The Narrows hike through the Virgin River

Unbelievable Utah

Zion and Bryce National Parks are so different and diverse, and yet they are two of our special national parks in the country. They are in close enough proximity that you can do them on the same visit.

Bryce National Park

Bryce can be hiked in a couple of hours. That being said, walking up to view the pink and orange hoodoos for the first time after parking at the Sunset Point parking lot makes anyone pause. You just stand there for awhile and stare at the landscape. It is not massive rock faces like Yosemite or the rain forests of Olympic. It is truly unique. It appears to be a sprinkled sand castle – the hoodoos are just so mesmerizing.

 

Navajo Loop Trail and the Queens Garden Trail can be hiked together.
2.75 miles RT

Starting at Sunset Point, hike the Queens Garden Trail down into the valley of the canyon, looking up to see the amazing hoodoos towering above your head. Follow signs for the Navajo Loop Trail through the pine forest, taking the Wall Street OR the Two Bridges branch for a glute burning walk uphill.

 

You end up back at Sunset Point.

For such a fabulous park experience, this is a simple and thoroughly spectacular two hours where you may decide that you should hike the two trails in reverse!

Zion National Park

Zion took my breath away. And it is still in my top 3 national parks in the United States.

Angels Landing – this hike is not for the faint of heart, or rather, the individuals with a fear of heights like me! But you can hike up to the moment of truth and just watch all the other crazies attempt the final 3 foot wide sheer rock face ascent.

 

 

A wide, paved winding trail begins the hike and other than an uphill walk, you enjoy the glorious views over Zion. This lasts for two miles. Then you enter Walter’s Wiggles which are 21 switchbacks that will affect your glutes. Rick and I stopped at Scout Lookout, a perfect place for water and a snack break. We watched others use the chain to climb up onto the narrow spine, the spectacular ridge with a drop of hundreds of feet on each side. We were happy to just sit there and enjoy the sun and the views!
5.4 miles RT

Zion Narrows – the Virgin River carved the Narrows and this canyon turns and twists to make it incredibly unique. One literally hikes through the middle of the river. We started at the Riverside Walk where we walked upstream for a mile before we laughingly decided we were wet enough and turned around. You can hike up to 12 miles.

 

Watchman Trail – this trail climbs you up the side of the mountain for 368 feet before rounding the bend. From here, the chains take over as you hug the stone wall. This is not as steep of a drop as Angel’s Landing, but a fear of heights is not recommended beyond this point.
3.3 miles RT