Zion National Park, Utah’s first of five national parks, offers some of the most breathtaking scenery in the country. Located in the quaint town of Springdale, Utah, Zion is definitely a treat to visit. With crisp river waters and colorful canyons, this park looks like it has been painted and handcrafted by some of the most skilled artisans – it’s just that beautiful!
During our visit, we stayed at the Bumbleberry Inn, which is a tiny motel on the main road to the park. The inn was so cute – it had decently-sized accommodations, and if you stay on the first floor like we did, then you’ll get a mini “patio” area right outside your door. There’s even a small farm in the back with animals – we picked apples off of the tree out back and fed them to the goats and horses (haha). The Bumbleberry Inn also has a restaurant and gift store just a few feet away (don’t forget to try their bumbleberry pie and ice cream!), and the bus that takes you directly in to the park stops right in front of the hotel. This made it super convenient for us to grab a bite to eat and then pop on over to the bus when we were ready to go!
The park itself is absolutely beautiful. We hiked The Narrows, which is a narrow gorge in the park that boasts thousand-foot walls and cool river waters. The most fun part about The Narrows is that you actually hike directly in the Virgin River – just be sure to wear comfortable shoes with grip, or rent a walking stick if you don’t have the best balance. Hiking through the river was really refreshing during the summer – it was over 100 degrees when we were there, so the crisp water felt incredible!
The Narrows Bottom Up hike does not require a permit, and is quite popular – it’s said to be one of the most premier hikes on the Colorado Plateau. Just be careful and pay attention to the signs when you go – since it’s a gorge, there’s the risk of flash floods, and with no trail, you have to be extra careful and conscientious that you don’t get caught in one.
Of course, there are several other amazing hikes, including Angel’s Landing, which is said to boast some of the most stunning viewpoints you’ll ever experience. I highly recommend visiting Zion National Park to anyone looking for a clean, gorgeous place to spend your time in the beautiful, great outdoors!
xx.
