There’s something special about waking up in the heart of Zion Canyon, stepping outside, and walking straight from your room to the trailhead while the red cliffs glow with early morning light. It’s all part of the Zion Lodge experience, a quieter, more immersive way to start your day in the park.

Yes, it’s true. Staying at the lodge lets you drive your own car into the park. Most visitors have to rely on the shuttle, usually from mid-May to the end of October. But for us, the real reason we always try to stay there is the experience itself. Sipping coffee on the porch of a historic cabin. Relaxing by the massive cottonwood on the front lawn. Falling asleep with the canyon walls rising just outside your window.

It’s not just a convenient place to stay, it’s a memory-making part of the trip.

We Love the Cabins at Zion Lodge

We’ve stayed at Zion Lodge many times over the years. Whenever we can score a reservation, we go straight for one of the original historic cabins. Some of these cabins date back to the 1920s and survived the lodge’s major fire in 1966. They’re the perfect place to experience that classic National Park feel. With wood-burning fireplaces, rustic decor, and quiet nights under a million stars, it’s the kind of place that makes you want to unplug and slow down.

But the Traditional Rooms Are a Treat Too

The traditional lodge rooms at Zion Lodge offer a clean, comfortable place to stay right in the canyon. While they don’t quite have the rustic charm of the historic cabins, they’re well-kept, quiet, and equipped with everything you need after a day on the trails. Many have balconies or porches, so you can still take in the fresh air and red rock views just outside your door.

A Perfect Base for Exploring the Park

Zion Lodge is located right in the valley of Zion Canyon, making it an ideal base for hiking. One of our favorite routines is to start the day with a strenuous hike, like Scout Lookout or the West Rim Trail, and then head back to the lodge for lunch and some downtime on the grassy lawn.

The Emerald Pools Trail also starts right across the road, which makes for an easy add-on hike in the afternoon. The lower section is paved and accessible, and if you have the energy, you can hike all the way up to the upper pool for some incredible views.

Update: A major reconstruction project on the bridge connecting Zion Lodge (Shuttle Stop #5) to the Emerald Pools trail system was completed, and the bridge officially reopened in June 2025.

We’ve also used the lodge as a lunch stop when we weren’t staying overnight. It’s a great place to refuel between hikes, with shaded picnic tables and a million-dollar view.

A Bit of Lodge History

Zion Lodge has a fascinating backstory that connects it to the early days of national park tourism. Gilbert Stanley Underwood designed the lodge in 1924. He was the same architect who created the iconic park lodges at Bryce Canyon, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, and Yosemite’s Ahwahnee Hotel.

At the time, the Union Pacific Railroad was looking for ways to boost visitation to the national parks in southern Utah. Zion Lodge was built as part of that initiative, but on a smaller scale than the railroad originally envisioned.

Underwood’s design used milled lumber instead of whole logs, with fewer stone elements, so the buildings would better match the natural character of the canyon floor, which was still partially inhabited by settlers in the 1920s.

In 1966, a fire destroyed the main lodge building. The park rebuilt it in just 100 days, a remarkable feat, but the rustic charm was lost in the rush to reopen. Thankfully, a major renovation in 1990 restored the lodge’s original look.

When’s the Best Time to Stay at Zion Lodge?

Fall is hands-down our favorite time to visit Zion. October and November offer cooler temps, smaller crowds, and golden light that makes the cliffs look like they’re on fire. Every fall trip we’ve taken has been just about perfect.

Winter can also be a beautiful time, especially if you catch a light dusting of snow. We’ve driven through the park in January and felt like we had the place to ourselves. The Checkerboard Mesa area in the snow is magical—Karen’s highest rating.

Spring is a bit of a wildcard. We’ve had wonderful visits in March, but you may run into snow or high water levels that close The Narrows trail. Still, it’s worth the gamble if you go early enough to beat the summer crowds.

Summer, on the other hand, is not our first choice. It’s hot—as in triple-digits hot—and very crowded. We’ve hiked The Narrows in September and come out into 100°F heat. That said, if summer is the only time you can go, you’ll still have an incredible trip. Just plan your hikes for early morning and take plenty of water.

Whether you’re waking up to the sound of the Virgin River, watching the cliffs light up at sunset, or sipping coffee on the porch of your cabin, Zion Lodge lets you experience the park in a more intimate, peaceful way.

If you’re planning a trip to Zion National Park and can get a reservation at the lodge, we suggest you go for it.