We recently spent a long weekend exploring Zion National Park in Utah. Over the course of three days, we went on epic hikes, took amazing pictures, and thoroughly tired ourselves out. On our first day, we hiked to the lower, middle, and upper Emerald Pools. We then drove from the south entrance to the east entrance, which took us through the Mt. Carmel Tunnel. We ended the day with a short hike in Kolob Canyons, which is about an hour away from the main entrance to the park. We recently posted a video of our day here. If you prefer the written version, read on!
Another Ride on a Tiny Plane
We’ve had Zion National Park on our bucket list for years. Unfortunately, it is over a 9-hour drive from our house to Zion and – until recently – there was no good flight option. So, we always thought we’d need much more than a long weekend to make this trip work. But that is no longer the case! United Airlines recently added a non-stop flight from Denver, Colorado to St. George, Utah. When we discovered that we could fly to St. George using (very few) United points, we immediately booked the trip.
If you are afraid of flying – BEWARE! This flight uses a very small plane, the Canadair Regional Jet 700. This plane is so small that you don’t board from a jetway at the Denver International Airport… you board from the tarmac!
The good news is that it is a jet. In other words, it is not a propeller plane, which always gives me some comfort. The flight is short and goes over the Rocky Mountains, so it can be bumpy. Our flight to Utah was fine but our flight home had quite a bit of turbulence. Even though these flights can be intimidating, I am always willing to take them because there is a great adventure on the other side!
Hiking to the Emerald Pools
We arrived in the park at around 9 a.m. and were lucky enough to find parking at the visitor’s center. Zion National Park does not allow personal vehicles to drive from viewpoint to viewpoint. Instead, you park at the visitor’s center and travel through the park via the free shuttle bus. If you arrive too late, the parking at the visitor’s center will be full and you’ll need to find parking in Springdale. If you park in Springdale, you’ll need to take the town’s shuttle to the visitor’s center and then hop on the park’s shuttle to see the sights. Both are free.
We rode the park shuttle to stop number 5, the Zion Lodge. From there, we walked about 6/10 of a mile up a paved path to the Lower Emerald Pool. This pool was absolutely stunning and is completely worth the trip. The hike is easy and would be accessible for even the least experienced hikers.
From the lower pool, we continued the hike to the middle pool. This was a quick walk, much less than 1/2 a mile. I walked right past the middle pool without realizing what it was because it was so small and unassuming. If you’re not planning to hike all the way to the upper pool, I’d skip the middle pool.
From the middle pool, we continued on to the upper pool. This part of the hike was the most difficult, by far. It was sandy, rocky, and steep in places. But the upper pool was worth the effort – it was beautiful! We hung out here for a few moments to people watch and enjoy a snack. Although this hike was more difficult, the trail was clearly marked and easy to follow, making it accessible to inexperienced hikers.
From the upper emerald pool, we hiked back to shuttle stop no. 6, the Grotto, which made the hike a large loop instead of an out-and-back. If you’re planning to do this hike, the access (especially to the lower pool) was much easier from shuttle stop no. 5, the Zion Lodge.
Mt. Carmel Tunnel
Once we were done hiking in the park, we got back in the car and drove the only road that allows personal vehicles. The Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway takes you from the south entrance to the east entrance (or vice versa) of the park. The most impressive part of the drive is the 1 mile trip through the Mt. Carmel Tunnel. The tunnel was finished in 1930 and is quite spectacular! This entire drive didn’t take long but was full of beautiful views. If you have an extra hour or two, we highly recommend it!
Kolob Canyons
After a delicious (and well deserved) lunch at the Camp Outpost in Springdale, we left the park and ventured north to the Kolob Canyons. The Kolob Canyons are in the far north-west corner of Zion National Park. You access this part of the park through a separate entrance that is about 45 minutes north of the main entrance. Once you get to this part of the park, there is a five mile scenic road with hikes along the way. We took the road all the way to the end and took a short hike on the Timber Creek Overlook Trail. The hike was one mile with a small elevation gain. This part of the park is beautiful, although I would not classify it as a must-see if you are limited on time.
From here, we went back to Springdale to check in to our hotel. We spent the rest of the day lounging by the pool and resting up for our next big adventure: a hike in the narrows. More to come on that next week!
