Directions

From Hurricane, Utah

1. Head north on S 100 W toward State St (456 ft)
2. Turn right at the 1st cross street onto W State St
   Pass by Wells Fargo Bank (on the left)
   (2.8 mi)
3. Turn right onto UT-9 E/W 500 N
   Continue to follow UT-9 E
   Partial toll road
   (20.6 mi)
4. Turn right (256 ft)
5. Turn left (184 ft)

After you park your vehicle outside the park, take the free shuttle for the tour.  Get off at each stop and enjoy the scenery.  It takes half day easy and you could spend all day.

CAMPGROUNDS [CAMP]: The Virgin River goes right by both the Zion campgrounds - Watchman and the South Campgrounds (both near the Springdale entrance to the park). There are some fine wading and swimming places right here in the river - very convenient if you are camping! If you are not camping, you can access these swimming holes via the PA'RUS trail (a short walk from the Visitor Center), which skirts the campgrounds along the Virgin River. An outstanding swimming hole is right behind Site 87 in the South Campground, PHOTO, PHOTO , PHOTO, PHOTO - but there are others too. LAT, LON lat=37.2007, lon=-112.9871(source: DeLorme) (accuracy: approximate) LINK TO GOOGLE MAP. Very confident. Verified 7/2014. Updated 7/2014.

CANYON JUNCTION [CANY]: A popular swimming place in the Virgin River at Canyon Junction, which is also near where Pine Creek joins the Virgin River (see PINE CREEK below). The shuttle bus stops here (and some of the shuttle bus operators even announce the swimming hole!). This is north of the Visitors Center (south of the lodge), where RT 9 turns right to go up the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway (see the valley map on the web site above). After you get off the shuttle bus at Canyon Junction, walk north short way to the "river access" sign and down to the river to the swimming places. The main swimming hole is just at the bottom of the small falls. PHOTO , PHOTO , PHOTO . LAT, LON lat=37.2189, lon=-112.9729(source: measured) (accuracy: exact) LINK TO GOOGLE MAP. Very confident. Verified 7/2014. Updated 7/2014.

LOWER PINE CREEK [LOWP]: An easy hike along Pine Creek (which empties into the Virgin River at Canyon Junction, above) with a couple of swimming holes along the way. LINK TO MORE INFO . To get here by car from Canyon Junction go up (east) on the Zion-Mt Carmel highway a very short distance to the first switchback and park just before the stone bridge over Pine Creek on the left (or, if by shuttle, walk up the road to here from the shuttle stop at Canyon Junction.).

To get here, follow a very apparent trail east and into the Pine Creek area for about .5 miles. You will need to cross the creek at least once. At about .5 miles, you will come to a bunch of large boulders blocking the creek - climb over these and the first swimming hole is just on the other side - a nice little falls and deep, narrow, green swimming hole below. You can jump off the rocks on the right into the deepest part of the hole. PHOTO 1, PHOTO 2 , PHOTO 3. LAT, LON lat=37.21737 , lon=-112.96039(source: measured) (accuracy: exact) LINK TO GOOGLE MAP.

If you clamber over rocks and go upstream a very short distance from here, you come to Lower Pine Creek Falls, about 10 feet high, but the pool at the bottom tends to be shallow and not as good a swimming place as the first place. It is a bit of a difficult rock clamber to go up to the falls - from the first place climb up the rocks face on the right (looking upstream) using the apparent "steps" in the rock. Clamber over a few boulders and you will see the falls. See link to photos above for the larger falls.

Also, if you park at the second switchback, look east over the guard wall and follow a well-maintained path down to the streambed. The path down is steep but not too difficult. The Pine Creek watercourse is strewn with many large boulders which have created many little alcoves, waterfalls, and pools -- fun for hanging out in the water. Very confident. Verified 7/2014. Updated 7/2014.

THE NARROWS [NARR]: At the north end of the canyon in Zion is "The Narrows" - where the Virgin River comes out of a deep, narrow canyon. You can get a permit (and a shuttle) and hike the entire Narrows from north to south (usually done as an over night trip). Information about the hike. Most people take a much shorter hike up into the Narrows - take shuttle to the north end of the valley (The Temple of Sinawava)and walk the "Riverside Trail" north. For the first mile, it is paved and there are numerous swimming holes clearly visible as you walk this paved trail - Photo along the walk to the Narrows , Photo along the walk to the Narrows. Then walk north in the Virgin River canyon (sometimes in the water - wear shoes that can get wet); there are also several places deep enough to be swimming holes along here also Photo of hiking in the Narrows , Photo of hiking in the Narrows.. After about 1.5 miles of walking in the river, you come to where the Narrows really begin. Here, on the right, Orderville Canyon comes in. Hike up this canyon about .5 mile and you will come to small falls with several swimmable pools. LAT, LON lat=37.3067, lon=-112.945(source: DeLorme) (accuracy: approximate) LINK TO GOOGLE MAP. Very confident. Partially verified. Updated 6/2007.

VIRGIN RIVER FALLS PARK [VIRG]: This one is not in Zion N.P. but is close by and a lot of fun! Near the town of Virgin, there is a town park where the Virgin River goes through a narrow slickrock slot - great for a swim or a short tubing trip (vault toilets). Photo 1 , Photo 2 , Photo 3 . To get here from Zion N.P., take RT 9 west to the town of Virgin. Go about .25 miles past (west of) the Fort Zion Restaurant and turn south (left) on Sheep Bridge Rd.. Cross the bridge over the Virgin River and turn immediately left where there is a sign for the Virgin River Falls Park and a gate. Drive this (rough dirt) road about .4 miles then you will see the toilet and picnic table. Park and walk to the river. Take an inner tube (and sun screen - no shade) and enjoy! LAT, LON lat=37.1975, lon=-113.2083 (source: DeLorme-p) (accuracy: exact) LINK TO GOOGLE MAP. Very confident. Verified 5/2007. Updated 10/2011.

Courtesy of swimmingholes.org