Established in 1919, Zion National Park is the oldest of the 5 National Parks in Utah. The park is famous for its slot canyons and bright red mountains. We’re stunned by the sights of this park no matter how many times we come back and Zion has some of the most unique hikes we’ve ever done.
Angel’s Landing
Rising 1,500 feet out of Zion Canyon, this hike is one of the most impressive, and strenuous, hikes in the park. While only a five mile round trip, the last half mile requires you to climb steep rock faces with only a chain for balance. Some portions of the trail run over ridges only a few yards wide with a sheer 1,500-foot drop to the canyon floor on either side. Are your palms sweaty yet? Despite potential dangers, we’ve seen people of all ages make it to the summit. If you take it slow, stay on the trail, and pass other hikers safely on the chain sections you’ll make it to the top just fine and be rewarded with stunning views of Zion Canyon. Observation Point is 700 feet taller than Angel’s Landing, but lacks the ability to brag to your friends and horrify your mother that you climbed this:
The Narrows
Probably the most famous hike in the park and for good reason; The Narrows is unlike any other hike you will ever experience. You will be wading up the Virgin River for most of the trail with the water high enough to reach mid-thigh much of the time. You will be surrounded by stunning slot canyons hundreds of feet tall created by the river slowly carving a path through the rock over thousands of years. While this hike is one of our favorites it can be deadly given the wrong conditions. Thunderstorms in the area can cause flash floods which will rip through The Narrows carrying rocks and logs far faster than you can swim or run out of the canyons. Always check the weather before venturing into The Narrows and turn around if there are signs that a thunderstorm is coming.
There are two kinds of people that hike The Narrows: People who have fun hiking the narrows and people who are poorly equipped to hike The Narrows. Without proper shoes and a walking stick, your time in The Narrows is almost guaranteed to be miserable. The stones on the bed of the river are slick and without good soled shoes you will be face first in the water often. A walking stick is a huge help as well because it will not only act as a third leg can be helpful in probing how deep the water in front of you is so you aren’t caught off guard if the depth changes suddenly. If you don’t want to invest the money in gear for a single hike there are plenty of outfitters in Springdale right outside the park that rent Narrows Packages that come with shoes, walking sticks, and neoprene socks to keep your feet warm even after they’ve been in the water for hours.
Emerald Pools
The Emerald Pool hike consists of the lower, middle, and upper pools and is a staple of the Zion National Park Experience. The trail is relatively easy and is great for families. The pools are a valuable source of water for wildlife in the area which means that if you’re lucky enough you might see deer along the way.
Lodging
Zion is one of the most popular national parks making finding lodging in the park or nearby difficult. There are two campgrounds in the park: Watchman Campground and South Campground. Reservations are recommended because both campgrounds are full every night during reservation season. Reservations for Watchman Campground can be made up to six months in advance and the campground features both electric and tent campsites. Reservations for South Campground can be made two weeks prior to your arrival date and is a great option for a spur of the moment trip to the park.
If camping is unavailable in the park or you’d rather stay out of the heat in the middle of summer there are a lot of options on Air BnB in Hurricane and Springfield. Springfield is the first town outside of the south entrance to the park and Hurricane is a 30-minute drive to the south entrance.