Virgin River Tubing

WANT TO GO TUBING IN ZION?

During scorching summer days in Zion National Park, tubing is usually the best way to beat the heat. Convenient, fun, and highly scenic, tubing is a tremendously popular way to see Zion. Even though the river flows right next to town, most sections are serene and remote, featuring lush greenery, bluebird skies, and awesome views of the red canyon walls above.

We typically have three "tubing seasons", as follows:

Summer Fun Season - Memorial Day thru Labor Day
Expect warm air temperatures, reasonable river flows, and lots of company on the river.

Spring Whitewater Season - May
Expect a fast river, cold water, and a wet and adveturous tubing run! We restrict some younger, smaller people from tubing during this season due to higher river levels. See PREREQUISITES for more details.

Too Cold Season - Labor Day thru April
Expect us to have all the tubes deflated and put away for the season. Only crazies tube during the winter.

All tubers must meet the following prerequisites to rent tubes at Zion Adventure Company:

1. Tubers must be at least 6 years old and weigh a minimum of 50 pounds. Children are not permitted to share a tube with an adult, for the safety of the child.
2. You must be capable of paddling and handling your own tube, as it is common to become separated from the rest of your group.
3. All tubers must be sober, without signs of being under the influence of drugs or alchol. Tubers may not carry or drink alcohol before or during their tubing trip.
4. All tubers must wear secure footwear that will not fall off their feet. Sandals without heel straps are not permitted.

Special Restrictions for Spring Whitewater Season
(River Flow Between 100 - 200 CFS)

• River flow 100-149 cfs: minimum age 13 and minimum weight is 100 pounds
• River flow 150-200 cfs: minimum age 18 and minimum weight is 100 pounds
• River flow above 200 cfs: tubing closed

RIVER TUBING: ZION'S BEST WET ADVENTURE

ZAC self-guided tubing trips start at the Quality Inn & RV Resort and end at the Springdale River Park, traveling a distance of about 2 miles. Depending on the river flow, the trip takes between an hour and 2 1/2 hours.

Your Zion tubing experience will vary greatly, depending on the time of year you go. Tubing season starts as Spring snowmelt eases, bringing the Virgen River back to reasonable flows. While the river is high (100 - 200 cfs), the tubing on the Virgin is a fast, wet, and wild experience. You can count on getting soaked in fairly cold water, and completing the tubing run in 70 - 90 minutes.

By July, the Virgin is typically down to 40 - 50 cfs, where it will typically stay for the rest of the year. At this flow, the Virgin is a fairly shallow, bumpy, rocky river. Tubing is an interactive event between you, the rocks, and the river, not a lazy river float. Tubes will get stuck on rocks during travel, requiring tubers to stand and move the tube to free it.

Zion Adventure Company includes a return shuttle ride back to our store with all tube rentals. Shuttles run every 20 minutes. We do our best to time your completion with our pick-up. When you exit the river at Springdale River Park, please bring your tube to the road, where you can wait in shade or sun until we arrive. You can also find public bathrooms, picnic tables, and drinking water at the Park.

BE PREPARED FOR YOUR ZION TUBING ADVENTURE

We provide your tube(s) and your shuttle ride back to Zion Adventure Company. The rest is up to you, but we recommend:

• Secure footwear that will not fall off. Sport sandals, aqua socks, or old tennis shoes are good options. Flip-flops are NOT allowed, as you WILL lose them.
• 1/2 - 1 quart of water/person
• Ample waterproof sunscreen
• Swimming suit and/or quick-dry, synthetic clothing
• Waterproof camera

GETTING BACK IS EASY

Zion Adventure Company includes a return shuttle ride back to our store with all tube rentals. Shuttles run every 20 minutes. When you exit the river at Springdale River Park, please bring your tube to the road, where you can wait in shade or sun until we arrive. You can also find public bathrooms, picnic tables, and drinking water at the Park.

PLEASE KEEP DRUGS & ALCOHOL OFF THE RIVER

We have consistently found drug and alcohol use during tubing creates problems for tubers, other river users, private property owners, ZAC staff, and the riparian environment along the Virgin River. As a result, illegal drugs and alcoholic beverages are expressly forbidden during your entire tubing experience. Zion Adventure Company reserves the right to withhold tubing rentals from any individual or group. If our staff sees illegal drugs and/or alcoholic beverages amongst your group, or smells alcohol on your breath, we WILL NOT rent you tubes.

PLEASE RESPECT PRIVATE LANDS

Though the river belongs to everyone, the shorelines along the Virgin River are largely private property. Entering or leaving the river via private property is expressly forbidden by Zion Adventure Company. In addition, using private river banks for lounging, eating, playing, or any other actively is inapporpriate and an infringment of private property owners' rights. Please respect our neighbors' privacy and property rights by remaining in the river until you reach the Springdale River Park.

A RESERVATION GUARANTEES YOUR ZION TUBING EXPERIENCE

To guarantee we have tubes for you and your group, consider reserving tubes for your river run. You may reserve tubes for any of the following times, subject to sell-out:

10:00
11:00
12:15
1:15
2:30
3:30
4:45

ZION RIVER TUBING RENTALS, ACCESSORIES, AND DETAILS

We rent tubes 7 days/week, mid-May through Labor Day weekend, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tubing rentals and departures occur at Zion Adventure Company at 36 Lion Blvd., across from the Quality Inn.

We advise early reservations. During busy periods, particularly weekends and holidays, we often run out of tubes and clients sometimes have to wait 30 - 90 minutes for tube to return from the river.