March 27th – 29th, 2018
Zion National Park
Zion Canyon, Utah
Vertical Rock Walls at Zion National Park
The Westernmost park of The Mighty Five. Zion, Bryce, Capital Reef, Canyonlands, and Arches National Parks.
Overview
Starting our Southern Utah tour with the famous Zion National Park. We spent three full days hiking into deep canyons and up the steepest scariest trails we have ever been on. Zion is most well known for its namesake canyon, Zion Canyon. The canyon is 15 miles long and up to 2,640 ft deep! Walls of the canyon are a beautiful reddish color from the layers of Navajo Sandstone. A shuttle system takes visitors up and down the Virgin River/Canyon to several trailheads, museums, and a hotel. The canyon area was very busy with tourists during our visit, but we found that getting to the park early and hopping on the shuttle right away helped cut down on time spent waiting in line. Once in the heart of the canyon, we never had to wait more than five minutes for a shuttle. Shuttles were implemented in the 1970s as a way to reduce traffic, smog, and noise pollution. Because of the reduced car traffic, wildlife has been able to return to the canyon floor.
A Very Brief History
Zion has a long history of Native Americans thriving along the Virgin River and exploring the nearby slot canyons further up the river. It is estimated that people lived in the area as long as 8,000 years ago. It was the Mormons who were the first white people to settle the area. Mormons petitioned the National Park Service to change the park’s name to Zion. The Latter Day Saints refer to Zion as a utopia for the righteous. Seeing how beautiful the landscape is here, it’s easy to see why people thought it could be a utopia. President Woodrow Wilson made Zion an official national park in 1919.
Day 1
We drove in from the East entrance and made our way to the Visitor Center and the heart of Zion Canyon (where all the green on the map is)
First impression of the park on the easternmost side.
The eastern side has a couple of tunnels that are impassible to Semi Trucks and large RV’s. Several times a year an RV will unknowingly head East out of the park and get stuck in the tunnel causing major traffic jams. We only drove through this section of the park as we knew we wanted to spend most of our time in the canyon area.
Welcome to Zion!
Gotta take our picture with the entrance sign!
Waiting in Line!
Our first day in the park we arrived at the visitor center area around 9:30 AM. Already the line to get on the shuttle system was very backed up.
Almost to the front of the line! We had to wait just over an hour and a half to get on the shuttle.
Once you are out of the visitor center area the lines are never a problem and the system works great. We made sure to get into the park earlier the next two days to avoid the lines.
The Scariest Trail We Have Ever Done… That Camrin Did.
At the trailhead about to embark on the scariest thing we’ve done on our trip, yet! Angels Landing!!
Starting off easy.
Getting higher. Starting to get great views of the canyon looking South.
This is the last open flat stop before following a chain along a VERY narrow ridge.
That little chain is all there is to hold onto when going up the ridge. It terrifying!!! There are 2,000-foot drop-offs on both sides!! Some sections have, maybe, two to three feet of trail and then drop-offs. One misstep and you are going over! Seriously, people die every year trying to hike this trail.
Another view of the chain. And Laura’s stopping point 🙁
The one pic of Laura on this trail. A terrified Laura clinging to the chain! It’s hard to tell in this photo, but there is a 1,000-foot drop off inches to the right. So, Laura’s vertigo returned and she called it quits about half way up.
But not all was lost for Laura. She did get a glimpse of a rare California Condor! The largest land bird in the U.S.
Ok. So, it’s a pretty ugly bird, but did you know that this bird was considered extinct in the wild in 1987? It has since made a comeback but is still critically endangered.
Camrin at the Top!
Meanwhile, Camrin was brave and made it to the top of Angel’s Landing.
And Camrin made friends! This is Josh, a teacher from California. This trail is scary and very crowded so it’s really helpful to have a hiking buddy.
The trail gets down to single file at several points and when it’s crowded this trail is traffic jam central. These are all the people with Camrin who made it to the top.
View from the top. Amazing view of the Canyon. Good Job Camrin… Laura, maybe next time your vertigo won’t be so bad.
Laura watches and waits for Camrin to come back down. Here, you can better see a section that is single file and very narrow.
It’s pretty terrifying to take any photos while hiking the narrow parts. This is the one pic Camrin took while hiking a narrow section. Looking lovely 😉
Reunited!
Time to hike back down the many switchbacks to the trailhead.
One more look at the Canyon from up high.
Back on flat ground!
The parking lot is still full by the visitor center. This park can be so busy people have to park in the nearby town and take a shuttle to the entrance.
After a harrowing hike and Laura feeling a bit defeated it was time to find a camp spot. We camped about 6 miles outside of the park on BLM land. Maybe a ten-minute drive from the park entrance.
Day 2
Back on the shuttle to our first hike of the day.
View from our shuttle.
Riverside Walk to the Temple of Sinawava
Starting our day out with a freezing, but easy hike. This trail follows the Virgin River up the canyon until you run into the river and the canyon narrows. Hikers are welcome to continue hiking up the river (literally in the water), but waders are recommended because of the water’s freezing temperatures. Local outfitters rent all the gear one would need to safely hike up the river.
Like most Slot Canyons flash floods can happen at any time. If you plan to hike in the river make sure to stop by the visitor center first for up to date information on water levels.
The canyon is getting narrower.
Passed by a small hanging garden. There is so much water seeping through the canyon walls that plants can grow up on the rocks.
At this time of the year, they tend to be frozen.
Adding some color to our hike.
Walking alongside aqua water at the bottom of a red canyon.
The Narrows
This is the end of the trail for us. After this point, if you go on, you hike in the water. They call this trail system The Narrows.
Full body waders and walking sticks are a necessity. Next time we come back we’ll rent gear and go further up. This trail goes for several more miles through narrow slot canyons.
On our way back to the trailhead. The sun creeps its way out to fill the valley with sunlight and illuminate the water.
Last view of the River Walk trail.
Weeping Rock
A better description of what a Hanging Garden is.
A short, but steep hike takes you to a large arched alcove on the rock wall. Water constantly flows over the rock kind of like a thin waterfall.
Someone took our picture.
Water
Looks like Cilantro :/
The Zion Snail!
This little black dot was one of our favorite things to see at Zion! It’s the worlds smallest snail! The Zion Snail! They are about the size of a needle’s head. Approx. 1/8th to 1/16th of an inch in diameter. They can only be found along the Virgin River in the Zion Canyon. We were the only people around who even noticed them. What a charming little creature! If you see them, please don’t touch them. Their shells are extremely fragile.
Edible Watercress growing in a shallow pool of water. Camrin tried some, she said it was good.
?
Nearby the Hanging Garden is the start of several trails that go up into the canyon on the Eastern side of the valley. The Hidden Canyon trail was highly recommended by the visitor center staff. It is one of the more challenging hikes in the park.
An even steeper climb than Angel’s Landing we pooped out half way up. Across the way, you can see hikers on a ledge climbing further up.
Finished our second day in the park lazily wandering around down by the river.
Day 3
For our last day at Zion, we drove to the Kolob Canyons’ side of the park. Very few people take the time to visit this side of the park, which was a nice reprieve from the crowds of the last two days.
Taylor Creek Trail
A 5 mile round trip hike goes through Upper Alpine forest, past old Mormon settlements, and to a Double Arch Alcove.
Wilderness! Where we feel most at home 🙂
The trail crosses Taylor Creek several times.
Thanks, random hiker for taking our picture together.
There are two old cabins the trail passes by. Mormons first settled this area around 1853 until 1909 when the area was designated a National Monument.
When the light hits the rock walls just right, they really show their red color. The sunlight only hits the rocks like this for a few minutes. We stopped dead in our tracks when it happened and stood in awe.
WOW! That Color!
Didn’t realize this hike would cross the creek so many times and Camrin decided not to wear her waterproof boots. She tiptoed across the rocks in the creek like a cat who’s afraid of water.
Scenic Drive
An out and back road takes you to great overlooks of the Kolob Canyons. We spent the last of our time at Zion warming up in the Jeep and enjoying the scenery.
Our time at Zion NP was absolutely amazing! It was a bit crowded and cold, but those canyon walls will take your breath away. We loved the snails and the steep trails. Hopefully, next time Laura will make it to the top of Angel’s Landing. Maybe we’ll try it in the offseason when the trail isn’t as crowded and there is less worry someone will accidentally push you off a cliff.
Onwards to Bryce Canyon!
Leaving Zion and making our way through the high desert and mountain landscape to Bryce Canyon NP.
Oh, Southern Utah and your beautiful landscapes!
Except for the snow… that we will have to camp in. Well, it is March and we’re at pretty high elevation.
Gas Station Tornado!!! Our favorite junk food to warm our tummies on a cold day.
Thanks for reading our blog! Up Next… Bryce Canyon, of course!
Your blog has become so professional. I’ve enjoyed every posting that I’ve been lucky enough to see. Terry McManus introduced me to you and your work. Good job, getting so slick now! Thank you.