Biking in Zion
Where to start, how the route connects, and the three rules that catch cyclists out — including one that can strand you at the tunnel.
The canyon road is closed to cars. It isn’t closed to you.
During shuttle season, private vehicles can’t drive the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. Bicycles can — which means for most of the year you get a nine-mile paved road through the middle of the canyon, sharing it with shuttles and almost nobody else.
It’s one of the best things you can do in Zion, and hardly anyone does it. There’s no permit, no lottery, and no reservation. You just need to know how the route connects and which three rules will get you a talking-to.
Quick Facts
- Visitor Center to Temple of Sinawava: 9 miles one way.
- Pa’rus Trail: 1.75 miles, Visitor Center to Canyon Junction. 15 mph limit.
- Pa’rus is the only trail in Zion open to bicycles. Roads are a separate category.
- The tunnel is closed to bikes entirely — ridden or walked.
- E-bikes: Class 1 pedal-assist only. Class 2 throttle bikes are prohibited.
- Helmets: required for riders under 18.
- Bikes must have a bell under the park’s 2026 rules.
How the Route Connects
Park in Springdale, or at the Visitor Center
Springdale has paid street parking and lots throughout town. The Visitor Center lot is the alternative, but it fills early year-round — if you’re arriving after about 9 AM in season, plan on Springdale.
VC lot fills earlyUse the bicycle entrance in Springdale
There’s a dedicated bike entrance next to Zion Outfitter and Zion Brew Pub, connecting across the pedestrian entrance into the park. This is the bit nobody tells you about, and it’s much easier than trying to ride in through the main gate.
You have to walk your bike through the Visitor Center Plaza. Don’t ride it.
Walk your bike through the plazaTake Pa’rus Trail to Canyon Junction
A paved, mostly flat multi-use trail — 1.75 miles from the Visitor Center, with a 15 mph limit. It’s the only trail in the park you’re allowed to ride, and it keeps you off the road for the first stretch.
The side trail up to the Human History Museum is not open to bikes.
1.75 mi · Paved · 15 mphJoin the Scenic Drive and ride the canyon
From Canyon Junction it’s the Scenic Drive all the way to Temple of Sinawava. The first two miles are the steep part — after Court of the Patriarchs it levels off considerably.
There are bike racks at the major shuttle stops and trailheads, so you can lock up and hike partway through.
9 mi total from the VCThe bike entrance is beside Zion Outfitter, not at the main gate. Half the difficulty of biking Zion is knowing where the door is.”
You have to stop for the shuttle
When a shuttle comes up behind you on the Scenic Drive, NPS requires you to pull over to the side of the road and come to a complete stop before it passes. Not slow down, not move over — stop.
Drivers are meant to give you time to find a safe pullout first. It feels excessive until you see how narrow the road gets through the middle of the canyon.
The park’s 2026 rules also require riders to go single file on park roadways.
You Can’t Ride Through the Tunnel
Bicycles are prohibited in the Zion–Mount Carmel Tunnel, ridden or walked. That’s not a seasonal restriction or a busy-hours thing — it’s absolute.
Which matters enormously if you’re riding through the park rather than out and back. To continue east you need a vehicle to carry both you and the bike through. NPS notes that cyclists typically hitch a ride, and states plainly that rangers cannot transport you and cannot arrange transport for you.
Worth knowing before you commit: the Zion–Mount Carmel Highway itself is rideable, but it’s steep, narrow, and short on shoulder. NPS puts the climb at 900 feet in just under three miles.
Only Class 1 Is Allowed
| Class | What it is | In Zion |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Pedal-assist, cuts out at 20 mph | Allowed anywhere ordinary bikes are |
| Class 2 | Throttle-assisted | Prohibited |
| Class 3 | Higher-speed pedal-assist | Not for visitors — emergency use only |
The motor may only operate while you’re pedalling. If you’re renting, check the class before you pay — a throttle e-bike isn’t legal in the park.
Shuttles do not carry e-bikes. Only standard bicycles go on the racks, so if you’re on an e-bike, plan to ride the canyon in both directions.
Shuttle Up, Ride Down
Zion shuttles carry bicycles on front racks. Load yours at the Visitor Center, ride up to Temple of Sinawava, and coast most of the nine miles back down. It’s the best hour you’ll spend in the park.
Two things to know. Rack space is limited and fills fast, so this works best early in the day — NPS pages currently give different numbers for how many bikes each bus takes, so don’t count on a specific figure.
And it isn’t entirely downhill. There’s a genuine climb southbound between Weeping Rock and the Grotto that catches people expecting a free ride the whole way.
Four 2026 rules you’ll break by accident
These come from the park’s current Superintendent’s Compendium and almost nobody knows them:
Your bike needs a bell. Bicycles and e-bikes entering Zion are required to have one.
Groups split into sixes. Riding groups on park roads must break into groups of six or fewer.
Groups stay a quarter mile apart. Those groups must be separated by at least a quarter mile.
Single file. Riders must go single file on park roadways — no riding two abreast, even on quiet stretches.
Before You Ride
- Go early or late in summer. NPS describes the road as extremely hot and sunny, and suggests early morning or evening — which also means fewer shuttles to stop for.
- Helmets are required under 18, and NPS recommends them for everyone.
- Winter is different. When the shuttle isn’t running, private cars return to the Scenic Drive. You can still ride, but you’re sharing with far more traffic.
- The shuttle season isn’t one continuous block in 2026 — service starts in March, pauses, and returns for late December. Check the current schedule before planning around it.
- Bike racks exist at major shuttle stops and trailheads, so you can lock up and hike partway through the canyon.
- Riverside Walk is not an exception. No trail in Zion is open to bikes except Pa’rus.
Planning the rest of your trip?
Our Zion Shuttle Guide covers all nine stops and the 2026 schedule, and the 3-Day Zion Itinerary puts the whole trip together with a free printable PDF. Then sort out where to stay near Zion.