"Zion National Park, One of My Favorites" Top 5 Page for this destination Zion National Park by KimberlyAnn

Zion National Park Travel Guide: 572 reviews and 1,231 photos

Zion Park has spectacular sandstone cliffs and canyon landscapes in which you can bicycle, hike, horseback ride, or take a guided tram tour. You may also do technical climbs if you are an experienced mountain climber. You will see sheer and colorful cliffs that tower above you as you explore this narrow canyon. A small river, looking more like a creek flows along the bottom of the canyon. The name "Zion" means a place of peace and refuge. This sanctuary with over 146,000 acres of cliffs, canyons, varied plant and animal life, and breath taking beauty is well named. The entrance town of Springdale is a cute little tourist town nestled right up to the gate of the park.

We have visited Zion National Park twice, and enjoyed it both times. The journal entries below are from our first visit to the park.

Journal entry: Sunday, Feb. 7, 1999

I've found my Nirvana, my Valhalla, my husband will have to drag me out of here kicking and screaming as I clutch the rocks with my finger tips. Springdale is this tiny little berg without any decent shopping, or even a decent grocery store, yet if I had the money, I would buy some hill top property and build a dome or log home with windows - windows everywhere. I'm in love----with the scenery, the climate, and the vegetation. You are surrounded closely with towering, rugged, rocky mountain peaks, and you sit on the gate to Zion National Park, which has a breath taking beautiful cliff and canyon landscape. The cliffs are sheer and colorful, and the canyon is narrow and deep with walls towering 2,000 to 3,000 feet above you. When I look up I am filled with a sense of awe and wonder. There are large cacti here as well as tall ornamental wheat like grass and green moss. Today it was in the high 40`s and the air smelled fresh and earth like. Mule deer can be viewed close at hand both in the village, as well as in the park.

Journal entry: Thursday, February 11, 1999

Detail Close-up of Falls In the Emerald Pool Area

After lunch today we drove to Emerald Pool and hiked for 2 2/3 miles up to Middle Emerald Pools, then on up to the upper pool. Here there was a thin ribbon waterfall cascading over the high cliff. Its spray caused ice cycles to form along the canyon walls as well as on the bushes below the falls. The pool at the upper point was also frozen. As we stood gazing upward at the falls a small section of ice let go and came hurling with a rumbling crash to the floor below. We not only heard the booming, echoing crash as it hit, smashing into a cloud of ice shards, but we could hear the rushing air as it plunged to the ground below. After this hike we drove to the end of the scenic road to walk up toward the narrows, but after walking about a mile we found the route was closed due to falling ice. Having recently experienced falling ice we could understand the closure. We did, however, see nice views along the section we were able to walk. We decided to return to Emerald Pool as we had not seen the lower pool because the loop trail we took to the left was closed beyond the middle and upper pools so we had to retrace our steps after seeing these pools earlier in the day. We could, however, hike to the lower pool if we took the right hand leg of the loop, because the trail was closed just after the pool we wanted to visit. It was only a short 2/3 of a mile walk and we enjoyed seeing this lovely pool with its three narrow waterfalls. When we returned to the campground I took a leisurely bike ride along the Pa'rus Trail. The scenery here is beautiful, and the red and yellow colors of the cliffs above my head added to the scenic ride.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Spectacular views, wonderful places to hike.
Cons:Can be very crowded during the prime season.

Last visit to Zion National Park: Mar 2007
Intro Updated Aug 20, 2011
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Reviews (28)

Upper Emerald Pool Trail Things to Do (6)

The Upper Emerald Pool Trail is rated moderate, and is a side trip that connects to the Middle Emerald Pool Trail. You... more travel advice

My Husband Along the Middle Emeral Pool Trail - Zion National Park

Middle Emerald Pool Trail Things to Do (6)

The Middle Emerald Pool Trail is rated moderate, and climbs 150 feet in one mile. This is an unpaved trail that will... more travel advice

My Husband at the Lower Emerald Pools Area - Zion National Park

Lower Emerald Pool Trail Things to Do (6)

Lower Emerald Pool Trail is an easy .6 mile hike (one way) which climbs 69 feet. The trail is paved, and will lead you... more travel advice

Look Out Through the Dripping Water - Zion National Park

Weeping Rock Hike Things to Do (6)

Weeping Rock is a short, but somewhat steep, half mile walk that climbs 98 feet, and will take you about 30 minutes. The... more travel advice

Shopping (4)
See All An Art Gallery with Various Types of Art
Sports & Outdoors (3)
See All Eploring Zion on Horseback
Off The Beaten Path (2)
See All Snow Canyon State Park
Favorites (4)
See All Zion Human History Museum

Comments (14)

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KiKitC Jan 29, 2010 at 2:52 AM

Awesome tips...as always. Birthday wishes from New Jersey!
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BruceDunning Jun 23, 2009 at 3:08 PM

I need this type of advise to know what I am comfortable in hiking. Great job of explanations and trail pics.
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staindesign Oct 15, 2007 at 4:36 PM

I really enjoyed your zion pages, I am planning a trip there next year with my family. Your pages made me really excited to get there! By the way, did you ever notice any place to rent RVs?
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JudyinPA May 15, 2007 at 11:23 AM

Ditto on my 05 comment. This time only looking at the campground info. Copied the emails for a reference. Hope we can meet up on an RV trip.
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travelgourmet Apr 14, 2007 at 4:12 PM

Going to Bryce and Zion in early June. Will use your tips to help out. I trust there are buffalo burgers at Majestic View Lodge.
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Shihar Aug 10, 2006 at 4:01 AM

I can relate to the kicking and screaming part! Pieces of me are still there. You've done Zion proud with you pages.
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deecat Jan 4, 2006 at 7:29 PM

Anne, what a comprehensive, informative group of pages. Very thorough, interesting, as well as helpful. Thanks ever so much.
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JetlagCity Sep 30, 2004 at 10:45 AM

I see I've found someone who appreciated Zion as much as I did! I visited in summer before & have wanted to return in the off-season ever since.
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mtncorg Sep 17, 2004 at 3:45 PM

A great Park off-season when you can drive in yourself. Springdale is a nice off Park site indeed;-] 'Come to Zion!' goes the Mormon hymn for good reason;-\
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Andraf Jul 30, 2004 at 10:53 AM

Great page. I'm headed there in two weeks, looking forward to the trip.