Zion National Park

Have you ever felt so small and insignificant in the presence of something truly grandiose? That’s the feeling many people experience when they visit Zion National Park. Nestled in the heart of Southern Utah, this sprawling landscape boasts towering sandstone cliffs, winding canyons, and breathtaking views that have captivated visitors for generations. In this article, we will dive into the wonders of Zion National Park and discover why it is a must-see destination for any nature lover. From its rich history to its unique geology, we will uncover the secrets that make this national park a true gem of the American Southwest. So pack your hiking boots and let’s explore the majestic beauty of Zion together.

Our Family Trip

We went to Zion in the summer of 2023. Along our 2 week road trip, Zion was our first stop. We visited 4 other national parks on our trip: Yellowstone, Rocky Mountain, Arches, and Canyonlands. To be honest, I think Zion was our favorite. We truly enjoyed the unique hiking experiences and, of course, the convenience of the shuttle system.

Getting to Zion

Springdale, UT is the main town outside of Zion. They have a convenient shuttle system into the national park. We stayed in the town of Virgin at the Fairfield Inn & Suites (highly recommend this hotel!), which is about 13 miles from Springdale. The parking lot in Zion fills up pretty quickly each day. You’ll want to consider taking the Springdale Shuttle into the park. While the shuttle is free, the parking is not. There are stops all along the main highway through the town. The closer you get to Zion, the more expensive the parking is. Shuttles arrive every 10-15 minutes.

Exploring the Park

Zion National Park has a shuttle system that takes you around the park and has stops at all the major sights. During the busy season (March to November) you must use the shuttle system to get around the park. No other vehicles are on the road. As the primary driver in our family, I very much appreciated the shuttle system. I was able to ride through the park and see everything along the way!

Before we get more into exploring Zion, I want to preface this post with the fact that we are not a hiking family. We love being outdoors and seeing the sights, but we do not go on strenuous hikes. We spent about a day and a half in the park. For our first day (we started in the afternoon) we did a short hike (the Grotto Trail) and explored the Zion Lodge. We didn’t want to get ourselves too tired because we knew we were going to hike The Narrows the following day!

The Narrows

Hiking The Narrows was the highlight of our trip! As I said before, we are not a hiking family. This hike was truly something special. You will exit the shuttle at the last stop, The Temple of Sinawava. You can see The Narrows by hiking along the Riverside Walk, which is a mile long path (paved, wheelchair accessible) from the Temple of Sinawava. At the end of this path, you can continue by hiking in the Virgin River. This is where the fun begins!

There are equipment rentals available for this particular hike at Zion Outfitters. We did not use the rentals, but brought our own equipment. The only purchase we made was our collapsible hiking sticks from Amazon. I highly recommend a hiking stick. Otherwise, we just wore our own clothes. We wore old tennis shoes and clothing that doesn’t get too heavy when wet. Because you will get wet! The water was up to my chest in one area. This was a hike we will never forget! We walked about a mile and then turned back. The total length of the narrows is 16 miles!

Weeping Rock

Another highlight of our trip was Weeping Rock. The hike is only a half mile, but it is rather steep. But once we reached our destination, it was so worth it! What a beautiful sight! Lush, hanging gardens from the constant water flow. And an amazing view of the White Throne from behind the dripping water.

Court of the Patriarchs

Our final major stop was the Court of the Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These peaks can be seen from an overlook. The trail is short but is rather steep. We didn’t make it all the way to the top. Like I said, we are not hikers! And after doing The Narrows, we were wiped. But we were still able to get a great view of these majestic peaks!

What an amazing experience we had at Zion National Park! It’s one we will never forget and hope to repeat sometime in the future.