Hurricane
Angell Heights
Sleeps 10 · 4 BR · 2.5 BA
- Monthly stays, 30-night minimum
- 20×40 ft pool and hot tub
- Single level
Hurricane · Zion National Park
Zion National Park with kids: easy trails and a simple plan
Zion works well with kids if you start early, pick short trails and are out of the sun by early afternoon. From our home in Hurricane, the south entrance is about 40 minutes away and the quieter Kolob Canyons section about 30 to 35.
These are the trails and tips we give families staying at Hurricane Oasis.
Updated October 2026 by Mary and Russell, your hosts in Hurricane.
Five easy trails for kids
| Trail | Length | Surface and grade | Where it starts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pa'rus Trail | Up to 1.6 miles each way | Paved and wheelchair-accessible; the only Zion trail open to bikes and leashed pets | Visitor center (shuttle stop 1) or stop 3 |
| Riverside Walk | 1 mile each way | Paved and easy, with about 150 feet of climbing | Shuttle stop 9, Temple of Sinawava |
| Lower Emerald Pool | 0.6 mile each way | Rough paved path, easy | Shuttle stop 5, Zion Lodge |
| Canyon Overlook | About 1 mile round trip | Moderate: high steps and a fenced cliff edge at the end | East of the tunnel; very little parking |
| Timber Creek Overlook | 0.6 mile each way | Relatively easy, about 120 feet of climbing | End of Kolob Canyons Road |
Distances and grades are from the National Park Service.
How fees and the shuttle work
Pay the park fee
A private vehicle pass is $35 and good for seven days. From 2026, visitors 16 and older who are not U.S. residents also pay $100 each unless they have an annual pass.
Ride the free shuttle
In shuttle season, private cars cannot drive Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. The shuttle is free with no ticket or reservation, buses come every 5 to 10 minutes, and a full loop takes about an hour and a half.
Check the season
The shuttle runs most days from March through November and over the late-December holidays, with a break in early winter. The park's shuttle page has this year's dates and hours.
Skip Angels Landing
Angels Landing is steep and needs a permit from a lottery, so most families skip it. No reservation is needed to enter the park itself.
Keep kids safe in the heat and the canyons
Start early
Summer days regularly top 100°F. Hike in the morning and be back by early afternoon.
Carry plenty of water
The park recommends at least a gallon per person per day.
Watch for flash floods
July through September is monsoon season. Check the flash flood forecast at the visitor center, and head for higher ground if the water turns muddy or starts to rise.
Earn a Junior Ranger badge
Free activity booklets for ages 4 and up at the visitor centers and the Zion Human History Museum.
A half-day plan from Hurricane
Leave early
Springdale and the south entrance are about 40 minutes from the house. Earlier is cooler and less crowded.
Ride to the end of the canyon
Walk the Riverside Walk at the last stop, then stop at Zion Lodge for Lower Emerald Pool on the way back.
See the museum
The Zion Human History Museum, open spring through fall, shows a 22-minute film about the park.
Swim in the afternoon
Head back for the pool and hot tub at the house, then dinner under the pergola.
Easy kid stops in Hurricane
Sand Hollow State Park
About 15 minutes. A red-rock reservoir with beaches and paddleboards. See our Sand Hollow guide.
Community Center splash pad
In town. Splash pad and playground at 63 S 100 W.
Sky Ridge Park
In town. Another splash pad at 426 N 2600 W.
Where to stay
Stay near Zion with a pool for the afternoons
Angell Heights sleeps 10 and Hurricane Oasis sleeps 6, on one property with a 20×40-foot pool and hot tub, about 40 minutes from the south entrance.
The Hurricane Retreat package
Both homes, one property, the pool to yourselves
Six bedrooms for up to 16 guests on one property near Zion.
Questions
What is the easiest Zion trail for kids?
The Pa'rus Trail is paved and wheelchair-accessible, so strollers work too. The Riverside Walk is another easy, paved choice at 1 mile each way.
Do we need a reservation for the Zion shuttle?
No. The shuttle is free and needs no ticket or reservation. You only pay the park entrance fee.
How far is Zion from Hurricane?
About 40 minutes to the south entrance in Springdale, and about 30 to 35 minutes to Kolob Canyons.
When is the best time to visit Zion with kids?
Spring and fall are mildest. In summer, temperatures regularly top 100°F, so hike early and save the afternoon for the pool.
Do kids need a permit for any Zion trail?
Only Angels Landing requires a permit, through a lottery. The easy trails on this page need no permit.
Check before you go
Hours, fees and rules change. These official pages have the latest.