The Five Best Day Hikes in Bryce & Zion
For spectacular scenes of an eerie rock formation and enormous red rock canyon walls, visit Bryce Canyon and Zion’s National Park. To experience completely the grandeur of these two amazing places, you can use your $25 park for seven days. Join one of the top five day hikes in the area with or without a guide.
1. The Narrows of Zion National Park
Start your Zion experience by following the trail along Narrows hike that is by the Virgin River itself. Trek all the way down the slot canyon passing through water during certain season of the year. Hike a distance of at least 2.5 miles until you reach the towering canyon walls. You are now surrounded a section known as Wall Street. Hiking is strenuous; you need to rent special type of shoes, wear neoprene socks, and a hiking stick at a local outfitter that cost around $25.
2. The Observation Point of Zion National Park
Zion’s famed Angel’s Landing, an 8-mile round-trip trek up to Observation Point, 2,150 feet above the canyon floor are your places far from the madding crowd. Your effort is rewarded as you gaze at the sweeping views of the awesome landscape below. Before returning to the park shuttle bus, walk a quarter mile to Weeping Rock. This cool alcove features the park’s largest hanging garden that provides steady curtain of “weeping” water rubbing elbows with these the rocks for the last 1,200 years.
3. The Navajo Loop Trail of Bryce Canyon National Park
For those with limited time, the best option is a hike along otherworldly Bryce National Park. A moderate to strenuous 1.3 mile hike along the Navajo Loop Trail takes you all the way down switchbacks to the canyon bottom and go up again through Wall Street. In this place, the100-foot-tall canyon walls with Douglas fir trees all 750 years old create a stunning setting. For more exploration, add the Peek-a-boo loop trail that forks off midway your hike.
4. The Watchman Trail of Zion National Park
A great, moderate introduction to Zion National Park is the 2.7-mile
A round-trip Watchman Trail is about 2.7 mile that you start right at the visitor center. Passing the ranger quarters, follow the trail upward to a plateau and watch the panoramic views of the park and the town of Springdale. There are wildlife along the way, you may even encounter a deer mule.
5. The Peek-a-Boo Loop Trail of Bryce Canyon National Park
The Peek-a-boo Loop Trail is named as it offers surprising hikes and stunning views of the unique red rock formations around and in every corner. While hiking up and down the 3-mile trail, you will pass through several types of terrains and views some of the most beautiful vistas as the Silent City and Wall of Windows. For a short connection, you travel to the Navajo Loop Trail making around 4.5 total trips.
Photo Credit: Fabio Achilli on flickr
Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks: Which Should You Visit?
Utah’s tourism office has launched a massive campaign to promote Mighty 5 National Parks. If you haven’t heard of this quintet of famous national parks, then it is high time for you to know more. You will enjoy and appreciate the grandeur of rugged west and consider including these Mighty 5 of Utah are: Arches National Park, Bryce National Park, Canyon Lands National Park, Capitol Reef National Park and Zion National Park.
Here is a good guide for you to consider the next time you and your loved ones decide to take that long break.
The best place for groups or family
At least, young folks will forget their iPhones while hiking the trails criss-crossing the Capitol Reef National Park. You will view the gigantic rugged-edge rock formation rising up to the sky. Then remember your primitive ancestors ten millions of years ago treading the wrinkled earth’s surface. For a budget-conscious vacationer, this is the place as admission is $5 per vehicle.
Honeymooners and romantic types, this is for you!
The perfect chiseled landscape of Bryce Canyon if like a photograph in a nature’s magazine. Its spectacular ridges and valleys make a perfect background of honeymooners and lovers to pose for memorable selfies. As they go along the narrow trials, they view indigenous plants and wildlife. To avoid strain of hiking, they can take a mule-ride at $60-$80 per person. Admission to the park is $25 per vehicle.
For lovers of comfort
If you want a vacation that is like an extension of comfort from home, Utah’s Arches National Park has just the thing for you. Within the park are around 2,000 natural stone arches and nearby is the Mormon Settlement of Moab. The “glamping” site covers 40-acre where you reside in houses with raised floors of wood, patio furniture and stoves using burning woods. As you gaze from your window, there is a clear view of the desert. Comfort is cheap at only $89 per night while admission to the park per vehicle is $10.
For solo adventurer
Travelers sometimes want to trek the road alone and on their way to the big cities pass by Utah’s Zion National Park. They can take time to explore the natural wonders of the place and go skinny dipping in some hidden swimming holes and forge a river for thrills. Admission to the park is $25 per vehicle.
For the adventurous ones
For the most exciting and challenging hiking experience, follow the narrow rim and jagged trails of Canyonlands National Park. This is Utah’s largest park that teems with endless mesas, lofty cliffs, a number of rivers, ragged pine trails, and several canyons. This is a haven for mountain bikers as the trails look so inviting. To live this rough adventure, join the folks at the park’s diverse campgrounds while enjoying each of their own scenery. Admission is $10 per vehicle.