Best Family Hikes in Zion National Park
Our trip to Zion was probably our favorite hiking trip yet. There was so much to see and do and it’s just perfect for families since so many of the trails are kid-friendly and not terribly strenuous. Zion is about 170 miles from Las Vegas (which is where we flew into) so if you rent a car, it’s about a 2 1/2 hour drive. You can also fly into Salt Lake City but that adds another 2 hours of driving since it’s closer to 300 miles away from Zion. I personally think when we went in late September is hands down the best time of year to visit. The crowds and temperatures are not nearly as high as they are during the peak summer season and the hotel prices are not as crazy either.
Early planning is important, however….unfortunately we waited until kind of the last minute and a lot of the hotels that are in Springdale at the entrance to the park were all already completely booked. We were lucky enough to get the very last room at the Cliffrose Lodge and Gardens. It was such an amazing hotel. It’s beautifully landscaped and is right on the Virgin River…..Jack was so happy he could sit there each morning and play with all of his diggers in the sand of the river bank. You are steps outside the park entrance and literally can walk right in and out each day which makes a HUGE difference. The last thing you want to spend your vacation doing is sitting in a loooooong line of traffic to get into the park each day. Since you have to park your car and use their shuttle service, traffic backs up pretty bad. It’s also super efficient to be able to enjoy a nice dinner after hiking all day and then walk to your room as opposed to finding your car in the parking lot and driving to a hotel that is a 40 minute drive away…..which is where many people opt to stay because it is such a cheaper alternative to paying $250 or more a night to be so close.
Featured Hikes
Emerald Pools
Emerald Pools was the hike we decided on for our first afternoon when we arrived. It’s only about 2 miles long depending on which loops you hike.
It is also a fairly easy with only 200-ish ft of elevation gain to get to Middle Emerald Pools and another 200-ft gain to the Upper Emerald Pools. Upper Emerald trail was closed for repairs while we were there from a recent rainstorm that flooded parts of the trail and washed it away. So we really only did 3/4 of it but it was still beautiful! Parts of it are paved too so we let Jack out of the carrier to walk most of it. He brought his binoculars and butterfly net and had the best time trying to catch water dripping down from the “waterfall”. The trailhead is directly across from the Zion Lodge shuttle stop. Super easy and convenient to get on and off.
After we finished, we had a yummy dinner of burgers and beers at the Zion Brew Pub which is directly in front of the park entrance and also next door to the Zion Outfitter where we rented our gear to hike the Narrows the next morning. I’d definitely recommend renting gear as opposed to just winging it on your own. I saw so many people struggling and falling and our neoprene socks and boots really kept our feet warm and cozy. Also the walking sticks were a must. There is no way I could have done the hike without them, so I was super glad we paid the extra money to rent good gear as it made the hike so much more enjoyable. Plenty of people we hiked past just wore chacos or water shoes, but wading through the cold water and slippery rocks all day was so much more comfortable with the right equipment. Also, go and rent it the day before you plan to hike the Narrows so you can be up and ready to catch the first shuttle at 7am before all the crowds. We literally had the entire canyon to ourselves for about 3/4 of our hike and only passed a few other couples. It was so much more beautiful without hundreds of people all around you. I am writing a whole other blog post just about the Narrows and on what to pack, useful tips, and other helpful info because there’s just so much to know and do.
So basically it’s an out-and-back hike…..you just wander into the canyon as far as you want and then turn around and come out. You can camp and spend the night and hike through (there is two different routes) from the top-down, or bottom-up, but both require permits. We probably hiked about 8 miles.
My superhero husband had Jack in the carrier the entire time and I’m still mind-blown as to how he does it. I thought my pack was heavy just carrying all of our snacks and water! The Narrows doesn’t get really good until you’re almost 2 miles in, there was a point I was so cold and tired I almost wanted to turn back, but I’m SOOOO THANKFUL my husband had us keep going because after like 3 more bends it just got jaw-droppingly gorgeous. It was definitely chilly in the canyon since it was so early in the morning and the sun doesn’t peak through down there. I wished I would’ve brought a jacket or windbreaker.
Around noon we decided to eat lunch on a cute little sandy embankment and then turn around to go back. By the time we finished our lunch, the canyon was packed! So many people were just everywhere you looked, I was really grateful for our early start and that we were able to witness the beauty of everything, take photos, and just enjoy the peace and quiet, before it got so heavily congested. If we would’ve left at 10 am a hiked it with the masses of other people I know I would not have had such a great experience and been grumpy and pouty. I think that’s the key to almost any good vacation. Always get up at 5 or 6 am and beat the crowds….it’s worth it every single time.
The next day Jack and I relaxed by the river bank, swam in the pool, and had ice cream at the Zion Lodge while Joseph hiked Angels Landing.
Almost to “Wall Street”
The Angels Landing Trail is by the north end of Zion, it starts off across from The Grotto picnic area. (There’s a nice little area where Jack and I played for a bit before going for ice cream). It is also an out-and-back hike is rated “strenuous” since it has an elevation gain 1,488 ft. Round trip, the hike is about 5 1/2 miles and takes roughly 4 hours to complete.
Angels Landing is famous for being one of the most intense hikes you can do. There’s over 20 switchbacks (Walters wiggles) and it is very narrow, steep, and with sheer drop offs on either side, this trail is most definitely not for the faint of heart or anyone scared of heights. And while it sounds breathtaking…..and I’m a big fan of beautiful dramatic views, I much rather enjoyed looking at them from my camera roll once Joseph returned.
Holding onto chains above a cliff just isn’t my cup of tea but I’m glad he had such a good time. Jack and I also did the Pa’rus trail while we waited. It’s an easy 1.5 mile paved trail that follows the Virgin River and is very easily walkable for people of all activity levels and it ends at the visitors center. It’s also the only trail in the park that pets are allowed on.
We had dinner in town at the Switchback Grille (a pretty fancy Steakhouse) that was delicious. It was a nice change from all the pub food we’d been eating. And I ate one of the best steaks I’ve ever had! They were very accommodating to our 3 year old as well, and I was even impressed with how well he behaved in such a nice restaurant. We went to bed early that night since earlier in the day we randomly decided to re-book our flights home and stay a couple extra days to see Bryce Canyon National Park as well. Zion is so full of beauty and driving through on our way to Bryce was stunning as well. We had so many wonderful memories, and some just plain funny ones as well—Jack having to poop on the side of the road for one, and we can’t wait to visit again one day when our kids are bigger. There’s just so much to enjoy!
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