From its steep hiking trails to the challenging landscapes, it’s easy to assume that Zion has little to offer families with young children. But this isn’t the case at all!
A stay in our Zion National Park accommodations is a great choice for families of all ages and abilities! During your stay at Zion Wildflower, you can take kid-friendly hikes, experience the Junior Ranger program, spend a day enjoying our resort’s amenities, and more.
Keep reading to learn some of the best kid-friendly activities to enjoy during your stay at hotels near Virgin Utah.
In Zion National Park
Zion National Park has plenty of activities, trails, and more that families with kids of all ages can enjoy together.
Become a Junior Ranger
One of the best activities for children in Zion National Park is the Junior Ranger Explorer program. The NPS Junior Ranger program is available at most national parks. It’s an activity-based program that encourages young visitors to interact with park rangers and to learn about the park and its wildlife, plantlife, history, and more. Individuals of all ages can participate in the program, though it is specifically designed for those between the ages of 5 and 13.
In Zion National Park, the Junior Ranger program offers both a guided and self-guided program designed for anyone age four or older. You can pick up a self-guided activity booklet for free at the park’s visitor centers, the Nature Center, or at the Zion Human History Museum. You can also download and print the activity booklet online ahead of your visit.
After completing your activity booklet, you can head to one of Zion’s visitor centers. Here, your Junior Ranger will recite the Zion Junior Ranger Pledge, and receive a free Junior Ranger badge. If you visit other national parks during your stay in hotels near Virgin Utah or elsewhere in the country, you can collect different Junior Ranger badges for a fun souvenir for your little ones!
If you missed out on the Junior Ranger program during your visit to Zion or run out of time to complete the booklet, you can also complete it at home and email in pictures of it to receive a badge by mail after your stay in the best hotels Zion has to offer.
Attend a Ranger Program
The Junior Ranger program isn’t the only way that families can learn about the park together. Zion also offers a variety of ranger-led activities throughout the year.
Each day, a ranger leads a unique talk about park-related topics at 4 p.m. in the Zion Lodge. You can also join a Ranger talk at 1 p.m. daily in the Zion Canyon Visitor Center Plaza. Twice daily, at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., rangers lead talks at the Zion Human History Museum.
You can also join a daily ranger-led hike at 8 a.m. You can sign up for free ahead of the hike at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center. The hike is typically two hours on the 3.5-mile Watchman Trail. If your little ones aren’t up for a hike, the Ride with a Ranger program is a two-hour interpretive bus ride through Zion Canyon. This ride is free, though space is limited. You can sign up ahead of time at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center.
Take a Hike
Zion might be best known for iconic trails like The Narrows and Angels Landing. But while these might be on your bucket list, they aren’t the most kid-friendly trails, especially for those with younger children.
Luckily, the park has plenty of family-friendly trails to enjoy during your stay in our Zion National Park accommodations. The Pa’rus Trail is one of the most popular options. This easy 3.5-mile trail is paved and relatively flat. This is also the only trail in the park that’s open to strollers, bikes, and even pets. This means that your little one can ride while you enjoy the incredible views of Zion’s peaks.
If your family wants to enjoy great views without having to take on Angels Landing, the Canyon Overlook Trail is a great alternative. This trail is located in the Upper Canyon. It’s just a one-mile round trip but offers a stunning view of Zion Canyon. You can even spot the Pine Creek Slot Canyon far below.
At Your Zion National Park Accommodations
There are plenty of things for families of all ages to do at Zion National Park. But when you book a stay at one of the best hotels Zion has to offer, you won’t even need to go to the park to enjoy an amazing day together.
Zion Wildflower Resort has a variety of on-site amenities for families to enjoy. Take a dip in our brand-new pool. Hop on our complimentary bikes for a ride around the property. Start a little family competition with our lawn games. We even have a beautiful playground great for letting little ones burn off some energy and flex their imagination. At the end of a long day, enjoy a campfire and roast s’mores together.
A canvas tent glamping experience is also certain to be a hit with kids of all ages. Those just learning about how our early pioneers traveled will especially love our Covered Wagons!
If you’re ready to start planning your next family vacation, book your stay at Zion Wildflower Resort today!
