Zion is one of the most popular National Parks in the United States. This popularity can lead to it becoming extremely crowded and can cause visitors to spend upwards of an hour in line just waiting to get on a bus into park. Using the Pa’rus trail can allow you to by pass this line and see some beautiful sites along the way.

How to Get to the Pa’rus Trail

The Pa’rus Trail is an all paved, mostly flat, fully accessibly trail that runs all the way from the Zion National Park Visitor Center to the Canyon Junction shuttle stop. The whole route covers 3.5 miles, but you don’t have to go the whole way to skip the shuttle line, you just have to get to the Human History Museum.

To get on the trail walk up the road from the visitor center area as if you were heading back to the main road (Zion Park Blvd). Once you have passed over the river on the bridge look for the trail going off to your right. It should be paved and marked as the Pa’rus Trail.

Getting to the Human History Museum

Follow the flat easy trail along the Virgin River. There are many places along the trail where you can access the river if you want to go down and wade in it. The trail will pass along the campground and the park rangers residential area. After the trail crosses another road you will find that it splits. Part of the path continues on along the river and is paved, the other part goes left and is not paved.

The left fork will take you under Zion Park Blvd and to the Human History Museum. The Museum is where you can watch a short film about Zion National Park and see some exhibits on the history of the humans who have lived here. It is also where you can catch the shuttle further into the canyon and avoid the massive lines at the visitor center.

Make sure you get the bus going north into the canyon, not south back to the visitor center. Be aware that the buses will be very full, so you will have to stand. They fill all the seats on the bus at the visitor center, but leave the standing room so it can pick up people inside the park.

Sum Up

Even if you are not trying to skip the shuttle line at the visitor center the Pa’rus trail is a nice easy walk that you can do. It is also open to bikes and pets. The whole thing is a little long, but the portion to or from the museum is not bad. Bathrooms and water are found at both the visitor center and the museum.

Alternatively you can also park at the museum if you get there very early. Then you never have to deal with the crowds at the visitor center. Behind the museum is the best place to catch the sunrise in Zion.