Gear rental, and what you actually need
For almost every visitor there is exactly one thing worth renting in Springdale, and the decision is made by water temperature rather than by the forecast.
- Summer package
- From around $31
- Shoulder season
- From around $59
- Winter drysuit
- From around $79
- Rental period
- Usually one day
The only thing most people need to rent
Springdale’s outfitters rent a lot of things. For the overwhelming majority of visitors the list is short: gear for The Narrows, and possibly a bike.
Every other hike in Zion is a normal hike. You need shoes, water, sun protection and layers, all of which you already own. The Narrows is different because it is a hike up a river, on loose cobbles you cannot see, in water that is cold for most of the year.
The important thing the shops get right and visitors get wrong: you pick a package by water temperature, not air temperature. An 80 degree October afternoon still means cold water, and that is the mistake that turns a good day into a short one.
Three tiers, and what is in each
Springdale outfitters have standardised on roughly the same three packages. The range below spans two shops’ published rates at the time of writing, which is the real spread: a few dollars per tier. Every shop sets its own and they change with season and demand.
| Package | From | What is in it | When you want it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Footwear package | $31 to $35 | Neoprene socks, canyon shoes, walking stick | Summer, roughly mid May to September |
| Dry bib package | $59 to $65 | The above plus dry bibs with latex ankle gaskets | Late spring and early autumn shoulder |
| Drysuit package | $79 to $85 | The above plus a full drysuit with wrist and ankle gaskets | Winter, and any time the water is cold |
Outfitters generally recommend bibs or a drysuit from around October 1 through mid May. Winter water runs in the upper thirties and low forties, which is genuinely dangerous without a suit that fits properly.
Gear is usually collected the evening before or first thing on the morning of your hike and returned before closing the same day. Multi day rates exist and child sizes are available for drysuits.
What each piece is actually for
Worth renting
- Canyon shoes. Stiff soled, they drain, and they grip wet cobble in a way trail runners do not. Your own shoes will work and will be wrecked.
- Neoprene socks. The best value item on the whole list. They turn cold water from a countdown into a non issue for hours.
- Walking stick. Not optional and not the same as a trekking pole. Three points of contact on invisible footing in current is the entire technique.
- Dry bibs or a drysuit in cold season. There is no home substitute. Rain trousers are not it.
Bring your own
- Water. Two litres minimum. You are walking in a river you must not drink from.
- Synthetic or wool layers. No cotton, no jeans.
- A dry bag for phone and keys. Assume you will go in at some point.
- Food, more than you think for anything past the first bend.
- Sun protection for the walk in, which is exposed even when the canyon is not.
Bikes, e-bikes and the shuttle rule
E-bikes are not allowed on the park shuttle. Regular bikes are, three per shuttle.
That single rule decides how a bike day in Zion works. Riding the scenic drive is genuinely one of the best things you can do in the canyon, especially early, because you move at your own pace and stop wherever you like while everyone else waits for a bus.
But if you rent an e-bike you are riding the whole way out and the whole way back under your own power, because you cannot put it on a shuttle to shortcut either direction. On a regular bike you can, if one of the three slots is free, which in season it often is not.
Plan the ride as an out and back either way. Springdale shops rent both, and the ride from town to the top of the scenic drive and back is a comfortable half day for a reasonably fit rider.
Full detail on riding in the canyon, including guided options, is on the e-bike tours page. The shuttle rules in full are on the shuttle page.
The shops on the road
Springdale’s outfitters are clustered toward the north end of Zion Park Boulevard, nearest the park entrance, which is exactly where you want them at seven in the morning.
| Shop | Rents | Also worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Zion Outfitter | Narrows packages, bikes | Sits right by the pedestrian entrance, which makes an early start easy |
| Zion Adventure Company | Narrows packages, bikes | The published package structure most shops follow; also runs canyoneering courses and top down shuttles |
| Zion Guru | Narrows packages | Also guides and runs canyoneering outside the park |
| Zion Cycles | Bikes, Narrows gear | Bike focused, useful if riding is the main plan |
Confirm hours before you count on them
Opening times shift with the season and shops close or reduce hours in winter. If you need gear for a dawn start, sort it the evening before rather than assuming a shop opens at six. Most will let you collect the night before at no extra cost, which is the single most useful thing to know on this page.
Common questions about renting gear in Springdale
Do I need to rent gear for The Narrows?
In summer, not strictly. Sturdy closed toe shoes you do not mind ruining will get you up the river. Rented canyon shoes and neoprene socks make a long day much more comfortable, and the walking stick matters more than either. From October to mid May, bibs or a drysuit stop being optional.
How much does Narrows gear rental cost?
Springdale packages start at around $31 for summer footwear, $59 for a dry bib package and $79 for a full drysuit. Those are starting day rates from one operator's published pricing; every shop sets its own and they change by season.
Can I rent gear the night before?
Usually yes, and you should. Most Springdale shops let you collect the evening before at no extra charge, which is what makes a dawn start possible.
Do I need to rent anything for other Zion hikes?
No. Angels Landing, Emerald Pools, Watchman and the rest are ordinary hikes. Shoes, water, layers and sun protection, all of which you already own.
Can I take a rented e-bike on the shuttle?
No. E-bikes are not allowed on the Zion shuttle at all. Regular bikes are permitted at a maximum of three per shuttle, so plan a bike day as an out and back.
How long is the rental period?
Typically one day, collected the evening before or that morning and returned before closing. Multi day rates are available at most shops.
Is there anywhere to rent gear closer to the park than Springdale?
No. Springdale is as close as it gets, and the shops nearest the pedestrian entrance are the practical choice for an early start.
Rent the right thing, then go
Gear is a small decision that changes the day. Sort it the night before and start early.
Also useful: how the shuttle works, where to stay and planning the trip.
Hiking The Narrows tomorrow? Collect gear the evening before.
Read the Narrows guide