the many awesome trailheads and then hike - bring a cable and lock. 

Use the Routes in Area Tool to see other bike climbs in this area. 

ROUTE MAP

MEMBER RATING

Difficulty: Easy
5
Road
3
Traffic
5
Scenery

CURRENT WEATHER

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May 21, 2021
difficulty: Easy
scenery: 5
traffic: 3
road: 5
May 21, 2021
scenery: 5
traffic: 3
road: 5
All the UT national parks have terrific scenic rides, and Zion is maybe the best. The views are simply amazing, and every cyclist needs to ride up to the Narrows and back during their trip. Traffic before the Grotto can be very heavy, but the amount of cars is actually limited by the few parking spaces. The main traffic issue is the busses. You have to pull over to let the shuttle busses pass, which is a pain. I've ridden this route twice, once in full and once up to hike Angels Landing / West Rim Trail--both times I was glad I did.
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CLIMB SUMMARY

Cycling Zion National Park - aerial drone photo of the canyons

Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is far left of photo.

Visit our Zion National Park page.

Zion Canyon Scenic Drive - aerial drone photo of the canyon

Aerial photo of Zion Canyon Scenic Drive

This is one of the most beautiful bikes rides in the US.  What it lacks in challenge (it is 1.1% for 6.2 miles, but we had to include it!) it MORE than makes up for in nearly unparalleled beauty.  

Cycling Zion Canyon Scenic Drive - bike leaning against road sign at start

You can take the shuttle . . . but . . .

. . . there is a MUCH better option!  👍👍

Cycling Zion National Park - aerial drone view of Angels Landing

Zion Canyon and Scenic Drive

View south towards junction Scenic Drive and Highway 9.

Cycling Zion National Park - view of scenic drive from Angels landing

Scenic Drive and Zion Canyon as seen from Angels Landing.

Bike climb Zion Canyon Scenic Drive - bike leaning against rock near road with rock formations in background

Cycling Zion Canyon Scenic Drive - bike leaning against sign on road with Angels Landing in background.

Bike ride Zion Canyon Scenic Drive - bike leaning against tree on road with rock formations in background

At only 149,597 acres, Zion National Park is smallish in comparison to many other National Parks.   While small in size, this is one of the most beautiful National Parks in the United States, as well as one of the most popular, ranking third in number of visitors per year (after Great Smoky Mountains NP and Grand Canyon NP).

Weather Report: The best times of year to visit and cycle Zion NP are in May (when the average high temperature is 85°F and there are only six rainy days on average), and September and October (when the average temperatures are 91°F and 78°F respectively, and the average rainy days are 4.7 and 5.1).  The average high temperatures in June through August range from 96°F to 101°F.  

Below we will list some Frequently Asked Questions, along with our answers to those questions, about cycling Zion.

How to get around in Zion National Park:  You can drive your car from Springdale, through the park entrance, and up Highway 9 to the tunnel, and on all the way to the Northern Rim of the Grand Canyon.  OR . . . you can RIDE YOUR BIKE all over the park which is certainly the best way to see Zion!  We are so blessed to have the opportunity to ride our bikes in amazing places, and we love taking advantage of these chances.  Riding through parks and scenic areas on bike gives us the opportunity to view our surroundings better than by any other means.  We get around on bike quickly and can stop nearly anywhere we want to view and record the beauty of our surroundings -- it doesn’t get any better than that.

Cyclists must yield to the shuttle on Scenic Drive.

There’s also a great and free shuttle system that has nine stops and picks up/drops off about every 7-10 minutes during the day, beginning at 6 a.m. from the Visitor Center, and ending at 8:30 pm (into the canyon) and 10 pm (into Springdale). The shuttle generally runs from March through November.  There is room for several bikes on the front of each shuttle.  However, we recommend riding through the park and not using the shuttle.  You can ride your bikes to the many awesome trailheads (e.g. Angels Landing Stop 6, or the end of the line Stop 9, which is the trailhead for Zion Narrows day hike).

How much does it cost to cycle in Zion NP?: As of 2019, the entrance fee is $15.  More information about riding your bike within the park can be found on the National Parks Service’s website, here.

Can I cycle to a trailhead and leave my bike while I hike?:  Yes.  Each shuttle stop has an outside unmonitored bike area where you can lock your bike, so bring a cable and lock.

Where do I stay when visiting Zion National Park?:  There are many hotels in Springdale, about two miles from Scenic Drive.  We stayed at the Majestic View Lodge (about $150 per night in 2019).

View from our room at Majestic View Lodge.

The most convenient, and most expensive, option is Zion Lodge (about $250 total per night).  This hotel is about halfway into the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive ride and stop #5 on the shuttle route.

Cycling Zion National Park - bike next to Zion Lodge sign

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