Last week I talked about the Grand Canyon and today I wanted to share the other location we went – Zion National Park! It was fun to be at two national parks back to back and compare them. We loved both and could easily go back to either – so keep reading to see why we loved Zion!
Getting There
Similar to the Grand Canyon, you’re going to need a car! The closest “big” city is St George, Utah, which is over an hour away. If you want to get to the park on your own you’re going to have to have a car. The area around Zion is similarly topography to the Grand Canyon but not as desolate – so it’s a bit more scenic driving!
Where to Stay
Springdale is the town right at the entrance to the park and I definitely recommend staying there. There are TONS of hotels to choose from at every price point (from RV spots on up!). We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express and LOVED it. They had great rooms, great breakfast, and fire pits outside! Oh, and a hot tub and pool! The fire pits and hot tub were perfect for relaxing after a long day of hiking and exploring.
Also, their staff was amazing. We had an issue with our AC when we got into the room and maintenance was there in under 5 minutes – and it was 9 pm! They moved us the next day and were so amazing with any questions. Staff really makes a difference and they went above and beyond! Also, the town of Springdale operates a shuttle to deal with the insane traffic into Zion and the Holiday Inn Express was right on a stop. This made it super convenient to get into the park and to get around Springdale for lunch or dinner.
What to Do
Just like the Grand Canyon, Zion is really a hiker’s dream. Zion was fun to explore after the Grand Canyon because it’s similar and different. Instead of being on the rim you’re in the canyon, and it’s so much more lush. There are tons of hikes for different abilities and interests, and all of them are accessible by shuttle. It takes 45 minutes to get to the last stop in the canyon, so it can take a bit to get to each hike – but looking out the window on the way up the canyon is gorgeous!
I wanted to highlight two hikes we did – we did a bunch of other smaller hikes – but these are the most “noteworthy.”
Angel’s Landing
Full disclosure – I did only part of this hike, but my husband did it all. If you’re not familiar with Angel’s landing it’s an insane hike within Zion and easily the most famous. You hike up to an inner rim – pretty steep incline, then 21 tight switchbacks – but the craziness comes at the end. After you reach a landing it’s time for the chains. You “hike” on chains for a 1/2 mile straight into the canyon. And hike is a bit generous – you’re either pulling yourself up or down chains with 1000 foot drop offs on BOTH SIDES.
So you, two feet of rock to stand on, 1000 feet on either side, and a hand rail to hold onto. Oh and tons of people going back and forth that you have to go around. Not my style. My husband did it and said it was absolutely terrifying – and that I wouldn’t have been able to do it. So this is not for those afraid of heights, without firm footing, or scared of daredevil things. People fall off and die almost every year – so be careful. It’s legit. He loved it but said he would never do it again – ha!
Observation Point
This was my favorite hike! My husband loved it too and he said the view was even better than Angel’s Landing. You hike from the floor of the canyon up to the rim and look down over the entire canyon. It’s 4 miles of incline to get up to the rim – amazing! The incline really just kept coming and it felt like it would never stop – but the view was definitely worth it. The walk down was hard on the knees but so much easier. If you take it slow – and take your time – it’s definitely doable. There isn’t any water so be sure to bring enough for the full 8 miles. Highly recommend!
What to Pack
Hiking stuff! You’re going to be spending most of your time hiking or hanging in the park. We also loved being in a town and having options for dinner – unlike the Grand Canyon where there aren’t any options. But none are fancy so you can just wear a cute top and jeans. We loved Zion Pizza & Noodle and Bit & Spur. The restaurants can get pretty crowded so be prepared to wait if you go at a peak time!
Overall Thoughts
We loved Zion – it was not as spectacular as the Grand Canyon, but it had such great hikes. You felt like you could really explore the canyon both on the ground and on the rim. We loved how lush it was down by the river and it was the perfect time of year with the fall colors starting to turn. It was great to be in a cute town and have options for eating and have a perfect hotel to relax at!
So Zion – you were great, we’ll be back!
