Tag Archives: Zion National Park
Observation Point and Echo Canyon
The Observation Point Trail is one of the best hikes in Zion National Park and so when we returned to the park this fall, we hiked the 8 mile out and back trail once again. The trail winds up the lower slopes of Cable Mountain, then crosses into Echo Canyon, following the canyon upstream for 1.2 km. At that point … Continue reading…
Across the East Zion Slickrock
Zion National Park is a busy place and all of the hiking trails in the main canyon are very well-used, but routes can be hiked in the East Zion area which few people venture into. Most of these are routes … Continue reading →
Continue reading...Northgate Peaks
Hiking trails starting on the Kolob Terrace Road in Zion National Park are far less busy than the hikes that start in Zion Canyon. The road starts in Virgin, 23 km west of Springdale/Zion. The paved road climbs into the desert hills and goes through grasslands and then open forest and continues on as a dirt road into the … Continue reading…
Many Pools and Tallstack Canyon Slot
The East side of Zion National Park is the area accessed off SR9 between the Zion-Mt.Carmel tunnel to the (East) Park Gate. There are a few pulloff parking spots and we can hike up or down the washes in canyons or we can strike off across the slickrock. Many Pools and Tallstack Canyon Slot can be hiked from a parking … Continue reading…
The Watchman Trail
The Watchman Trail starts right by the Zion National Park Visitors Center and then climbs to a fine viewpoint and back. It is a popular hiking trail because of its easy access and rewarding views. Signs lead the way along the river, then up the gully into the rocky bluffs. As the trail climbs, we are provided with a landscape … Continue reading…
West Rim Trail from the Top Down
The West Rim Trail in Zion National Park has been our favorite trails of the park for many years. We hike it every time we are in the area, but it is a long trail with some significant elevation gains so we were pleased to have a two vehicle shuttle system organized for us to hike the West Rim Trail … Continue reading…
Eagle Crags
The Eagle Crags are spires of rock at the northern end of the Vermillion Cliffs, just outside Zion National Park. Access to the trailhead is in Rockville. Take Bridge Road to cross the Virgin River and go straight up the hill at the intersection (not right to Grafton). The road is gravel and some sections will not be suitable to … Continue reading…
Misery Canyon
The main canyon of Zion National Park is a very busy area with many visitors flooding the buses and trails on either side of the Virgin River. The vertical walls of Zion Canyon allow for only a few points of entry, zigzagging up the slickrock on ledges to hanging canyons above, or into the river at the Narrows. But this … Continue reading…
Back to Grafton
We revisited the ghost town of Grafton, Utah. The previous time was in 2013 and much was the same as before, but restoration work had progressed on the buildings, fences, gates, and property. A full website is also in place which has all the detail on the history, buildings, and restoration story – Grafton Heritage Project. To get to Grafton, … Continue reading…
Canyon Overlook
The Canyon Overlook Trail in Zion National Park starts at the east end of the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel. There are a few parking spaces nearby but they fill up by late morning so an early start is recommended. The trail climbs the rocky hill and then follows the north rim of Pine Canyon as it winds to the west. The … Continue reading…
The Subway
The Subway route is a hike-canyoneering route in Zion National Park that needs little introduction. People come from all over the world to do this and we were lucky enough to get a permit, then be informally guided down the route by our friend Deborah. We were a party of 9 and we got an early start up to … Continue reading…
Crawford Canyon Scramble
This hike is not in any of the guidebooks and it takes either local knowledge or some careful planning and exploration to link up a route. Almost all of the route is on slickrock in the southeast side of Zion National Park with no trail markers whatsoever. We have been exploring the slickrock terraces, hills, ridges, and canyons on … Continue reading…
West Rim Trail
Our favorite (official) hiking trail in Zion National Park is the West Rim Trail. We have not chosen to do it from the top down (one way) yet, but it is on our list. We went from the bottom up to the rim, then did a loop on top of the mesa and back down, about 15 miles of hiking … Continue reading…
Return to Observation Point
On our first trip to Zion National Park, we were thrilled with the Observation Point Trail. It was one of our favorites (previous article). Since then we have hiked it twice more and we will continue to go up the trail for as long as we can (the next time will be October, 2014). There are many options and much … Continue reading…
Zion Narrows
The Virgin River comes off the heights of the Colorado Plateau through a deep canyon. Visitors to Zion National Park can go to the end of the road and then walk along the river path to the end of the trail. From that point on, all progress is in the river on a route called The Zion Narrows. Every day, … Continue reading…