ZION NATIONAL PARK

Putting the zed into Zion as due to lack of sleep, I’m hoping to find a nice shady rock in the national park to nap under.

Here are some traveller tips for any other intrepid pioneers doing the same kind of road trip as we are and visiting Zion National Park:

Book your accommodation in Springdale.  This small town at the south entrance to Zion National park is ideal as a base.  From here, you can catch the free town shuttle bus to the south entrance.  There’s a number of motels/hotels, campgrounds and RV parks lining the main road through town including ours, Pioneer Lodge. 

From the south entrance you can connect with the park’s own free shuttle buses to take you from the visitor centre right to all of the trail heads.  However, if you’re arriving in Zion from tomorrow, the last park shuttles ran today so you’ll have to drive your way through the park.

 

Invest in an Annual Pass.  For the cost of $80 this is valid at any national park in the US and   if            you are visiting as many parks as we have on our road trip, this pass is worth its weight in gold.  Each of the larger national parks will charge $25 per car entry fee so after 3 parks you’ve recovered the cost of the Annual Pass.  It’s really a no brainer to save on those entry fees.  You can buy a pass at any of the national parks pay stations.

We’ve visited quite a few national parks since the start of our road trip but each park has its own distinct identity and atmosphere.  From the grandeur of the Grand Canyon to the stark hoodoos of Bryce, we found Zion possessed a more peaceful kind of natural beauty.

South entrance to Zion National Park

 

Towering peaks of red Navajo sandstone rock are littered with pines and other trees.  I imagine it would look very Christmassy with a bit of snow.

Driving in through the East entrance

 

Snaking through the canyon is the Virgin River.  At every twist and turn of this cascading creek are the loveliest vistas.  Big toe test verdict – mountain spring water is very cold!

Virgin River

 

As with most of the national parks, there are dozens of hiking trails to choose from.  We did a couple of shorter ones starting with a leisurely 1 mile walk along the riverside to the start of what is called The Narrows.  At this point, the trail actually goes into the water so without waterproof footwear and a walking pole you can only go so far. 

Water is clear but cold

Hiking down to the narrows

 

The combined trail (Middle Emerald Pools & Kayenta) gave us a good 2 mile workout.  Breath-taking views from within the forest and we actually got to walk under the waterfall at the Lower Emerald pool (more like a trickle due to lack of rain).

Middle Emerald Pool

View from Kayenta trail

Deer spotted crossing the river

 

Exhausted hikers need a good place to unlace their boots and have a good hot soak after a day walking the Zion trails.  What better place to do this than at Pioneer Lodge, a motel with a bit of that old west about it.

Pioneer Lodge - Springdale

Sunset over Springdale