Zion Rocks!
It’s about time we had a Zion guide up on this blog! There’s something so special about being in this park for me. When I visit, it feels like I’m coming home, even though I’ve only traveled here three times. You’ll have to check it out and let me know your thoughts! With that said, here’s a list of my favorite trails in the park that I’ve been updating with each visit:
The Watchman Trail
This is a short and sweet hike that starts along the Virgin River. After walking along the river and listening to its peaceful sounds, you can follow the trail up into the canyon. I hiked here with my friends Kelly and Sabrina after a long drive from Southern California. Even though it was later in the day, we still wanted to get a sneak peek of the park, and this hike was the perfect intro! Whenever families ask me for Zion recommendations to take their younger children on, this is the one that I always recommend since it’s an easy to moderate hike that still offers lovely views.
Observation Point
Observation Point is the first hike that I did in Zion and holds a special place in my heart! This trail’s elevation gain is about 2100 feet (did someone say leg day?) and offers breathtaking views of the park, including Angels Landing below it. This hike isn’t as popular as Angels Landing, but it’s much safer and less crowded in my opinion, and it offers an even more expansive view of the park. Observation Point is truly worth every switchback and every foot of elevation gain!
The Narrows
This hike is just as cool as the water you’ll be in! It offers a unique perspective of the park’s slot canyons that you can’t see on land. When I hiked here in 2018 with my dad, it started spontaneously drizzling even though we had checked the weather multiple times before, so he pulled the dad card and said we had to turn around in case of a flash flood. Twenty-year-old Anj was not feeling that, but a few years have passed since then and I’m so grateful for that decision. I’m looking forward to exploring The Narrows again when there isn’t a flash flood risk. Safety first, friends!
Angels Landing
Angels Landing has been listed multiple times as one of the most beautiful hikes in the U.S. as well as one of the most dangerous, and I couldn’t agree more. There are portions of the trail that are extremely narrow and some parts where there aren’t any chains. My mom turned back within the first few minutes and I would be lying if I said that I didn’t share that same fear. There was one point where someone was so close to falling over the cliff (someone had to reach out and grab his backpack or he probably would have) and in that moment, I wanted to turn around. However, I’m grateful that I didn’t and that my mom didn’t—she decided to keep hiking and surprised me at the top! It was the sweetest surprise and I was so proud of her. The views throughout this hike are beautiful and what was even better personally was knowing that I decided to keep going and to enjoy the journey along the way.
Canyon Overlook
This one-mile roundtrip hike is my favorite place in Zion to catch the sunset! Along the way, you’ll cross a small bridge, pass through a cave, and walk up and down dirt stairs. It’s a dynamic and fun hike that keeps you on your toes the entire time. This one is similar to Angels Landing in that both have narrow parts of a trail with chains that you can hold onto. If you’re looking to experiment with your comfort zone before committing to a longer hike like Angels Landing, I would try this one for sure! The views are captivating, and watching the sunset here feels magical. I’d also recommend getting to the trailhead early since parking is limited.
Thanks for following along! Let me know if you have any questions about these trails or any recommendations. I felt so much wanderlust and nostalgia writing this blog post, so hopefully, it inspired you to opt outdoors and explore too!
