The Narrows of the Virgin River in Zion National Park. Now the No. 2 most visited national park in the United States, Zion and its environs are seeing major updates for 2026—including a new hotel (the largest in Utah), a hot springs retreat, and private flight tours over the park—making it an especially exciting time for the region.
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Thinking about visiting Zion National Park? Whether it’s on your bucket list to hike through slot canyons, tackle the iconic Angel’s Landing ascent, or bike through the park while gawking at towering red and pink sandstone cliffs, 2026 is shaping up as a great year to explore the Zion region of Southern Utah.
Zion National Park ranks No. 2 among the most visited national parks in the country, according to 2024 visitor data (which is the most recent available), trailing only the Great Smoky Mountains.
While the park itself is the main draw, attracting nearly five million visitors each year, the surrounding region now offers several new ways to round out a Zion getaway—from a hot springs retreat ideal for post-hike soaks to a brand-new resort with a futuristic spa and a golf course set among ancient lava tubes.
Here’s what’s new in the Zion National Park area for 2026 and why this year is a good time to visit.
Soak in Global-Inspired Hot Springs
Zion Canyon Hot Springs under a starry sky.
Zion Canyon Hot Springs
It might sound like a riddle that requires a hot tub time machine, but here goes: How can you hike the Narrows in Zion National Park, and, on the same trip, soak in mineral waters of the Blue Lagoon, the Dead Sea, and Japan’s Hokkaido Hot Springs?
The answer lies just outside the park. Zion Canyon Hot Springs, which opened last summer in La Verkin, Utah, offers travelers a restorative escape with 50 pools—from geothermal soaks fed by local springs to cold plunges and mineral baths that replicate the world’s most iconic hot springs and their therapeutic benefits.
The mineral formulas are inspired by top hot springs destinations around the world, as close as its sister property in Colorado’s Glenwood Springs to those that mimic the magnesium-rich waters that are heated by a volcano in Fuentes Georginas, Guatemala.
The hot springs retreat includes a 21-and-over area and a family zone, along with barrel saunas, fire pits, a café, and private cabanas.
Book a nighttime reservation to soak under the stars. This part of Utah is known for its dark skies which makes for optimal stargazing.
Tee Off, Play Pickleball, and Relax at Black Desert Resort
Black Desert Resort, outside of Zion National Park, is now the largest resort in Utah.
Black Desert Resort
Outside of Zion National Park in Ivins, Utah, Black Desert Resort sits amid a dramatic mash-up of burnt-red sandstone cliffs and inky black lava beds. Opened last fall, the resort rests where three ecosystems collide—the Mojave Desert, the Colorado Plateau, and the Great Basin—creating scenery that feels somewhat otherworldly.
In its inaugural year, the resort’s golf course got some great national exposure, hosting both LPGA and PGA tour events. The 18-hole, par-72 championship course designed by Tom Weiskopf winds through lava fields and offers sweeping canyon views, delivering big scenery with every swing. Navigate the course in high-tech carts that feature hole-by-hole audio commentary from Weiskopf. Fun fact: The closing hole features a devilish green inspired by Augusta National’s fifth, with lava rock and bunkers shaping the fairway.
Lava fields surrounding hole 11 at Black Desert Resort’s golf course.
Black Desert Resort
Pickleball fans, take note, too. In spring 2026, the resort will debut 21 state-of-the-art courts, including a “Championship Court” with seating for 1,000 spectators, which signals some big tournaments will be coming to the desert.
When it’s time to slow the pace, Plume Spa & Wellness offers 15,000 square feet of restorative indulgence. Treatments like the “Lava and Ice Massage” draw inspiration from the landscape, while high-tech wellness experiences include a dry-float nap session that cradles spa-goers in warmth, sending subtle vibrations to tired muscles.
The resort’s many restaurants include Basalt, which serves refined steakhouse fare with cuts sourced from Utah ranches, while the convivial 20th Hole pairs burgers with wildly over-the-top milkshakes that are best enjoyed between rounds on the golf simulators.
The 600-acre resort is still growing, too. Plans include expanded lodging beyond its current 447 rooms, plus more dining, shopping, entertainment, as well as a water park.
Emerald Pools Bridge at Zion National Park is Reopened
Emerald Falls in Zion National Park.
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After being shut down for two years for construction, the bridge that connects Zion Lodge to the Emerald Pools Trail system is once again open.
The National Park Service relocated the historic bridge upstream with new foundations designed to withstand flash floods and landslides, which restored visitor access to one of Zion’s most iconic trail systems.
Emerald Pools hiked in Zion National Park takes visitors through lush scenery, dramatic cliffs, and cascading waterfalls.
The trail system features three destinations—Lower, Middle, and Upper Emerald Pools—each increasing in distance and difficulty.
The Lower Pool is an easy, family-friendly walk along the canyon floor. The Middle Pool requires a steeper climb to scenic viewpoints overlooking the lower basin, while the Upper Pool is the most strenuous, following a path that’s eroded in some points to a larger pool fed by a towering waterfall. The trail system can be hiked year-round, with spring runoff creating the most dramatic waterfalls.
Tuacahn Amphitheatre is Celebrating its 30th Season
A gorgeous amphitheater surrounded by 1,500-foot red rock cliffs in the mouth of Padre Canyon, Tuacahn will be celebrating its 30th season in 2026. The outdoor theatre hosts concerts and off-Broadway performances.
On the schedule for the 2026-27 season is “Finding Nemo,” “Les Miserables,” and “Grease.”
Explore the Parks Via a Private Flight
Luxury travelers can explore the national parks via a helicopter that departs from Amangiri’s helipad.
Amangiri
Amangiri, a luxury resort in Canyon Point, Utah, announced it will be offering guests exclusive private flights to Utah’s “Mighty 5” national parks, including Zion. One of the options is a helicopter flight to Bryce Canyon and Zion as well as the Grand Canyon, which is located in neighboring Arizona, departing directly from the resort’s helipad that’s set among sandstone towers. Guests on these bespoke flights can remain in the air for aerial views or touch down to explore the parks.
The other route is a private flight to Arches, Canyonlands and Capitol Reef aboard a KingAir 200 or Pilatus PC-12 NG.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Zion National Park in Utah.
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What Month is the Best for Zion National Park?
Zion excels in the shoulder seasons, including April and May and September and October. Travelers can avoid the summer’s heat, which puts 100-degree days in forecast. With fewer crowds, the trails are also less crowded.
Which is Better: Zion or Bryce Canyon?
About 85 miles from Zion, Bryce Canyon is another popular national park in Utah.
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Zion wins when it comes to visitation as the No. 2 most visited national park. But both Zion and Bryce are part of Utah’s Mighty 5 national park system and each offer unique visitor experiences.
While Zion is famed for its slot canyons, Bryce is well known for its photogenic crimson-hued hoodoos, including a dense collection of them in the Bryce Amphitheater.
Zion and Bryce Canyon are about 85 miles apart, so a visit to Southern Utah could certainly include visiting both parks.
What Major City is Closest to Zion National Park?
Springdale is at Zion National Park’s southern entrance. For those flying into Southern Utah, St. George has a regional airport that serves Salt Lake City, Denver, Phoenix, and Dallas-Fort Worth.
What’s So Special About Zion National Park?
Warm light at an opening in Wire Pass, a narrow slot canyon in Zion National Park.
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People visit Zion for its gorgeous landscapes, from towering plateaus to a labyrinth of narrow sandstone canyons. The park also offers scenic waterfall hikes and is home to around 800 native plant species—more flowering plants than anywhere else in Utah.
