Hey again everyone, I apologize for not getting this finished and posted yesterday, but I don’t think anyone was sitting on the edge of their seat to read what I have written. I write these because I love these trips we take, and I hope it can inspire you to try something new and get out of your comfort zone. We just want to spread our love of traveling. Today we’re talking about one of the best destinations in the United States, Zion National Park. It is hands down one of the most incredible places we have ever been. The views are breathtaking, and the surrounding area offers plenty to do if hiking is not your forte. This will be less of a travel guide and more of a love letter to what is Zion National Park. We’ll talk about what we did, and what to avoid, but mostly just trying to put into words what is probably one of the most beautiful National Parks in the United States.
We visited Zion in early March, just a month ago. We had friends making the trip from Las Vegas that had invited us to join them. We were lucky, with Tierneys contract at the time she had no say in her schedule, but was scheduled off for the dates. After checking hotels in the area and calculating the cost of gas for Roo to make the trip, we decided to book a hotel and drive our Jeep, Joey, the 5 hours to Zion National Park from where we were staying in California. We booked our room at the Zion Wildflower Resort. A beautiful compound with tiny homes and glamping experiences.
We decided on the Zion Wildflower for a number of reasons which we will try to express without it feeling like you’re reading bullet points. The biggest for us is that the feel here is geared towards reminding you that you are in this beautiful scenery. The rooms aesthetic is clean and earthy, great for any couples getaway. Our dogs were also allowed here, which is a must when we travel. Outside of the rooms the resort has an incredible courtyard with grills, comfortable seating, yard games and fire pits lit in the evening. This is a great spot to relax on the days your legs are too sore from hiking. The Zion Wildflower is located in Virgin, Utah. Just a short drive to Hurricane where there are great places to eat. Here are our two favorites in the area: River Rock Roasting Co. where they have huge homemade cinnamon rolls and smoothies for breakfast with a beautiful view from their patio. The Main Street Cafe in Hurricane has great food for every meal and they specialize in comfort food. We definitely recommend the Zion Wildflower Resort, however there are so many great eco friendly and glamping options around Zion it‘s hard to choose wrong. You’re not here for hotel suggestions though, so let’s talk about Zion National Park and the surrounding parks that you need to see.
The first hike we completed and highly recommend is Angels Landing. It is a hike not for the faint of heart, it is a 1,400 foot climb that is 4.5 miles round trip from the base.
Our total trip however was a feet blistering 11 miles round trip. This is where we tell you not to do what we did. The hike starts at the Grotto Trailhead right next door to the Zion Lodge, the hotel inside the park. This makes getting to the starting point a slight pain. Only people staying at the lodge and the Zion shuttle have access to the road, which means you either have to pay and book a shuttle ticket or walk in. We wrongly chose to walk in, thinking it would be a mile at most. From the free parking to the Grotto Trailhead is 3.5 miles in and 3.5 miles back out. We suggest you definitely book a shuttle ticket. You start the hike by taking a bridge over the Virgin River. As you head up you switchback up cliff sides and through mountain crevasses with beautiful scenery in every direction. The last mile of the hike is on the spine of the cliff, with shear drops on either side. Here there is a chain pinned along the route to help you the rest of the way up. Finally at the top it opens up and flattens out with area to sit, take in the view and refuel for the treck back down. After this long and strenuous hike we suggest stopping at Cafe Soleil just outside the park. Their food is made with local and organic ingredients that combine into amazing flavors.
We’ll only be talking about two more hikes we highly recommend, because there are too many to talk about in one blog post. The first is pictured above, The Red Reef Trail at Red Cliffs National Conservation Area. This hike is rated as easy, which is not true unless you don’t mind getting wet. It is a 2.2 mile out and back hike through a creek carved canyon. The hike starts off easy following the creek up and into a the canyon. With the eroded rock cliffs towering on each side. Here you encounter a small waterfall and canyon pond. To continue on, you climb the steep stone next to the waterfall with the help of small carved footholds and a rope. On top of the water fall you follow the stream deeper into the canyon. Here you can go off from the creek and up the cliff side for beautiful views of the canyon and surrounding cliffs.
This is the third and last trail we wanted to share and suggest, The Babylon Arch Trail. The hike is a 2.6 mile loop that is rated at moderately difficult. It is also found in the Red Cliffs Conservation Area. However, you get to the trail head from the other side, down a sand and gravel road. We advise taking a four wheel drive car just to be safe. The hike is challenging as you hike down and up minor cliffs and down into canyons. At the half way mark you make it to the Virgin River. Here you can walk down the bank to relax by the water and enjoy this beautiful place. We went the opposite way as suggested on AllTrails and made it to the Babylon Arch on the second half of the loop headed back to the car. The arch is small but an incredible natural phenomenon that is a must see. This hike can be tough to navigate at times, their are piled rocks along the route to guide the way. As long as you can follow these pillars and don’t mind getting a little sand in your shoes this hike has an amazing payoff.
Other than hiking and relaxing in the amazing scenery we went on a little horse riding adventure. Our guided horse ride through the Utah country side was booked through East Zion Adventures. It was a 1.5 hour ride with beautiful views. This relaxing experience is perfect for all ages. The horses are well mannered and the guides are very helpful. Even if you haven’t ridden a horse before, like Kyle, this can be a fun activity.
If you don’t like to hike or can’t, Zion National Park and the surrounding area is still a beautiful trip. Just the views as you drive through the park over the river and around the cliff sides can blow you away. It is easily one of the most beautiful places in the United States and a must see for any nature lover. I‘m not sure if I accomplished what I wanted to with this blog, but I hope I was able to put a small amount of this places beauty into words. It really is a place that is hard to describe in words alone. I hope the pictures inspire you to make a trip to Zion National Park. If you are enjoying these blog posts please let us know in the comments and give us a follow on Instagram. @TheAlexandersAndRoo