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A shuttle bus travels through Zion Canyon beside a tree-lined river and towering red and white cliffs

Park news · Zion

Zion: Canyon Shuttle Stops at The Grotto, Stop #6, After a Rockfall

A large rockfall has cut the Zion Canyon shuttle short, so it now runs only as far as The Grotto, stop #6.

By Jocelyn Pion,

If you're planning a trip to Zion, there's one logistics detail worth sorting out before you lock in your itinerary. The free shuttle that runs up Zion Canyon is on a shortened route right now. It normally goes all the way to The Grotto, stop #6, but it's no longer serving the stops higher up the valley. The reason is a large rockfall on the road, which led the park to suspend service beyond that point until further notice.

In practical terms, this changes your plans if you were aiming for the top of the canyon. The last few stops, including the one that gets you to the walk toward the Narrows from the Temple of Sinawava, can't be reached by shuttle for now. So The Grotto becomes the practical end of the line. That's still a great place to start, with several trails branching out from here, and you can build your day around this area without depending on the closed stops.

Towering red cliffs above a river, with a large rockfall and scattered shrubs at their base

Our tip is to stay flexible with your schedule and check on the service first thing in the morning, at the park entrance or the visitor center. A rockfall situation shifts, and the stretch could reopen without warning or stay closed for several days. Have a plan B for hiking, sticking to routes you can reach from the stops that are still running, and get an early start to beat the crowds on this shortened section.

To see how the shuttle works, where to park, and which trails leave from each stop, lean on the Zion park guide before you head out. You'll find what you need to rework your day around The Grotto without the frustration. And if Zion is part of a bigger loop through the American West, take a look at our road trip itinerary that runs through this park to line up your stops and overnight stays.

One last thing. Always respect the barriers and signage on site. These closures come down to a real safety concern, and the rock stays unstable after this kind of event.