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Thinking about visiting Zion National Park<\/a>? Whether it\u2019s on your bucket list to hike through slot canyons, tackle the iconic Angel\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Zion National Park ranks No. 2 among the most visited national parks in the country, according to 2024 visitor data<\/a> (which is the most recent available), trailing only the Great Smoky Mountains. <\/p>\n 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\u2014from a hot springs retreat<\/a> ideal for post-hike soaks to a brand-new resort with a futuristic spa and a golf course set among ancient lava tubes.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what\u2019s new in the Zion National Park area for 2026 and why this year is a good time to visit. <\/p>\n Zion Canyon Hot Springs <\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n 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\u2019s Hokkaido Hot Springs?<\/p>\n The answer lies just outside the park. Zion Canyon Hot Springs<\/a>, which opened last summer in La Verkin, Utah, offers travelers a restorative escape with 50 pools\u2014from geothermal soaks fed by local springs to cold plunges and mineral baths that replicate the world\u2019s most iconic hot springs and their therapeutic benefits. <\/p>\n The mineral formulas are inspired by top hot springs destinations around the world, as close as its sister property in Colorado\u2019s Glenwood Springs to those that mimic the magnesium-rich waters that are heated by a volcano in Fuentes Georginas, Guatemala.<\/p>\n The hot springs retreat includes a 21-and-over area and a family zone, along with barrel saunas, fire pits, a caf\u00e9, and private cabanas. <\/p>\n Book a nighttime reservation to soak under the stars. This part of Utah is known for its dark skies which makes for optimal stargazing.<\/p>\n Black Desert Resort, outside of Zion National Park, is now the largest resort in Utah.<\/span><\/p>\n Black Desert Resort<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Outside of Zion National Park in Ivins, Utah, Black Desert Resort<\/a> 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\u2014the Mojave Desert, the Colorado Plateau, and the Great Basin\u2014creating scenery that feels somewhat otherworldly.<\/p>\n In its inaugural year, the resort\u2019s 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\u200b\u200b that feature hole-by-hole audio commentary from Weiskopf. Fun fact: The closing hole features a devilish green inspired by Augusta National\u2019s fifth, with lava rock and bunkers shaping the fairway. <\/p>\n Lava fields surrounding hole 11 at Black Desert Resort’s golf course.<\/span><\/p>\n Black Desert Resort <\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Pickleball fans, take note, too. In spring 2026, the resort will debut 21 state-of-the-art courts, including a \u201cChampionship Court\u201d with seating for 1,000 spectators, which signals some big tournaments will be coming to the desert.<\/p>\n When it\u2019s time to slow the pace, Plume Spa & Wellness offers 15,000 square feet of restorative indulgence. Treatments like the \u201cLava and Ice Massage\u201d 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.<\/p>\n The resort\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Emerald Falls in Zion National Park.<\/span><\/p>\n getty<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n Emerald Pools hiked in Zion National Park takes visitors through lush scenery, dramatic cliffs, and cascading waterfalls. <\/p>\n The trail system features three destinations\u2014Lower, Middle, and Upper Emerald Pools\u2014each increasing in distance and difficulty. <\/p>\n 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n A gorgeous amphitheater surrounded by 1,500-foot red rock cliffs in the mouth of Padre Canyon, Tuacahn<\/a> will be celebrating its 30th season in 2026. The outdoor theatre hosts concerts and off-Broadway performances.<\/p>\n On the schedule for the 2026-27 season is \u201cFinding Nemo,\u201d \u201cLes Miserables,\u201d and \u201cGrease.\u201d<\/p>\n Luxury travelers can explore the national parks via a helicopter that departs from Amangiri’s helipad.<\/span><\/p>\n Amangiri<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Amangiri<\/a>, a luxury resort in Canyon Point, Utah, announced it will be offering guests exclusive private flights to Utah\u2019s \u201cMighty 5\u201d 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\u2019s helipad that\u2019s set among sandstone towers. Guests on these bespoke flights can remain in the air for aerial views or touch down to explore the parks. <\/p>\n The other route is a private flight to Arches, Canyonlands and Capitol Reef aboard a KingAir 200 or Pilatus PC-12 NG. <\/p>\n Zion National Park in Utah.<\/span><\/p>\n getty<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Zion excels in the shoulder seasons, including April and May and September and October. Travelers can avoid the summer\u2019s heat, which puts 100-degree days in forecast. With fewer crowds, the trails are also less crowded.<\/p>\n About 85 miles from Zion, Bryce Canyon is another popular national park in Utah.<\/span><\/p>\n getty<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Zion wins when it comes to visitation as the No. 2 most visited national park. But both Zion and Bryce are part of Utah\u2019s Mighty 5 national park system and each offer unique visitor experiences. <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n Zion and Bryce Canyon are about 85 miles apart, so a visit to Southern Utah could certainly include visiting both parks. <\/p>\n Springdale is at Zion National Park\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Warm light at an opening in Wire Pass, a narrow slot canyon in Zion National Park.<\/span><\/p>\n getty<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n 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\u2014more flowering plants than anywhere else in Utah.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n 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\u2014including a new hotel (the largest in Utah), a hot springs retreat, and private flight tours over the park\u2014making it an especially exciting time … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17849,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17848","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.jubi24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Whats-New-In-The-Zion-National-Park-Area-For-2026.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jubi24.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17848","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jubi24.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jubi24.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jubi24.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jubi24.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=17848"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.jubi24.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17848\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17850,"href":"https:\/\/www.jubi24.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17848\/revisions\/17850"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jubi24.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/17849"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jubi24.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=17848"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jubi24.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=17848"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jubi24.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=17848"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Soak in Global-Inspired Hot Springs <\/h2>\n
Tee Off, Play Pickleball, and Relax at Black Desert Resort<\/h2>\n
Emerald Pools Bridge at Zion National Park is Reopened <\/h2>\n
Tuacahn Amphitheatre is Celebrating its 30th Season <\/h2>\n
Explore the Parks Via a Private Flight<\/h2>\n
Frequently Asked Questions: <\/h2>\n
What Month is the Best for Zion National Park?<\/h3>\n
Which is Better: Zion or Bryce Canyon?<\/h3>\n
What Major City is Closest to Zion National Park?<\/h3>\n
What’s So Special About Zion National Park?<\/h3>\n
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