This national park is incredibly well-named. When I knew we’d be going to the Southwest, I insisted that we stop in Utah. Out of the way? Maybe a little. Absolutely necessary? Definitely yes! We went for one reason and one reason alone: Zion National Park!
I realize that Utah is actually full of natural wonders – and I truly hope to see them all someday. But we were on an extremely tight timetable (drive for 6 hours, work for 8), so we only had time for one stop. Zion National Park was the top choice.
Zion was also our very first stop on our 2020 edition of the Great American Road trip. While previous editions featured California’s national parks, we ventured a little further afield for this one!
Gosh I’m glad we did. The scenery was spectacular. Just the drive through the park was well-worth the entry fee. Massive red cliffs soared high above us. Against them, a clear sky was impossibly blue. The colors were incredible! And soon we were driving up into the vivid landscape on a narrow road that weaved back and forth in tight switchbacks.
We unrolled our windows for this exciting drive, and like a dog, I stuck my head out to take it all in. I could have stayed forever and not gotten my fill of that gorgeous gorge.
But alas, our strict schedule only allowed us a single stop. Better make it a great one, I thought as I combed through the map. We didn’t have time to transfer to a shuttle, so we had to opt out of the (many, enticing) valley hikes. Luckily, there was a perfect option right on our way.
The Canyon Overlook Trail begins right after the Zion-Mt. Carmel tunnel. Just like the name suggests, this trail offers awesome views out over Zion National Park. It’s a shorty – just one mile out-and-back – but the views are huge.
I was massively impressed. Overwhelmed, honestly! It was my first taste of the splendor of the Southwest – and I was instantly hooked. Kent seemed as enchanted as I was: neither of us wanted to leave!
So we lingered on the edge of the canyon, looking into the orange abyss. We marveled at the flat-top mesas and the little lives finding a way in the rocks.
All too soon, we had to find our way back down the trail. I wasn’t ready to go, but maybe I never would have been. Although we had to bid Zion National Park goodbye, this was not the end of our adventure! We drove on into more stunning desert scenery.
We only scratched the surface, but it was immediately clear to me that Zion National Park is a must-visit. Ever heard of Angel’s Landing? That’s one of the crazy vertiginous hikes you can do here! If you love running or backpacking, this is the place to be: there are so many cool trails! All the colors and the scale of the cliffs are sure to take your breath away. Start your planning here and now.
Go to Zion. It really is a little slice of heaven on earth. I, for one, will be back.
