curiosa & explorando

Let’s just pretend that I have not fallen off the face of the earth again and keep going on this road trip.

In the last article, I took you on a trip through Monument Valley and the Indigenous Reservation (you can read it here).

Today, let’s roam towards the unreal Zion National Park. Zion, or “Sanctuary”, was established as Utah’s first national park in November 1919, following its designation as Mukuntuweap National Monument in 1909. If you didn’t know, now you know. A little bit of history, a little bit of fun.

Now to the fun part:
If you’re following the whole itinerary, or part of it, you’re now coming from Monument Valley. And I just know you’ll love the contrast between the red desert and the dramatic canyons and valleys. This drive takes about five hours, considering stops and everything.

And, please, stop. On your way there, there’s this place called Lake Powell. The place is a stunning, massive man-made reservoir and located on the border of Utah and Arizona. It’s great for outdoor activities, but also a great spot to have a lunch break with a jaw-dropping view.

Quick stop, just to stretch a little bit.

Around mid-afternoon to sunset you’ll be arriving in Springdale, right outside the park. In my humble opinion, this is a really good time frame to arrive. At this point you’ll have time to check in or set up camp, walk around the small town, and have dinner. Try to go to bed early.

Pro tip: figure out your breakfast plans before going to bed. Are you going to make something to have on the go? Have breakfast inside the park? Are you trying to beat the crowd or just go with the flow? This way you won’t waste your time on such a simple situation.

I usually say that every state has its own Disneyland. And in Utah it’s called Zion National Park, at least during summertime. It’s important to arrive as early as possible because not only you have to leave your car at the park lot, but it also gets packed in no time.

Private vehicles are not allowed on the main scenic drive for most of the year. But they do have a free shuttle system that runs every 5 to 10 minutes. It starts from the Visitor Center and goes all the way up to the canyon. Another option is not to drive your car at all and use the shuttle that runs through the town and brings you right to the entrance.

So for your day one:

My personal favorite — The Narrows. One of the most famous hikes in the park. This is an in-the-water hike. I’m talking “water to chest” type of situation (if you’re 5ft/153cm tall like me, it’s more like water-to-neck. But, hey, everything for the experience).

You’ll start at the Riverside Walk, just an easy paved trail that follows the river through the cottonwood trees. At the end, the path turns into water. I’m not the most adventurous person, so bear with me, you can do it!

For this one, you’ll need some water shoes (if you don’t wanna buy, you can rent the day before in Springdale), walking stick (don’t underestimate it), and a dry bag (and a change of clothes, maybe?).

Now picture this: very-extra-tall canyon walls, the sun hitting them and turning them bright orange. It starts ankle-deep, nothing crazy. Then you keep going. The flow will help you go as far as you want. I’m telling you, it’s a magical experience. Most people turn around at the two-hour mark, around Wall Street. You can keep going if you want. Just remember you’ll have the same distance back plus the current.

Once you’re back, you’ll probably be starving. Make your way back to the Zion Lodge for lunch or just unpack your picnic at one of the shaded tables anywhere.

Once you’ve recharged, head to the Emerald Pools Trailhead. It’s right across from the lodge. Here you’ll have two options:

• If you gave it all to the Narrows, stay at the Lower Pools. It’s a short and easy walk, just refresh yourself and relax.
• But if you’re feeling like new after your lunch, continue to the Upper Pool. The waterfall gently flowing down into the emerald-green pool makes this hike feel very peaceful.

And, finally, for the sunset, head to the Zion Mt. Carmel Highway. Along this drive, you’ll find multiple places to pullout and take pictures and short trails to explore.

One of the best spots to watch the sunset is the Canyon Overlook Trail. It’s a short hike, but it gets packed. So you can either arrive early to watch from there or just drive past the tunnel. You can’t really go wrong with Mt. Carmel, I promise.

After this whole day, you probably be feeling exhausted but very happy. Head back to Springdale to celebrate the day with a nice dinner and wind down for the next day.

Day 2:

You probably saw that huge mountain on your first day. And I’m sure you didn’t think you would not hike all the way there. Listen, we’re all in this together, fren. We’re here, let’s go all in.

Start early again if possible. For today’s adventure you’ll need a permit. Angels Landing is a challenging hiking trail, and I wouldn’t recommend hiking all the way to the summit if you’re afraid of heights (however, push yourself a little, but also know your limits).

According to the website, “you must get a permit via a lottery system several months in advance for the season you want to hike, which involves applying online through Recreation.gov for a seasonal or day-before lottery.”

If you decide to go for it, have a light breakfast and try to catch one of the first shuttles.

It’s undoubtedly one of the most iconic hikes in the U.S. The first part is a steep but steady climb with views of the canyon. The Scout Lookout is absolutely breathtaking.

And up to this point, you don’t need that permit yet. It’s from here onward, on the chain section, that you’ll need it. I’ll tell you right now that it is NOT for the faint of heart (this was my “pushing the limits” part). I, personally, found out that I was petrified of heights half way through it (and this was my “not knowing my limits” part). Not a great experience, I’mma tell you that. But if you’re okay with bottomless cliffs, it’s unforgettable.

Actually, scratch that, it’s unforgettable if you are or not afraid. Because I was terrified and I still remember. Are you kidding me? I thought that was my final day.

Anyways. If you’re like me, there’s an Observation Point about 45 minutes from Springdale, on the East Mesa Trail, that sits above Angels Landing. Same panorama, no heart test.

After all that, my adrenaline was running so high that I didn’t get hungry for the rest of the day. However, if you are, you can head back to the town for a late breakfast/brunch, or picnic around the park and enjoy a slow morning by the river.

When you’re ready to continue, make sure to explore the Pa’rus Trails. It’s easy, paved, and peaceful, a really good way to relax and refresh before your final adventure. If you want to explore even more, like I mentioned before, there are multiple short hikes around Mt. Carmel Highway. Not to mention the views, it doesn’t get old!

Well, I’m sure (and I hope, lol) that up to here you’ve had a great experience. But you can’t really leave without a proper goodbye, am I right?

With that being said, head to the Watchman Trail for your final hike to watch the sunset. This is a 3-mile round-trip hike, so about 1 to 1.5 hours. It’s near the Visitor Center and the view is jaw dropping. If you like photography, this is another great spot to catch the golden glow on the red mountains.

Now think about it: in the last 48 hours, you went from hiking in the river to standing high above the canyons. Literally Zion in every angle. I hope you have lots and lots of stories to tell once you’re back in Springdale!