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Now, let me start this tale by saying national park adventures are nothing new to me. I grew up in California, just a few hours from numerous national park sites. I have fond memories of wandering through redwoods in John Muir National Monument, breathing in the sulfuric odor of Lassen National Park, and I even had the privilege of spending a week camping in Yosemite National Park as part of a school field trip.

All this to say, national parks have always been a part of my life. They never felt like something special, or something that required extra planning. Maybe that’s why, when I decided to spontaneously take my little family of four to Zion National Park in southern Utah, I didn’t think a detailed plan was necessary.

Big mistake. Huge.

Needless to say, our spontaneous two-day trip to Zion was anything but smooth sailing. Here’s the painful string of misadventures, and how future visitors can learn from my mistakes.

Day 1: Crowded Shuttles And Wasted Time

Zion National Park is only four hours from where I currently call home, so packing the car for a long weekend away in May was no big deal. I had done a little research to make sure I planned a budget-friendly trip to Zion, but I neglected to research the park itself. In my mind, we’d just show up around noon, jump on the shuttle, and have a grand time in one of the most iconic canyons in the U.S.

Zion National Park

Instead, we showed up to massive lines just to get in the gates, a full parking lot, and an overwhelming number of visitors. First, we had to admit defeat and pay for a $20 parking spot in Springdale along the shuttle route. Actually, it cost us $40, because we messed up the parking spot reservation the first time and inadvertently paid someone else’s ticket the first time.

Great start, right?

Car parked, we figured the worst was behind us. We made it through the gate and found the shuttle, which I did at least know was how we were going to get to the trails in Zion Canyon. We got off at a midpoint stop, eager to get away from the crowded, sweat-filled shuttle (I don’t think anyone goes to national parks to get sandwiched between strangers on a bus).

We struck gold as we stumbled upon a quiet stretch of the Virgin River and the Sand Bench Trail, arguably one of the most amazing things we did in our 48 hours in Zion. We wandered the trail through the Three Kings section of Zion Canyon, taking in the views and feeling like our luck was finally changing.

And then we noticed the time.

You see, the only way in and out of Zion Canyon is on the Zion Shuttle. The catch? The Zion Shuttle doesn’t run 24/7, and we were suddenly acutely aware that the last hour of shuttles were making their rounds. No worries, just make our way back to the shuttle stop and wait to be picked up.

Sigh.

Well, we did make it back to the shuttle stop with time to spare, dragging two exhausted kids with us, and the shuttle did pull up. And it was completely full. It slowed to see if anyone was getting off (they weren’t) then promptly sped off, leaving our haggard group at the station. This cycle repeated every five minutes for the next 45 minutes.

The clock was ticking down, our feet were sore, and our kids were out of patience. Finally, one of the last shuttles pulled up. It was completely full as well, but the driver, knowing time was running out, picked us up and squished us in as we clutched our kids trying to make ourselves smaller.

Day one down, but at least day two will be better. Maybe.

Day 2: Closed Trails At Every Turn

You see, I should have gone back to our hotel and researched for the day ahead, but after an exhausting day, it was all I could do to get into bed before I fell asleep. Which may be why I still managed to get us out the door way later than I should have. If I had, I would have realized that 9 am was way too late to arrive at Zion National Park. So we shelled out another $20 for Springdale parking and took the shuttle to the final stop along the canyon route.

Once there, I was eager to have a full day to find the two hikes I actually knew about in Zion, the Narrows and the Emerald Pools.

Remember how I didn’t plan ahead?

If I had, I would have known the Narrows, arguably the must-do hike in Zion, was blocked off due to high waters and the Emerald Pools stop was closed for repairs, making both hikes inaccessible. So we spent day two driving around aimlessly along the Zion Canyon Scenic route trying to find trails to do that weren’t wall-to-wall people.

Angels Landing, the other most famous trail in the park, was also a no-go. Given the narrow stretches, a permit system was put in place to limit traffic. No advanced planning? No permit.

In the end, we found some beautiful spots, but as I look back on the wasted potential of my first trip to one of America’s top national parks, I can’t help but kick myself for my lack of planning.

Lessons From My Disasters In Zion National Park

The first lesson to learn from this borderline hilarious run of mishaps is that the day of just showing up at national parks is gone. As national parks work to accommodate a dramatically increasing number of visitors, extra safeguards have been put in place. That includes things like Zion’s shuttle and the one-way traffic control through the Zion Tunnel. It also means permits for more challenging hikes like Angel’s Landing and the Top-Down part of the Narrows.

Unfortunately, this means the days of spontaneous travel through national parks aren’t feasible anymore. Before visiting Zion, or any national park, travelers should plan out certain things to ensure they have a successful trip.

Understand The Transportation In The Park

Zion National Park has a shuttle system, which is a necessity given the small roadway and millions of guests. However, it also slows down travel around the park and limits accessibility to certain trails.

Shuttles, buses, and timed entry systems are becoming more common in heavily trafficked national parks. Understanding how to get around in the destination of your choice is crucial to having a good time.

Plan Some Hikes Ahead Of Time (And Check For Permit Requirements)

Look, I still believe there is room for spontaneity in national parks, and some of the best adventures can be had on that surprise turnout along the scenic drive. But to visit a national park without any planned hikes was a mistake, one that cost us a lot of time.

It’s not just the hikes themselves that take time, but also finding the trailheads, and the corresponding parking. Map things out in advance, that way you can get parked and get on the trail, where all the best views are.

This also means checking the NPS website for trail closures and permit requirements. Had I checked the website, I would have known in advance that the Emerald Pools trailhead was closed, that the Narrows was closed, and the Angels Landing permits were all filled up. With that information, I would have likely picked another weekend to visit, or at least mitigated my expectations while in the park.

Determine What You Want To Get Out Of Your Visit

National parks are places to have fun and reconnect with nature. However, not everyone goes to national parks with the same goals. Some go just to get outside. Others want to challenge themselves. Many people want to get away from other people.

As someone who really enjoys getting away from the crowds, my lack of planning made it very hard to venture out on our own. As a result, we spent most of the time in very crowded parts of the park, and missed some great opportunities because we didn’t know they were there.

This became especially apparent as we drove north to get back home. About an hour from the park, I noticed a sign — “Zion National Park: Kolob Canyon.” There was a whole other underrated side of the park, disconnected from the rest and devoid of the massive crowds. It looked so peaceful, and I was heartbroken as we drove by, out of time.

Many national parks have quieter areas, but finding them will take a bit of research. Neglecting to plan means forfeiting time in these less obvious spots.

Those looking for challenging hiking opportunities might realize that their planning ahead involves applying for permits. Meanwhile, outdoor enthusiasts may want to reserve a camping spot so they can maximize their time outside. Regardless of what you want to get out of the trip, planning ahead is the best way to make sure you get it.

Final Takeaways From Our Two Days In Zion

Look, Zion National Park is stunning, and any time spent in such a unique place is time well spent. Despite the mistakes, I am still glad to have seen the formations with my own eyes, and I have since gone back several times to do it right.

That said, I tried to visit Zion National Park without a plan, and it completely backfired. I missed out on hikes I wanted to do, I spent way more on parking than I intended, and I nearly got my whole family stranded in the canyon at dusk. I also lost valuable time trying to navigate the park and finding trails to explore.

My advice? Don’t do what I did. Take the time to plan it out. Map out the park, the transportation, and the trails ahead of time. National parks are great places for adventures, but unless you want that adventure to be trolling the parking lot for an open spot, you’d do well to get the administrative stuff done in advance.