Zion National Park is one of my favorites that I have ever visited. This park is located and Utah and brings in around 4.4 million visitor each year. The south Utah park is one of the most scenic canyon counties in all of the U.S. This 148,016-acre park is a maze of deep and narrow sandstone canyons and has 2,000-foot Navajo sandstone cliffs. This heaven on earth national park is known for its red-rock wonderland that was formed 240 million years ago by winder, water, and snow.
Wanting to go to see it yourself? Here are some must sees of this astonishing park!
Angels Landing
This is one of the park’s most famous hikes. But beware, it is not for the faint of heart. If you are scared of heights, this may not be the one for you. After hiking the switchbacks of this 1,488-foot rock formation, the final section of the hike requires hikers to hold on to nothing up a chain railing on the edge of the cliff. This strenuous final section of the hike features “steep drop-offs of 800 to 1000 feet on either side as you ascend 500 feet along a narrow mountain ridge.” This hike takes between 3 to 6 hours and is not recommended for beginner hikers, those afraid of heights, or children.
The Narrows
The Narrows are the narrowest point of all of Zion’s canyons. It is the upstream of the main canyon and includes the North Fork of the Virginia River. This river hike is one that you should allow up to 6 hours to be able to enjoy and reach the best sections of the Narrows. Since it is a river hike, prepared to get wet. Depending on the recent weather and season, the water could be knee high in some areas, waist high in others, and some parts you may have to swim. Traveling upstream through this Virginia river, you will be hiking on uneven, slippery rocky river boulders. You must beware that the Narrows is a 20-30 wide slot canyon. This means that hiking it can become dangerous if it floods. If there rain north of the Narrows, the slot canyon may flood, often times very quickly. If you are upstream when it floods, there is no way to get out. It is extremely important that you check the weather prior to hiking to makes sure there is no rain north of the canyon.
Observation Point
This strenuous 8-mile hike takes approximately 4 to 8 hours. The hike starts at the Weeping Rock Trailhead and finishes at the most iconic Zion viewpoint: Observation Point. This uphill hike is chiseled out of canyon walls and cliff formations. At this overlook will provide hikers with a breathtaking view of the main canyon. The lookout has a rim vantage point of 270 degrees and sits over 700 feet higher than Angels Landing.
Zion has so many more hikes and look out points. If you want some more suggestions check out this website! It covers how to get there, where to stay, and when to book your trip!
You can also check out our social media pages to see more gorgeous pictures of this amazing park! Find them on our "Contact Us" page :)
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