Zion national park is in the southwestern part of Utah. This park attracts more than four million visitors a year. It is the fourth most visited parks in America. The park is famous for huge sandstone cliffs that are narrow and pink and red in color. There is plenty of wildlife. It is also very rich in history. All American National Parks are unique in what they have to offer. Zion National Park is no different. There are breath taking views everywhere you look.
Various stops in the park can be reached by car with the map provided at the entrance to the park. Alternatively there is a free shuttle bus that operates during March - November, you can take to visit the popular spots in the park. It is amazing to see the cliffs on either side of the canyon road. The shuttle goes along the panoramic routes.
In Zion National Park you can backpack and there designated areas for camping. Hiking here is a lot of fun and some are scary. Angels Landing is one of them. The trail slowly gains elevation along the side of the cliff. The gradient gets very high as you move along and I found it hard to breathe and shortness of breath at some areas. I did this in February and there was ice and snow on the areas where there was no sun.
Once you reached the base there is place to sit down to relax and decide whether you want to do the final stretch. A lot of people chicken out and not do it. Also if you are backpacking this would be an area to keep your backpacks to do the final stretch. As it might be dangerous to go with a heavy load. From here on it gets pretty strenuous. It is chained in some areas and others are left at the mercy of your balance.
You are walking on a narrow path or climbing on a rock. On either side you see deep ravines. Someone returning then you may have to let go of the chain until that person passes through. If you are like me scared then you do the math.
Some areas are not flat either. Remember during summer this trail is highly trafficked and not everyone is afraid and careful.
This picture below is the last stretch where I took the selfie and put my phone away to concentrate on the hike. A GoPro would be ideal, if you had one.
The Narrows is the next popular hike in Zion National Park. This is a hike that is unique too. You take the hike and it ends at a certain point and if you are upto it you walk through the river.
You would come to the end and the hike continues in the river. I found aqua shoes to be good to cross the river. But hiking boots are also good and I saw people doing with them.
So these two hikes are unique experiences that you will be talking forever. I felt so good after I did it and it felt like I had done Mount Everest.
Things to do in Zion National Park
1 Hike the Angels Landing
2 Hike the The Narrows and all the other trails
3 Go for a Scenic drive in Zion Canyon Scenic drive and Zion Mount Carmel drive. Restriction for vehicles for certain months.
4 Go backpacking along the Virgin River
5 Bird Watching and Photography
6 Go camping. There are many to choose from. Watchman campground, South Campground to name the popular ones
7 Stay at the Lodge Cliffrose and Gardens or Cable Mountain Lodge. you may chose to stay in Springdale
8 Take a horse back riding tour
9 Rock climbing in Zion Canyon
10 Learn the tribes who inhibited in this region in the Human History Museum. Learn about American Indian culture.
11 Lower Emerald pools
12 Weeping rock
There is so much to do in Zion National park that it will be a Vacation you will talk about for the rest of your life.
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