# Zion National Park this week

> Week of Nov 9–15, 2026 · UT · Shuttle season ends Nov 28; cool days, cold canyon water, storms Friday night. Facts fetched Nov 12, 2026 from official NPS and NWS sources.

HTML version: https://parks.goes.health/parks/zion/

Zion is open 24/7 year-round. The Zion Canyon shuttle is on its late-fall schedule through Nov 28 (first bus 7 am, last bus up-canyon 5 pm, last bus out of Temple of Sinawava 6:15 pm), with no shuttle service Nov 29 – Dec 25. NWS forecasts sunny days Thursday, then rain and thunderstorms Friday night into Saturday. The Narrows closes whenever NWS issues a Flash Flood Warning or the Virgin River tops 150 cfs. Sources: [Zion Canyon shuttle schedule](https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/zion-canyon-shuttle-system.htm); [Zion operating hours & facility hours](https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/hours.htm); [National Weather Service point forecasts (api.weather.gov, fetched Nov 12)](https://www.weather.gov/); [Zion Current Conditions](https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/conditions.htm)

## Entrances open this week

- [South Entrance](https://parks.goes.health/parks/zion/south-entrance.md) (Springdale, UT (SR-9)): **Open — shuttle through Nov 28**. The South Entrance at Springdale leads to the Zion Canyon Visitor Center, where shuttles leave for the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, the Riverside Walk and The Narrows.
- [East Entrance](https://parks.goes.health/parks/zion/east-entrance.md) (Mt. Carmel Junction, UT (SR-9)): **Open — gravel section, size limits**. The East Entrance west of Mt. Carmel Junction starts the Zion–Mt. Carmel Highway: slickrock country, the Canyon Overlook Trail, and the historic tunnel down to Zion Canyon.
- [Kolob Canyons Entrance](https://parks.goes.health/parks/zion/kolob-canyons-entrance.md) (I-15 Exit 40 (near Cedar City)): **Open — may close for snow or ice**. Kolob Canyons is Zion's quieter northwest district, at I-15 Exit 40, 17 miles south of Cedar City and about an hour from Zion Canyon. A five-mile scenic drive leads to viewpoints and wilderness trails.

## Closed or limited this week

- **Watchman Trail.** Closed pending repairs. Sources: [NPS Zion alerts (NPS Data API, fetched Nov 12)](https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/conditions.htm)
- **Hidden Canyon / Observation Point from Zion Canyon.** The East Rim Trail is partially closed by a large rockfall: Hidden Canyon is closed, and Observation Point can only be reached from the east. Sources: [Zion Current Conditions](https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/conditions.htm)

**Entrance fee:** Private vehicle $35. Non-US residents 16+ pay an additional $100 nonresident fee unless entering with an annual / America the Beautiful pass. Angels Landing requires a separate permit. Sources: [NPS Zion fees & passes](https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/fees.htm); [NPS Data API (parks, operating hours, fees)](https://www.nps.gov/subjects/developer/api-documentation.htm); [Angels Landing permits](https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/angels-landing-hiking-permits.htm)

## What matters in Zion right now

- **Flash floods.** Flash floods can happen at any time in Zion, carrying trees and boulders. The Narrows closes when flow exceeds 150 cfs or when NWS issues a Flash Flood Warning. Rain and thunderstorms are forecast Friday night into Saturday this week. Sources: [Zion safety: flash floods, cliffs, hypothermia, water](https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/safety.htm); [Zion Current Conditions](https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/conditions.htm); [National Weather Service point forecasts (api.weather.gov, fetched Nov 12)](https://www.weather.gov/)
  - In GOES: 125+ extreme weather alerts
- **Toxic cyanobacteria.** Don't drink water from rivers, streams or pools, and don't submerge your head in them. Use potable water, and treat spring water only as a last resort. Sources: [Zion toxic cyanobacteria advisory](https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/toxic-cyanobacteria-bloom-in-the-virgin-river-and-the-streams-of-zion-national-park.htm); [NPS Zion alerts (NPS Data API, fetched Nov 12)](https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/conditions.htm)
  - In GOES: Offline interactive health assessment + 50+ visual how-to guides
- **Hypothermia in the canyons.** NPS: hypothermia is a major hazard in narrow canyons, and immersion in water is the fastest way to lose body heat. Avoid cotton and eat before you get chilled. Sources: [Zion safety: flash floods, cliffs, hypothermia, water](https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/safety.htm)
  - In GOES: Environmental Health: hypothermia and frostbite assessments
- **Cliffs.** Falls from cliffs on trails have caused deaths. Loose sand on stone is slippery, so stay on the trail and back from edges. Sources: [Zion safety: flash floods, cliffs, hypothermia, water](https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/safety.htm)
  - In GOES: Offline interactive health assessment + 50+ visual how-to guides

## Active Zion NPS alerts

From the NPS Data API, fetched Nov 12, 2026. Live: https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

- **[Park Closure] Watchman Trail closed.** The Watchman Trail is closed pending repairs.
- **[Caution] Large vehicle restrictions on Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway.** Vehicles that exceed length, width, height, or weight limits cannot travel between Canyon Junction and the park's East Entrance. See the current limits on the page linked below. (https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/large-vehicles.htm)
- **[Caution] Toxic cyanobacteria in rivers, streams, and pools.** Do not submerge your head in or drink instream water in Zion National Park. (https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/toxic-cyanobacteria-bloom-in-the-virgin-river-and-the-streams-of-zion-national-park.htm)
- **[Information] Angels Landing Pilot Permit Program.** All hikers need a permit to hike Angels Landing. Learn why you need a permit and how to get one using the link below. (https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/angels-landing-hiking-permits.htm)
- **[Information] Please park legally and responsibly.** Zion has limited parking. Once parking spaces in Zion are full, visitors should park in Springdale. Please park only in designated spaces. Vehicles parked outside of designated spaces are subject to citation and towing. (https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/traffic.htm#parking)

Follow official NPS rules, posted closures and ranger instructions. They override anything on this page.

## Get the GOES app before the gate

**When signal drops, GOES steps in.** Flash floods, cliff edges, cold water that causes hypothermia, and toxic cyanobacteria in the river. GOES carries offline guidance for all of these.

GOES — Outdoor Health & Safety is your outdoor safety companion: an offline interactive health assessment, 50+ visual how-to guides, 200+ prevention tips across 60+ medical topics, and location-specific risk indicators (wildlife, cold, heat, altitude, ticks, poisonous plants, UV, smoke). Built by wilderness medicine physicians: founded by Dr. Grant Lipman; Chief Medical Officer Dr. Colin Little, MD, FAWM.

- iOS (App Store): https://apps.apple.com/us/app/goes-outdoor-health-safety/id1576527901
- Android (Google Play): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.goes.mobile
- About GOES: https://goes.health/platform

Free to download. Premium features need a monthly or annual subscription after a 7-day free trial. GOES provides guidance. It is not a substitute for professional medical care.

## Sources

- [Zion Canyon shuttle schedule](https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/zion-canyon-shuttle-system.htm)
- [Zion operating hours & facility hours](https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/hours.htm)
- [National Weather Service point forecasts (api.weather.gov, fetched Nov 12)](https://www.weather.gov/)
- [Zion Current Conditions](https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/conditions.htm)
- [NPS Zion fees & passes](https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/fees.htm)
- [NPS Data API (parks, operating hours, fees)](https://www.nps.gov/subjects/developer/api-documentation.htm)
- [Angels Landing permits](https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/angels-landing-hiking-permits.htm)
- [NPS Zion alerts (NPS Data API, fetched Nov 12)](https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/conditions.htm)
- [Zion safety: flash floods, cliffs, hypothermia, water](https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/safety.htm)
- [Zion toxic cyanobacteria advisory](https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/toxic-cyanobacteria-bloom-in-the-virgin-river-and-the-streams-of-zion-national-park.htm)
- [NPS Zion National Park](https://www.nps.gov/zion/index.htm)
- [News release: Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway reopens (Oct 9, 2026)](https://www.nps.gov/zion/learn/news/2026-10-09-zmch.htm)
- [Zion large-vehicle restrictions](https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/large-vehicles.htm)
- [Kolob Canyons](https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/kolob-canyons.htm)

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*GOES provides guidance. It is not a substitute for professional medical care. ParkReady Guides is not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Park Service. Always follow official NPS rules, posted closures and ranger instructions. Conditions change quickly; check the linked NPS pages before you go. In an emergency, call 911.*

ParkReady Guides by GOES Health · Week of Nov 9–15, 2026 · facts fetched Nov 12, 2026 from NPS and NWS. Agent overview: https://parks.goes.health/llms.txt · Conditions feed (JSON): https://parks.goes.health/conditions.json