ZION NATIONAL PARK ITINERARY

Transcription

1 ZION NATIONAL PARK ITINERARY

2 Day 1 Travel / Arrive / Check-in Lodging, Afternoon walk, dining, relax. There s so much natural beauty waiting to be discovered at Zion National Park, so check in to your hotel or campground and start exploring. Pick up a free Zion Map & Guide at the park entrance or visitor center. In winter months you can drive your own vehicle along the six-mile Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. In summer just hop on the park shuttle bus in Springdalea and get acquainted with Zion s scenic wonders. There are pullouts or shuttle stops along the way for major landmarks like the Court the Canyon Overlook trail, an easy-to-moderate one mile roundtrip hike with a spectacular view of lower Zion Canyon. Enjoy a leisurely picnic lunch, do some bird watching, or take some photos while drinking in the scenery. Then head back to Springdale near the park s south entrance where you ll find a variety of restaurants that offer everything from home-style country cooking to gourmet dining. Enjoy a delicious meal and get a good night s sleep in preparation for tomorrow s adventures. of the Patriarchs, Weeping Rock, and the Temple of Sinewava. Discover stunning vistas by hiking

3 Day 2 Hiking in park, photography, (choose from these trails) Evening entertainment at Zion Canyon Giant Screen Theater follows the steep switchbacks of the East Rim Trail into Echo Canyon. The eight mile round-trip trail has a 2,100 foot elevation gain and is considered one of the most demanding in Zion National Park, but is well worth the trek. Adrenaline junkies may want to ascend to the narrow sandstone ledge of Angel s Landing, a strenuous five-mile round-trip hike that leads to one of the most stunning overlooks in the park. Tonight you can take in even more scenery at the Zion Canyon Giant Screen Theatre, the largest digital 3-D theatre in southern Utah, which shows the film Zion Canyon Treasures of the Gods several times each day. Grab your camera and get ready to hike some of the most scenic trails in the southwest. The hiking and photography opportunities are endless in Zion National Park, with more than 70 miles of trails surrounded by spectacular scenery. There are self-guided trails that wind along the Virgin River, as well as more challenging hikes in and around the canyons. Popular easy-to-moderate hikes include the two-mile, familyfriendly Riverside Walk which leads to the mouth of the Narrows, and the short Weeping Rock Trail which leads to spectacular views of the main canyon. If you ready for more demanding hiking the Observation Trail begins at the Weeping Rock trail head, and

4 Day 3 Mountain Bike rental - tour or cycling in park, fine dining / Springdale, O.C. Tanner Amphitheater Mountain biking and cycling in Zion National Park is limited to the paved Pa rus Trail and the six-mile Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. The Pa rus Trail begins at Canyon Junction, where the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway and the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive intersect, and winds along the Virgin River, ending at the Watchman Campground. Along the way you ll have views of the Sentinel, the Watchman, and West Temple, the highest point in Zion Canyon. If you choose to ride just a portion of the scenic drive you can return on the park shuttle bus, which has a rack in front to accommodate two bikes. Bike riding through the Zion tunnel is Springdale. Local outfitters have bikes for rent or sale, and also offer repairs, maps, trail information, and guided bike tours in the surrounding areas. Popular mountain biking trails outside the park include Gooseberry Mesa, and the Jem Trail. After your bike ride, venture to Springdale for a stroll down Zion Park Boulevard where you ll find boutiques, galleries, and restaurants. Enjoy Zagat-rated fine dining at one of Springdale s premiere steakhouses, gourmet restaurants, and eclectic cafés. Unwind with a summer concert beneath the breathtaking Zion Canyon at the 2,000-seat O.C. Tanner Amphitheater. prohibited. Bring your own bike or rent one in nearby

5 Day 4 Outdoor guided adventure - Choose from canyoneering, climbing, jeep tour, atv tour. ence, equipment rental, and maps. If you want to cover even more ground, consider a wilderness Jeep tour into rarely-seen backcountry terrain, or ATV riding amid fiery red sand dunes and sandstone cliffs. Half- and full-day tours are available. Adventure guides can be found at Zion National Park offers impressive canyoneering and established rock climbing routes within its towering vertical slot canyons. A trek through the worldfamous Narrows will lead you deep into the canyon, where the soaring 2,000-foot sandstone walls can be less than twenty feet apart. The Kolob Canyon section of the park also offers challenging rock climbing and canyoneering. The adventures continue outside the park boundaries as well, with hundreds of established rock climbing routes and more big walls than anywhere else in the southwest. Local outfitters can help you plan your exploration with a guided experi-

6 Day 5 Hiking in Zion - choose from these trails Today s focus is again on hiking. With the entire day set aside to explore the park you can focus on challenging hikes like the heart-pumping Angel s Landing or a portion of The Narrows. The Narrows are accessible from the Riverside Walk trail and hikers with a permit and proper equipment can venture into the towering slot canyon as far as your stamina will allow. Hiking the full 16-miles of the Narrows will take one full day or can be split into two days and requires a backcountry permit. Backcountry hikers may also want to consider the Kolob Canyon section of the park where hikes to Kolob Arch and If you aren t up to extended hiking there are several shorter, family-friendly hikes. The trails to Lower, Middle, and Upper Emerald Pools offer the option to hike as little or as far as you like. After the easy.6- mile paved trail to Lower Emerald Pool you can continue along a two-mile rocky sandstone trail with a 100-foot elevation gain to Middle Emerald Pool. The trail then continues on to Upper Emerald Pool with a steep, 350-foot elevation gain over one half mile, opening up to spectacular views. Pack lunch and your camera, and allow several hours to hike the full three miles to all three pools. Visit The Subway are demanding but visually rewarding.

7 Day 6 Spa treatment - Depart / Travel After a week of adventure, you ve earned some downtime. Before you head home, unwind at a Springdale or St. George day spa or multi-day destination spa, where luxurious desert botanical facials, indulgent body treatments, and hot stone massages await you. Whether your focus is on beauty, wellness, fitness, or spirituality, there s a spa that will leave you feeling relaxed, rejuvenated, and ready for your journey home. Visit com to plan your perfect spa experience.

8 This map shows the proximity of area communities in relation to Zion National Park. Just above the town of Springdale you can see the main scenic drive where most of the most well known formations and trails are located, and where the Virgin River parallels this main section of the park.