Zion National Park
Oct 2022
Zion NP is one of the most breathtakingly beautiful parks that we've been to. We entered at the east entrance on Hwy 9 as we were driving from Kanab UT. At that entrance, we had to pay an extra fee for our motorhome to go through the Mount Carmel Tunnel. There are height and width restrictions that cause rangers posted at each end of the 1.1 mile tunnel to restrict traffic to one way for oversized vehicles. We were more than 7'10" wide (including mirrors) and therefore too wide to navigate the tunnel as regular cars and trucks do. You can read more about it here.
We stayed at the South Campground which is on the Virgin River and only a short distance from the Visitor's Center where you can catch the shuttles. There are no hook-ups at this park, and some of the bathrooms were closed for the season. Our campsite, 113, actually has a bit of shade. The temps the week we were there were fairly low, so shade wasn't as important as it might have been in the summer. The site is a pull-through, but not exactly level.
We were there for three nights in late October. I think a few more nights would have been ideal. I'm beginning to think that seven nights at a major National Park is ideal for exploring and enjoying the park.
Hike to Scout Lookout and View of Angel's Landing
The only hike we did at the park was a hike to Scout Lookout. This is the hike that leads to Angel's Landing, probably the most iconic hike in Zion. You have to have a permit to hike beyond Scout Lookout up to Angel's Landing which is a chain area and requires a lot of scrambling. We didn't have a permit and were perfectly happy to watch others navigate that last bit of the hike.
I would call the hike up to Scout Landing a moderate to challenging hike. The path is mostly paved, which I thought was a little bit "cheating" for a hike, but on the way down, I was so thankful for the rough pavement. It is a pretty steep climb over the 2 miles up to the lookout, and the last part of the hike is called Walter's Wiggles. It is a series of 21 switchbacks that have an elevation gain of 250 feet in a relatively short distance. I won't lie, it is tough on your legs and thighs. It is hard to capture a good picture of the Wiggles without a drone, and those aren't allowed in the park. So here is a link to a blog about the wiggles with some pretty cool pictures on Indie88
Angel's Landing
View from Scout Lookout
Looking down on Walter's Wiggles
Other Points of Interest
We took the shuttle from the visitor's center to the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. Cars are generally not allowed on this road except during the parts of the year when the shuttles don't operate. The Zion Lodge is up this road and you can drive to it, if you are staying there.
The shuttles make 9 stops from the Zion Canyon Visitor's Center to the Temple of Sinawava, and they run approximately every 15 min. We never had to wait very long. The entire scenic drive takes about 45 min unless you get off to explore. The hike to Scout Lookout and Angel's Landing is stop 6, The Grotto. There are a number of other hikes that originate at this stop, so it is a popular one. This guy was curious, but not afraid of all the hikers. He was just hanging out waiting for his picture to be made.
Court of the Patriarchs
The last stop, Temple of Sinawava, is where you access another very popular hike, The Narrows. You really need to have water shoes and waders to navigate this hike because a part of it is in the water. We would like to do it the next time we visit. You can rent proper shoes and waders along with a sturdy walking stick at the local outfitter near the visitor's center. We did get out and walk around at this stop when we took the scenic drive.
Stop 4 is the Court of the Patriarchs. It is a grouping of sandstone cliffs named (in 1916 by a Methodist minister) after the Biblical figures of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. There is a very short hike to a viewing area, but it is worth it to get a great view of these peaks. Just look at that blue sky...
I don't think 3 days is long enough in this park. I'd like to go back and spend a week. It was getting pretty chilly at night when we were there in late October, but we were thankful for cooler temps when we were hiking and exploring. I think October is a pretty perfect time to explore Zion.