Here is the best way to see Zion!!
Written: Oct 09 '02 (Updated Oct 24 '05)
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Pros: Diverse scenery, easy walks scenic walks, difficult but exhilarating hikes
Cons: Very crowded in summer
The Bottom Line: In this wonderland of grace and grandeur, take a peaceful quiet walk in a forest by a mountain pool or a strenuous climb up the shear face of a mountain.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: Zion National Park |
HEAVEN
Looking up at the giant monoliths, shear vertical rock walls, and beautiful hanging gardens gives you a sense of majesty, serenity, grandeur, and supremacy. This is what Mormon settler Isaac Behunin had also witnessed when he named the area Zion over 150 years ago. He felt it was a bit of heaven on earth. After seeing it myself I have to agree. I also wonder if this is just a touch of heaven, "How glorious heaven must be!"
This is the third of the reviews I have done in the last three days exploring the vacation I took with my wife and family last year covering North Rim Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and Zion National Parks.
MAKE PLANS WELL AHEAD
I open this review by saying do your homework early. Write, E-mail, or call for all the information you can get about this park well before you get there. Make reservations for Zion Lodge months before. I suggest making them before the end of this year for next. The three months of June, July, and August gives this park half its yearly visitors. If you can, try to be inside the park at this grand looking lodge. It was first built at the turn of last century but, unfortunately, a fire destroyed the original building in the 1960's. It was immediately rebuilt in the same pattern of rustic splendor.
If it is possible, visit any of the other months for more peace and solitude.
ENTERING FROM THE EAST
I suggest do what we did. We went to Bryce Canyon just before Zion. I had planned it this way because everything I had read said "for the most satisfying way to witness the parks magnitude is by coming in on the entrance from the east."
We did and Oh MY!! What a fantastic ride it was. You first enter and pay a twenty dollar fee that is good for seven days in the park. I suggest getting the Eagle pass that is fifty dollars but is good for most parks for a full year. The pass is in a small plastic case with a map and information for a free parks update literature.
You will be driving down a few thousand feet. The first stop should be the Checkerboard Mesa. It is a huge mountain of vertical and horizontal joints created by weathering forces. There are many of these as you drive through. I remember these type formations in many of the early westerns that were made. This is a great place to stretch your legs by doing a little scrambling on the sandstone beds. The kids loved it and it was relatively safe.
A bit later on the road you get your first real glimpse of the canyon you will be descending. Pull off at the Canyon Overlook. This is another spot to get out of your car. There is a one mile trail here. If you have a picnic lunch or just need to snack this is the place. You will be above the switchbacks of Pine Creek Canyon and have great views of The West Temple and Towers of the Virgin. Now you will start getting a sense of what lies below in the valley.
We continued on to the tunnel. In the early 1900's the built the road and blasted a one mile tunnel. It's not the highest or widest so they can only let big trailers and motor homes through in one direction at a time. There is a ten dollar fee for these vehicles. There is no fee for cars but you may have to wait on line about fifteen minutes before your direction traffic starts moving. This is a good time to refresh your memory on things to do. Read one of your information packets.
Going through the tunnel was pretty cool. Now it's time for the winding switchbacks of the canyon. This is a very impressive road that goes back and forth on itself as it snakes down to the canyon. For some it may be a bit scary. My wife kept saying "Don't get too close to the edge!"
Once you are down you are starting to look up. The canyon is only an average of half a mile wide while the mountains above you tower at 2,000 to 3,0000 feet high!
THE VISITORS CENTER
Go now to the visitors center. In there you can see a short film that gives an overall feel of what you can see and do. Go right to the desk and ask about scheduled Ranger lead Activities. These are always terrific. Do try to do at least one. After that you will be sold. Also in the center ask about the Junior Ranger Program. This is a wonderful way for kids twelve and under to discover the wonders of our parks. Another program I always mention is the Passport to Our National Parks program. It is a way to Collect parks. If you have read any of my other reviews you know more about them already, otherwise just ask at the desk. I also recommend getting the campground programs. They always have wonderful night time educational and fun campfire talks etc. You don't have to be camping to participate.
There are three campgrounds at the park Watchman can be reserved through the parks reservation service the other two are first come first serve at $14.00 per night. There are no showers in the park. There are some outside. Also no hookups.
Other places are all outside the park. If you don't get into the lodge or campgrounds there are a good amount of other places in Springdale that is just south of the park. I still recommend getting a place ahead of time.
TAKE A RIDE
Next on your agenda may be to take a ride on the tram. That is a free shuttle ride that takes you all through the canyon. No, cars cannot do the trip. As I mentioned this is a narrow canyon with many people trying to enjoy it. Hop on the tram and listen to the driver tell you about the features and history of the park. You can get on and off at any of the stops. It can get crowded at the lodge especially after lunch time. We had to wait about fifteen minutes to get onto a tram going back to the visitors center. They come every ten minutes or so but at this time they were packed coming out of the canyon.
The shuttle ride is over six miles long that follows the Virgin river. A good place to stop is at the Court of the Patriarchs. There is a short trail that can take you to view the Three Patriarchs. These are three imposing monoliths that protect the canyon
TAKE A WALK OR HIKE
Continue on. You will pass many places with trail heads and scenic views. The Emerald Pond is a great very easy walk and you will probably see a nice little waterfall there, along with hanging gardens. These are places where plants, ferns and flowers took hold in the rock above and are fed by the porous rocks water. If you did some homework you know what interests you so read and plan. I suggest going to Weeping Rock this is an easy trail trail that takes you to a an area where water weeps through the rocks. This is water that rained on the high plateau above and finally found it's way back to open air thousands of years later!
There are so many walks, hikes, and climbs in this park. That is what this one is all about. If you have just one day take the tram ride but be sure to take at least a hike or two. That is the only way to get the intimate feel of the park. There are also some parts of the park that are rarely visited. Read up if you want more than what I have suggested.
Other suggested hikes are the moderate Hidden Canyon that takes you 800 feet through canyons and a natural arch. Also for those in very good shape with the proper hiking gear is the strenuous Narrows walks that will get you wet, and the Observation Point climb that takes you up over 2,000 feet! For either of these last two read up and be prepared.
As you are looking above at the majestic peeks look for climbers making there way up these walls. It also gives you a sense of scale. Be sure you have your camera with double the film you think is enough and also extra batteries.
A note about the lodge. You can and should make reservations ahead of time for both lodging and dining. They have a great Mexican American menu. This is a very busy place. For something quick to eat, the lodge also has a limited burger, hot dog, pizza type menu and area. You go up to the counter buy what you like and try to get a table. I have to say we did have a more difficult time of that because we were eight people.
There is so much to see and do in this park. We loved this place, but then again we loved all three parks we visited. They all had there own beauty that set them apart from each other.
I hope this has been helpful and please comment with other ideas, or experiences. That's what the comment section is about.
You just heard from me. I would like to hear from you!
OTHER NOTES
Disabled have access to the visitors center, the trams, and even a few trails.
Summers can be very hot always have water while hiking. As I have said many times. Plan ahead for all you do here.It is so diverse and you will have much to plan.
other reviews of National Parks by Popsrocks
.Acadia National Park My favorite National Park !!
Badlands National Park A Black Hills wonder
.Biscayne National Park Great snorkeling
.Bryce Canyon National Park Home of the Hoo Doo
.Death Valley National Park Not so Hot
.Dry Tortugas National Park A unique Island Fort with snorkeling
.Everglades National Park A safari in Florida
Grand Canyon National Park The North Rim
Shenandoah National Park Sky Line Drive
Virgin Islands National Park WOW !!!! But don't tell anyone about it.
Wind Cave National Park an underground wonder!
Zion National Park Amazing diversity!
A couple of helpful books
Our National Parks A beautiful journal of photos of the National Parks and information of its founders.
National Parks for Dummies A great book for planning a trip
National Geographic Guide to National Parks A good reference book
National Parks PassPort
.Collect National Parks
National Parks System
Our National Parks
Frommer's Las Vegas Guide
Mirage Hotel
LAS VEGAS!!!
Flamingo Hotel
MY favorite Map.
2005 American Map Road Atlas: Large Scale - Large Type
Recommended:
Yes
Best time to go: September-November
Recommended for: Anybody
Review Topic: Overview
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