Zion National Park Helicopter Tour

A helicopter flight from Virgin, at the gateway to Zion in Utah

This helicopter flight departs from Virgin, in southern Utah, at the Zion Helicopters Rivers Edge Heliport, with five options available to adjust the duration and extent of the route: 10, 20, 50, 90 or 120 minutes. The shorter routes fly over Zion National Park and its terrain, while the longer flights extend the helicopter tour toward Bryce Canyon or, for the 2-hour option, as far as Horseshoe Bend and Lake Powell. During the flight, the pilot provides commentary on the landscapes, their geology and certain historical landmarks.

Helicopter flights in Utah that really change with the duration

The 10-minute option offers a view of the Virgin River valley, with West Temple and Crater Hill Volcano among the main landmarks listed.

In 20 minutes, the helicopter tour extends toward Smith Mesa, Kolob Canyons, Red Butte Mountain and West Zion.

The 50-minute flight forms a loop of about 100 miles around the Zion region: it notably adds Canaan Mountain Wilderness, Kolob Canyon, Smith Mesa, Smithsonian Butte and East Zion.

The 90-minute option connects the landscapes of Zion and Bryce Canyon. The route passes through Gooseberry Mesa, the Canaan Mountain Range, the East Fork of the Virgin River, The Barracks and the Paunsagunt Plateau before reaching the rim of Bryce Canyon, with aerial views of Sunrise Point and Sunset Point. The return route goes through East Zion, Deep Creek Wilderness Area, Kolob Canyon and the northern edge of Zion.

The 2-hour helicopter flight is the most extensive, as it heads toward Canaan Mountain Wilderness, Coral Pink Sand Dunes and the Vermilion Cliffs, then reaches Paria Canyon, Horseshoe Bend and Marble Canyon. The flight route continues over Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam before returning toward White Cliffs, The Barracks, the East Fork of the Virgin River and the Zion access area near Springdale.

How the experience works

For the 10-, 20-, 50- and 90-minute options, guests are asked to arrive 20 minutes before the reserved time, and a safety briefing is provided.

The 10- and 20-minute flights focus on a concentrated aerial experience of Zion, while the 50-minute option makes a much wider loop around the park and Canaan Mountain Wilderness. In 90 minutes, the route connects Zion and Bryce Canyon, and the 120-minute tour expands the scale even further by continuing toward Arizona, Horseshoe Bend and Lake Powell. The first four options are subject to a minimum of 5 passengers per flight.

All options depart from the same heliport in Virgin, but the selected duration directly determines the distance traveled and the sites seen.