The parking here is literally impossible unless you come early in the day to get to the tiny…read moreparking lot (located on east end of the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel, but you can only turn into it if you're heading east-bound) , or park semi-legally on the shoulder of the road or in one of the scenic pullouts. There's not much room to walk on the shoulder of the road, and I saw whole families walking on the road itself, almost causing cars on the road to run into them. I don't really know of a good solution other than making it a shuttle stop or something. Anyways, if you're lucky to get a spot, the hike is amazing. There's some stairs to begin with, and the trail eventually gets narrow with railings and a boardwalk. As you complete the trail, the whole Zion canyon opens up before your eyes. You can see the expansiveness, and when I visited the sky was a perfect, cloudless blue. It's a short hike (albeit may be steep for some people), and I think the payoff is worth it. On the way back, I got to see several desert bighorn sheep grazing right above the Tunnel. They didn't seem to be bothered by the cars or the people.

Really nice views at the top on this short mile long trail but parking is not plentiful. If you're…read morejust looking for views, this is a good option. But if you want more of a hike this may not satisfy that. We went in the afternoon as we were finishing our day and came from the visitor center. We drove up the same road as the shuttle and turned at stop 3. The road leading to the hike had a few pulloffs and lots of nice views. Once you reach the end of the tunnel (they only allow one lane so traffic will periodically stop one way), the trail is right there as you exit the tunnel. There's limited compact car parking on the right and then a small lot a little further on the left (with bathrooms). Cars were also parking by the no parking area signs. The hike itself is short and can get congested. But the views at the end are quite nice. We also heard thunder throughout but didn't get rained on.

There are 2 parking lots for the trail, either one of them is fine, no fee is required. First one…read morecomes with brief instructions and maps. It's easy hike with slow elevation. The petroglyphs site is on the rock side or right side, so stay on right side. It's about 3 miles round trip, expect one and half hour. It is fun to explore and search for petroglyphs since there is no signs or indications where these petroglyphs are located. The history of petroglyphs is not as old as I thought, it's about 800-1000 years old. Many petroglyphs are located on cliffs facing by the Santa Clara River. These petroglyphs include abstract and geometric patterns such as parallel lines, herringbone and patterns, as well as figurative patterns such as dancing people and goats. The petroglyphs have spiral patterns, which I think are in memory of their legend ancestor Spider Grandmother. And these dancing people may be worshiping the ancestor. There is a goat head painted very ethereal, it's so beautiful even looks like modern paintings. Although it is introduced that there is an organization-the Land Mountain Research and Conservation Foundation, dedicated to protecting these rock paintings. But these rock paintings are still in their original state, there are no monitoring measures to protect the wind and rain, and there are no markings on the location of the rock paintings. You have to climb up and down to find them. We encountered other tourists who lost their way in finding rock paintings. I truly hope significant measures to take to preserve and label these petroglyphs, maybe more academic research should be done to interpret them.

The Santa Clara River Trail System has an awesome trail which leads to petroglyphs. This trail is…read moreknown as Templ'po'op Petroglyph Trail and you can reach it from Anasazi Valley Trailhead. The trail is 2.9 miles long and takes you through the desert until you finally arrive to the petroglyphs. There are a lot of petroglyphs here which makes sense because Templ'po'op translates to rock writing. To see many of these petroglyphs you must climb around a bit. Some rocks had plenty of petroglyphs on them while some only had one or two drawings. There is really a lot of stuff to see here. On the way back there are some beautiful views. This is a very kid friendly hike. Even climbing around the rocks to see the petroglyphs felt safe.

So I had been hearing about these falls from friends and knew I wanted to come and see them…read more These falls are located within Gunlock State Park. In addition to the waterfalls, there is a large reservoir where you can fish, swim and boat. The park is located about 10 miles out of St. George, Utah. My good friend and I decided last spring (2023) to come and see the falls. I checked the park website to make sure they were running. The falls don't run every year so always make sure to check the park website before heading up here. We arrived early afternoon but there were way too many peeps so we left to return later. We came back close to 5:00pm and the crowds had thinned. We paid the $10 fee and enjoyed the falls. You have to climb up to the falls so be sure to wear some trusted footwear so you don't slip. So much water rushing over the beautiful red rocks. It was quite a show and I highly recommend if you find yourself in the area. Remember to Leave No Trace and take care of our public lands.

So beautiful - Even though I wasn't able to walk a lot I'm glad I was able to catch this view…read morebefore they got dark. Some of the areas nearby make you pay but this was free. Please note there's no chairs around so if you're thinking about coming make sure you pack something to sit on the ground with and it does get a little buggy since you're so close to the water. Happy traveling!!!

I really love this park. It might not be the biggest, but it's fairly quiet and not overly busy…read more The park is kept tidy, and in general people are well behaved here. Oddly enough we saw a stray rooster here. Not sure how he got here. There are also some other birds and a couple of ducks.

Took the kids to this nice little hidden beach today. Didn't get any pictures since we were too…read morebusy playing, but grabbed this quick pick as we were pulling away. Not too busy for a gorgeous Saturday afternoon. Plenty of beach area around the water. My kids had fun, so we'll definitely be back next time we're in the area.

We booked two tours with East Zion Adventures during our June visit to Zion National Park, and both…read moreexceeded our expectations. I'd highly recommend both experiences. Sunset, S'mores, and Stargazing Jeep Tour- If you only have time for one tour, do this one. You'll hop in a jeep (holds 8 people) and head off-road through Zion Ponderosa Resort to several scenic points. Watch the sunset paint the Zion skyline in golden light, incredible photo ops. Then you're taken to an observatory deck at 7,000 feet where you'll enjoy s'mores, a telescope, and one of the most beautiful night skies imaginable. We saw the Milky Way, constellations, and shooting stars. Perfect for all ages and absolutely unforgettable. The Crimson Canyon tour is a fantastic way to experience one Southern Utah's slot canyon. After a short UTV ride, you'll hike through stunning canyon terrain with several points where you climb rocks and shimmy between narrow passages, it sounds intimidating, but it's actually quite manageable. The hikes are pretty easy for anyone with a reasonable fitness level, and the payoff is incredible views of towering canyon walls and stunning formations.

I reviewed these folks under Zion ponderosa ranch resort (where they are based out of) but this is…read morethe actual company you book with to get a shuttle ride to and from obs point/east Mesa trailhead. They are in the rec building on the Zion ponderosa property, and have lots of gear and gifts for sale inside the area where you check in to get your shuttle ticket. Note there are only two bathrooms and most folks wanted to use them before we left for our ride to the trail head so you may have to wait a bit to use it! The ranch folks also seem to have breakfast in an adjacent room so there were people coming to and fro. The check in area to get your ticket is easy to find and the staff explain where to go/get picked up etc both there and while driving you out to the trailhead (ie you won't be confused about where to go). They charge $8pp round trip and the roads are HORRENDOUS so definitely if you want to make the hike, I'd use these folks. They have a shuttle service to the cable car area too.

Utah is one of the most majestic, awe-inspiring states and has been such an unexpected joy in my…read morelife - if you had told me 10 years ago that I'd be spending a significant part of my life in Utah I never would've believed you lol. Exploring Utah over the past 4-5 years has changed me - I have developed such a deep appreciation for the deserts and canyon lands that I used to vehemently dislike thanks to the Beehive State! Our 45th state is packed full of burnt orange cliffs and slot canyons, deep green rivers, towering multicolored mountains and hoodoos, unlimited arches and natural bridges, well preserved dinosaur footprints, and an insane amount of petroglyphs and pictographs dating back many thousands of years. I thoroughly enjoyed combing through my Utah photo collection from the past several years and I hope my pics will give you a sense of the vast land of adventure this state holds! When my son got out of the marines, he announced he was moving to Salt Lake City to go to college with his marine "brothers" - at the time I was absolutely devastated bc I thought he'd always live with me forever until the end of days (as I'm sure all mothers do LOL) - but he went off to make a life for himself with his newfound military bros (how dare he??!!!) His decision ended up being such a wonderful turn of events in all our lives - not only did it open up a whole new world of outdoor adventures and American history to explore, but it also brought so many wonderful people into our lives and given us a whole new branch of our family!! His military bros are the most fantastic people and their families have all become part of our family! The outdoor activities and wildlife are unparalleled- and the people are the kindest I've ever encountered. My son has utterly thrived in Utah and excelled at "The U" in his engineering major. This state will forever hold a special place in my heart! It's a hidden gem and I hope it stays that way - but I don't think it will bc apparently it's one of the fastest growing state in the US waaaa!! So I highly recommend visiting - but also please don't so it won't change LOL!!

Just Go (#10) We've…read morevisited the Great State of Utah many times over the years. This is an updated review. We love Utah because they have some of the most beautiful National Parks, which I mentioned extensively in my original review. We even revisited Bryce Canyon during Covid year (2020)... it was a great place to social distance ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Aside from these iconic national parks we also found some national monuments, landmarks and small towns to visit including Virgin Town. If passing by don't forget to stop at the Buffalo Trading Company and try their awesome buffalo burgers... and did you know that there is a real UP House located in the southwestern City of Herriman? You won't find Carl, Ellie and Russell here, though. This house isn't cartoon. Old Irontown (Cedar City) - located in the southern part of Utah Old Irontown is said to be the very first ghost town in Utah. What we found was an off-the-beaten trail that led to the historical part of Old Irontown and a charcoal kiln was one of the landmarks in the ghost town... no ghosts, just a bunch of fire ants! Yikes! Park City Historic Main Street - I was charmed by this popular historic mountain town. Lots of shops and restaurants, bars and breweries, entertainment, galleries, and nearby hotel and lodging. It was once a silver town and hosted the Winter Olympics in 2002. Reminded me of Virginia City in NV. Bonneville Salt Flats (Wendover) - this was cool! We drove here in 2020... can't practice anymore social distancing than being here at the Salt Flats. We drove a mile out from the west rest stop area and checked out this densely packed salt bed. I had no idea that Southern Utah was once a dinosaur stomping ground (no pun intended) and that inside the St George Dinosaur Discovery Site @ Johnson Farm is the original intact track surface. Thank you Great State of Utah... so much natural beauty! Review #1348 updated

I love how there's a variety of hikes in Zion National Park that visitors with different levels of…read moremobility can use. The Pa'rus (Paiute for bubbling water ) Trail follows the Virgin River and so it's pretty flat. The trail is paved and so if you have wheels (as in bike, wheel chair, walker, etc) or have a dog, this is the trail for you! The view of the river is beautiful, and gorgeous views of the Watchman. There is some shade from the vegetation lining the riverbanks, and I feel like that the temperature is cooler due to the water nearby, although this might be placebo. I didn't see many people on this trail, probably because it's underrated. Occasionally, there are information panels alongside the trail, which discuss ecology, geology, and human history. Great for learning!

We drove up to Vegas for the day and had an incredible time on this trail! It was so beautiful my…read morefirst time in Zion and it was absolutely stunning! Fairly easy trail and we took a dip in the ice cold water too! Looking forward to going back again soon!

If you ever get the chance to go to Zion, take it! Zion is such a beautiful place with so many…read moredestinations to offer. My friends and I did a weekend trip here, and got to do two hikes and stargaze. The Narrows: I've watched videos and did some research before the trip. Highly recommend getting the $35 hiking set with shoes, stick, and socks from Zion Outfitters. To get to the narrows, you'll take the shuttle to the last stop, and hike the Riverside Walk trail to the end. The Narrows goes pretty far, and there are no restrooms once you get off the shuttles. The hike is very rocky, and you're essentially in the water most of the time. The water is absolutely gorgeous, and I'd recommend starting as early as 8am! Water is very cold, and cools down throughout the day. There's no real "end" so you kind of keep going until you're ready to turn out. Our friends and I, medium-hikers, spent about 6 hours and walked 8 miles round trip. The hike is mostly shaded, and only very few parts of the water went up to about chest level. For reference, I'm 5 feet. I'd recommend spending a full day for this hike to really enjoy it and a relaxing pace. We also did the Watchman trail on a beautiful morning, and it was so cool getting to go from bottom to top of the mountains. The hike was approximately 3 miles and took us 3 hours with the inclines. We also got to see a sheep along the way! At night, we stargazed right by shuttle stop 2, aka the museum. Because it is nearly pitch black out there, you could see so many stars and constellations. I don't personally know any other than the big and small dippers, but it was really cool to check it out!

Zion National Park covers nearly 150,000 acres. Most people will go the most popular area in…read moreSpringdale, but there's a separate area known as Kolob Canyons which is located in a different area of the park about an hour's drive away. Kolob Canyons is a very pretty area, but less developed than Zion Canyon. Anyway, Zion has steep and sheer cliffs that leave you breathless. It also has a river and swampland, as well as emerald pools and waterfalls. It is so varied in its landscape, I really can't compare it to anything else. I hiked a whole bunch here: Angel's Landing, Emerald Pools, Weeping Rock, Riverside Walk, Canyon Overlook, even a bit of the Narrows. I want to do a through hike of the Narrows next time - I didn't have enough time in my schedule this time unfortunately. I saw more wildlife than expected too. I think a lot of the animals are habituated to humans, and aren't frightened at all. I also love how well run the shuttle system is. The bus drivers will radio to each other if there's a long line at any stop, and they will send an empty bus there to help avoid extended waits. It's so thoughtful. I stayed in the Zion Lodge, but I'm sure that the gateway town of Springdale has a similarly efficiently run shuttle system as well.