The Adventures of Suze

The fifth and final National Park we visited in Utah in 2021 was Zion and it was spectacular! If you want to read more about our full experience in Utah, you can check out my blog post here! Driving into the park through the east entrance was incredible. One of the most impressive things I saw was actually man-made. The Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel is 1.1 miles long and winds through the sandstone walls. Once you emerge from the tunnel you are greeted with sweeping views of the park. There are multiple areas where you can pull over and admire the soaring canyons. There is a scenic drive through the main portion of the park, Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, however it’s closed to personal vehicles during peak season. There is a free shuttle that will take you to points along that drive but be prepared for long wait times – Zion is crowded!

We only did two hikes here which was unfortunate. I feel like there was so much more we could’ve done, but I was battling really bad blisters on my feet (due to poor shoe choices – you live and learn!) and was hobbling around. My biggest recommendation for this park? Get there EARLY, like by 7am the latest.

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𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝: September 2021

𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: November 19, 1919

𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Springdale, Utah

𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤 F𝐞𝐞: $20-$35 or use the America the Beautiful annual pass

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Hike Recommendations:

• Easy Hikes
  • Riverside Walk to the Narrows – We did the Riverside Walk, which was flat and easy. Then, we got in the water and did about a quarter mile in the actual Narrows.
    • Click here for AllTrails
    • 2.1 miles, 423 ft. elevation gain
    • Pit toilets available
    • If you attempt the full Narrows hike, it would be considered a Hard hike. You need to make sure you read up conditions and arrive fully prepared! Most people rent gear outside of the park like waterproof boots and dry bibs. I’d like to do this on a return trip.
• Hard Hikes
  • Angels Landing – This is one of my favorite trails that I’ve ever done and I love it so much. When we went, there wasn’t a lottery for it yet, so the amount of people made it a little sketchy but it was still so much fun to do. I think it’s a little more controlled now, so hopefully it feels less congested.
    • Click here for AllTrails
    • 4.7 miles, 1,738 ft. elevation gain
    • Pit toilets available
• Hikes I want to do but haven’t yet
  • Watchman Tower
  • Emerald Pools
  • Canyon Overlook Trail
  • Observation Point

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Things to see and do in and near the park

• Scenic drives – If you are coming to Zion from Bryce Canyon, I highly suggest taking 89 to Route 9 and entering Zion through the East Entrance. Driving through the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel is an experience all it’s own
• The Belly of the Dragon – I wish we had done this but at the time, I didn’t realize how close it was to the park.

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Lodging suggestions: 

• Best Western Plus – We stayed at a Best Western in La Verkin, which was a cheaper option than staying somewhere in Springdale (right outside the park). It was a half hour drive from the park, so still close enough, but a better fit for our budget at the time.
• If we went back though, we’d want to camp in the park at the Watchman Campground. There are so many hotels, motels, campgrounds and glamping options to stay at, right outside the park. Zion even has a lodge within park boundaries. There are plenty of accommodations further out too.

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Suggestions on food/drinks/shop:

• Zion Brewery – We stopped here for beer flight when we first got into the park but the brewpub also has a full food menu. This is such a great spot because you can walk here from the park and the views from patio are unmatched!
• There are a lot of places for food in Springdale (right outside the park) or in the neighboring Hurricane and La Verkin.

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We definitely need to go back to Zion National Park. We didn’t have enough time here and I would love to check out more trails. It’s such an impressive park and the scenery is incredible. I still have a lot to experience there, but I hope this at least helps you start planning a trip to Zion.

📍I acknowledge the lands mentioned in this post are the ancestral lands of the Pueblos and Nuwuvi (Southern Paiute) people.