This past month I had the opportunity to explore Zion for the first time and it was stunning! Zion National Park is one of 5 national parks in Utah. Zion Canyon is surrounded by beautiful red cliffs with the Virgin River running through the national park.
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When to Visit
During the summer, Zion is packed with visitors and the only way into the park is on their shuttle buses. Shuttle stops are scattered throughout the park and conveniently located in front of the major hiking trails.
I would recommend visiting Zion in either the spring or fall, as the trails have less people. Zion has very limited parking so arrive before the gates open to ensure you find a spot.
Since I visited at the beginning of February, many of the trails were closed due to ice and snow. However, the crowds were nonexistent and I had the park to myself. The weather was also perfect at a comfortable 53° F.
Some of my favorite hikes were Riverside Rock Trail, Weeping Rock Trail, and Lower Emerald Pool Trail.
You could spend all day at Zion but I explored and hiked 3 different trails in just under 4 hours.
Before I dive into the 3 different hikes, I wanted to quickly tell you about Springdale (the adorable town at the gates of Zion). They have multiple hotels in the area if you wanted to spend the night and a ton of different restaurants and shops. Before entering the park I went to Cafe Soleil for a cup of coffee and a pastry. There is another wonderful coffee shop called Perks at Zion. After hiking I had a late lunch at Zion Canyon Brewing Company.
Now let’s dive into my 3 favorite hikes! I highly recommend that you drive/take the shuttle to the back of Zion first and then make your way to the front. The crowds typically start at the beginning when they enter so the trails at the end will have zero hikers in the morning.
Riverside Rock Trail
This is a nice and easy trail to get acquainted with the Zion. You hike a paved walkway along the Virgin River at the bottom of the canyon. Beautiful red cliffs surround you as the River flows next to your feet. The trail is 2 miles roundtrip and ends at the Virgin River. Hikers can continue another 3 miles in the Virgin River (waterproof shoes required) to view the famous Narrows.
Weeping Rock Trail
As you make your way back toward the park entrance you will see the entrance to the Weeping Rock Trail. This is a short, but steep, ½ mile hike along a paved trail. At the top offers a gorgeous panoramic view of Zion. Weeping Rock offers a lush hanging garden carved in the side of the canyon as water continually seeps through. It’s a beautiful but short hike.
Lower Emerald Pool Trail
This trail is another paved walkway that takes you to the emerald pool. It’s a quick 1 mile round-trip trail with a beautiful waterfall at the end. The Upper Emerald Pool was closed due to ice and snow in February but I was able to explore the Lower Emerald Pool. This trail leads you to the back of a small waterfall as it trickles down into the pool below. The pool is emerald color as algae blooms are prevalent.
Next time I definitely want to hike Angels Landing, Observation Point, and the Narrows. For the Narrows hike, you will need waterproof shoes and hiking poles as you hike through the Virgin River, with points of the river waist deep. These trails are for serious hikers as they are considered strenuous hikes.
Until next time,
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