Thing to Do
Created by A
Wed 04/18/07 (day 1)
Spring Break 2007
Spring Break 2007
Zions National Park is one of the most breathtaking places I have ever been. It is absolutely beautiful!!! Even kids can appreciate the amazing landscape, nature and animals.
First, I found if you go early you can park at the Visitors Center or the Museum. That way your vehicle is IN the park. Especially with kids that was one of my MAIN concerns. We took a cooler with lunch and snacks . Anytime we were hungry we used the car as base camp. From either place you can hop on a shuttle and tour through the park.
Day one was spent hiking the Pa'rus trail and exploring the shuttle system. We took the shuttle all the way through the park to get a feel for the place. Then came back down and took the trail from the musuem back to the Visitors Center. The Pa'rus is the easiest trail in the park. It is flat, paved and follows the river down. There are plenty of river access points where the kids could go down to the water and play. Nice on a hot day!!!
That night we went to see the movie. It was ok. The kids got a little frightened. Some of the shots were simply amazing.
The next day we hiked the archeology trail which is also right by the Visitors center. It gets steep and isn't paved. It is a good pre-cursor to some of the bigger trails in the park. We went to the musuem and watched the movie there, to the visitors center to get some books and fun stuff. Then we went swimming , which was a good thing because it turned unseasonably cold.
The 3rd day we hike the emerald pools trail. It was beautiful!!! We were able to hike to the 2nd pool which is an upper trail. The hike to the lower pools was quite comfortable and paved. After that the trail begins to climb, there are steps, and it is narrow. IT IS WORTH IT!!! So beautiful. From there we hiked the court of the patriarchs, which is very steep and very short. We also went up and hiked where the hanging gardens are. It was steep but the flora was amazing. There were little springs all over...so there was flowers and overgrown areas all over. It was probably my favorite hike...other than the kids were tired and whined the whole way up.
The 4th day we started at the Temple of Sinewava and took the Riverside walk. It was quite chilly but a great hike. It is paved and mostly flat. It ends at the narrows where the canyons come together and the river takes over. Many people hike in with gear to continue onward...[someday maybe]...obviously with kids that would be a joke. LOL!!! It is a great place. It follows the river upward...we ate lunch on rocks at the top and made some friends who took our pictures. It gets a 5 star for fun, friendly and beauty.
The last day we hiked partway up Angels Landing. By far the most strenuous hike the kids have done to my knowledge. It starts down on the river crossing a bridge...and climbs ever upward to the narrows. They made it to the narrows. I was very happy!!! There are a lot of switchbacks and the path is in sad repair. But the view is so incredible...who cares! Before kids this was my favorite hike!!! Just beware there are many drop-offs and ledges. I told the kids to stay close to the wall side no matter what. People had to go around us a bit, but, better safe than sorry!!!
All in all...we will be back! The sooner the better.
Zions National Park is one of the most breathtaking places I have ever been. It is absolutely beautiful!!! Even kids can appreciate the amazing landscape, nature and animals.
First, I found if you go early you can park at the Visitors Center or the Museum. That way your vehicle is IN the park. Especially with kids that was one of my MAIN concerns. We took a cooler with lunch and snacks . Anytime we were hungry we used the car as base camp. From either place you can hop on a shuttle and tour through the park.
Day one was spent hiking the Pa'rus trail and exploring the shuttle system. We took the shuttle all the way through the park to get a feel for the place. Then came back down and took the trail from the musuem back to the Visitors Center. The Pa'rus is the easiest trail in the park. It is flat, paved and follows the river down. There are plenty of river access points where the kids could go down to the water and play. Nice on a hot day!!!
That night we went to see the movie. It was ok. The kids got a little frightened. Some of the shots were simply amazing.
The next day we hiked the archeology trail which is also right by the Visitors center. It gets steep and isn't paved. It is a good pre-cursor to some of the bigger trails in the park. We went to the musuem and watched the movie there, to the visitors center to get some books and fun stuff. Then we went swimming , which was a good thing because it turned unseasonably cold.
The 3rd day we hike the emerald pools trail. It was beautiful!!! We were able to hike to the 2nd pool which is an upper trail. The hike to the lower pools was quite comfortable and paved. After that the trail begins to climb, there are steps, and it is narrow. IT IS WORTH IT!!! So beautiful. From there we hiked the court of the patriarchs, which is very steep and very short. We also went up and hiked where the hanging gardens are. It was steep but the flora was amazing. There were little springs all over...so there was flowers and overgrown areas all over. It was probably my favorite hike...other than the kids were tired and whined the whole way up.
The 4th day we started at the Temple of Sinewava and took the Riverside walk. It was quite chilly but a great hike. It is paved and mostly flat. It ends at the narrows where the canyons come together and the river takes over. Many people hike in with gear to continue onward...[someday maybe]...obviously with kids that would be a joke. LOL!!! It is a great place. It follows the river upward...we ate lunch on rocks at the top and made some friends who took our pictures. It gets a 5 star for fun, friendly and beauty.
The last day we hiked partway up Angels Landing. By far the most strenuous hike the kids have done to my knowledge. It starts down on the river crossing a bridge...and climbs ever upward to the narrows. They made it to the narrows. I was very happy!!! There are a lot of switchbacks and the path is in sad repair. But the view is so incredible...who cares! Before kids this was my favorite hike!!! Just beware there are many drop-offs and ledges. I told the kids to stay close to the wall side no matter what. People had to go around us a bit, but, better safe than sorry!!!
All in all...we will be back! The sooner the better.
TimA (View TimA's trips)
Thanks. Going soon.
Posted 9 months ago.
Report Abusekasha k (View kasha k's trips)
I will go there tomorow, thanks.
Posted 6 months ago.
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