Trip Date: 10/31/2016

Location: Zion National Park

Permit/Pass: Private Vehicle: $30. Valid for 7 days. Admits private, non-commercial vehicle (15 passenger capacity or less) and all occupants to Zion National Park, including both the Zion Canyon and Kolob Canyon areas. Motorcycle: $25. Valid for 7 days. Admits one non-commercial motorcycle to Zion National Park, including both the Zion Canyon and Kolob Canyon areas. Per Person: $15. Valid for 7 days. 

Trail maps: NPSmap 

Directions: From Interstate 15 just north of the town of St. George take Utah Highway 9 east toward Hurricane (follow the signs for Zion National Park). After a bit over 12 miles, and passing through Hurricane, you reach a junction with Hwy. 17 in La Verkin where you turn right to continue on Hwy. 9 East. Continue for about 20 and a half miles to, and through, the town of Springdale (just outside of the park) and to the park's entrance kiosks. Just past the entrance there will be signs for the Visitor Center. Take this quick right turn and head down to the parking area, then walk over to the center where you'll pick up the Zion shuttle bus - the only way to reach the trailheads in the canyon. Take the bus to stop #3.

Synopsis: This is a lovely, and easy, point to point walk along a paved trail that follows the Virgin River south from the bridge at the Canyon Junction area and ends at the Visitor Center. It can be taken in either direction, but take it on a bright sunny day if you can.

Trail sequence: Pa'rus Trail

Type: Point to point

Distance: 1.7 miles

Elevation: Min. - 3930', Max. - 4038'

Profile:

Rating: Easy (factors: pavement walking, heat)

Notes: One of the great values of a shuttle system like Zion's is that fact that so many different walks can be configured based on the knowledge that as long as one can reach a shuttle stop there's always a ride back.

Track: Pa'rus Trail - Zion NP: Alltrails, GaiaGPS

Turn by Turn:

 -- Depart the shuttle bus at stop #3 (Canyon Junction). On the west side of the road a paved trail begins next to a signboard. It immediately dips under the bridge then emerges next to a long, pretty meadow. The path travels mostly south along the Virgin River.

  -- At just under a mile and a half, the path swings to the west as it passes to South Campground. Soon it reaches the road to the Visitor Center. Cross the road, then the bridge, and turn to the right to return to the Visitor Center parking area.

Photos: Flickr