Religion and Spirituality

My Favorite Hiking Trails in Zion National Park

Zion National Park in Utah was the very first National Park I ever visited. As much as I loved the outdoors, it was not until the first nightfall that I was absolutely captivated by the immense beauty of nature. Staring up into the night sky, a seemingly endless stream of stars was broken only by the silent silhouette of The Sentinal. At that moment, I knew I wanted to hike as many trails as I could, and experience as much of the natural beauty as possible. Today, when I think of Zion National Park, I remember not only that incredible, silent stream of stars, but also my two favorite hiking trails – The Canyon Overlook and the Angels Landing.

Part of the charm of the Canyon Overlook trail is actually driving to the trailhead. The 1.1 mile Mount Carmel Tunnel was blasted through the limestone of Mt Carmel in the 1920’s (dedicated on July 4th 1930) to provide direct access from Zion to Bryce Canyon and The Grand Canyon. What makes the drive so spectacular is the Great Arch of Zion (at the Zion Canyon side), the observation ‘galleries’ that allow you to view Lower Zion Canyon from inside the tunnel, and the Checkerboard Mesa near the trailhead at the East Entrance. The Canyon Overlook itself is a just over 1 mile (round trip), moderately difficult trail that ends in a panoramic view of Lower Zion Canyon. Along the way you’ll hike past long drop offs and through an undercut portion of the White Cliffs. Be sure to take this hike either early in the morning or late in the day due to the high temperatures under the midday sun.

My other favorite, and a highly popular trail among all tourists, is the Angels Landing Trail. This is a rather strenuous trail covering approximately 5 miles round trip and is not for those who are afraid of heights. The trailhead is at the Grotto Picnic area and immediately takes you across the North Fork of the Virgin River into the flattest section of the trail which is mostly paved and easy to cover. Enjoy the views of the riparian woodland and iron oxide stained rocks, but don’t be fooled by this easy start, since you’ll soon encounter a series of switchbacks as you work your way through the cool shade of Refrigerator Canyon. Comfortable hiking boots and a walking stick are highly recommended. Once you emerge from Refrigerator Canyon you’ll be faced with the steepest part of the trail, the 21 switchbacks of Walter’s Wiggles. This steep ascent is both beautiful and strenuous, as the switchbacks are continuous, but definitely worth the effort finally ending at the Scout Lookout. This is where the majority of hikers will end their trek, and the scenery is top notch. For those of you who settle for nothing but the best, and have no fear of heights, you can travel the final half mile to Angels Landing. It’s usually the first part of the final section, with the vertical rock wall to your right and the sheer drop off to your left, that keeps most people at Scout Lookout. If you have the nerve to get past that, the final trek along the ridge is (relatively) easy. Your payoff is an unobstructed view of Zion Canyon from an elevation of ~1500 ft above the Virgin River. You may not care about the geologic forces that formed the canyon over millions of years, or the fact that your comfortable hiking boots make you feet feel as if you’ve only taken a casual stroll along the riverside, but once you absorb this unique view of Zion Canyon, you can’t help but be awed by the awesome beauty of nature.

About the Author

I’m Mark and my wife and I love to go hiking, whether it’s in the south west in Arizona at the Grand Canyon or up north in Maine at Acadia National Park. But no matter where we go, having comfortable Gore-tex lined hiking boots means we never have to stop because of foot fatigue or blisters. If you love the outdoors, but avoid hiking because your feet tend to hurt, it’s probably because you aren’t wearing the best hiking boots for your feet. For more information and help finding the perfect boot for you, check out Ladies Hiking Boots. Your feet will thank you.

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