Take me to Zion!

Zion was such a treat. Considering that it was not in the original plan I’m so glad we decided to do it. We decided to go to Zion only after we found out how close it was to the Coral Sand Dunes and it’s technically on the way home. When driving into Zion you are greeted by the great Checkerboard Mountain that is pictured above.

Driving down the road going through all the twists and turns of Zion is a great sight. Not too far from the entrance you’ll run into the Zion-Mount Caramel Tunnel, which is a 1.1 mile tunnel through the mountain. I think what makes the tunnel so cool is that it is almost made completely from natural rock formations in the mountain. It is also the 5th largest land tunnel in the United States. When driving through the tunnel it is almost completely dark with just a few “windows” to allow light in through the 1 mile trip. They even have a sign at the beginning that says you have to turn on headlights and remove any sunglasses before heading through the tunnel. I tried getting a picture of the sign, but they have park rangers waving you through the tunnel and yelling “no stopping”.

The Zion Shuttle Guide

You will have to catch the shuttle from the visitors center that will cost you $1 per person. The shuttle pass is valid all day and can be used as many times as you like going up and down the hill. The only time you will need to buy a new ticket is if you want to board from the visitors center.

The shuttle ticket is a must have for anyone that is traveling to Zion. Most parts of the part or the most notable trails are only accessible by shuttle. Although, you can can take some photos from the side of the main road.

Take note of the shuttle stop guide above because there are a few stop closures due to Covid. There is also very limited space on the shuttle, and it is a first come first serve basis. Good news is that you won’t have to wait that long. The shuttles are set to depart from the visitors center every 5 minutes from 7am to 4pm. The last shuttle departs from the Temple Sinawava and heads down to the visitors center by 7:15pm.

The Emerald Pools

The Emerald Pools located at the Zion Lodge shuttle stop is the home of the three Emerald Pools. It is a relatively easy hike that has quite a change in elevation. Most of the trail consists of slick rocks, sand, and paved rock.

The hike takes around 1 to 2 hours depending on how fast you walk and is about 3 miles to he top of the pool and back to the trailhead.

The first picture above is the upper pool rock formations. You can’t see the water, but it is like the size of a small lake. It’s a great rest stop to eat your snacks before you head back down to the bottom. It is mostly shaded with trees all around. Even on a 90 degree day the weather was cool and brisk from the top.

The second photo shows where the little “lake” leads. It creates a small stream that pools about half way up the hike and kinda hints at “you’re almost at the top”. It creates a small amount of runoff that leads you to the third photo which you can probably consider a waterfall even though it is pretty small. You can walk under the waterfall also, but be careful because when the paved rocks get wet it is extremely slippery!

The fourth and fifth photo are just examples of what views there are on the way to the upper pool. You will find plenty of canyon views through the trees. You’ll actually find a lot of squirrels and deer that are extremely friendly. There are a few areas that you can head where the terrain is pretty difficult and you can do some bouldering, but most of the trail is outlined pretty clearly for the easiest approach.

The Narrows

The photo above is take from “The Narrows” at Zion. It was probably the highlight of the trip and where you can test your hiking skills in waist deep water.

You can get to The Narrows by taking the shuttle up the hill and getting off at the last stop, which is the Temple Sinawava. If you plan on actually hiking through the water at the Narrows make sure you have comfortable hiking boots that are also waterproof. I chose the Newton Ridge by Columbia. I got them on sale for $70 at the Columbia outlet, but there’s many more options to choose from. These are a great choice for a beginner that needs a sturdy, high quality waterproof hiking shoe for an affordable price. It performs pretty good as a waterproof shoe, but it is only waterproof up to your ankles. Because the top of the shoe is open the water will enter when water reaches above the ankles. It will take about 2 days for shoes to completely dry out and you’ll be ready for another hike.

If you aren’t down to make the investment in some waterproof shoes you can rent from many places from outside the park. Probably the most popular place that most people will rent from when taking a hike at the Narrows is Zion Outfitters. It is located right outside of the park near the south entrance.

They have a couple packages that you can choose from that include boots, wooden hiking poles, waterproof dry pants, waterproof backpack, and a jumpsuit. I think the shoes are the most important thing honestly. You can probably do without the wooden pole as well, although it is good to have something to keep your balance (trekking poles work just fine too). The shoes available to rent are Adidas Hydro Lace Canyoneering Boot. They also have neoprene socks that will help the water from penetrating your socks. The packages start at $25 per day and go upwards of $50. You can make reservations online on their website or you can make a walk in reservation.

If you choose to travel though some of the waters in Zion just be aware of what you come into contact with. During certain times of the year there can be algae blooms that produce a cyanobacteria. This bacteria can later produces the cyanotoxin called anatoxin-a, which impacts the nervous system. This bacteria can be found at the North Fork of the Virgin River as well as some parts of the Narrows. The cyanobacteria comes in many different colors and can be found on rocks formations and have a ribbed texture.

Don’t worry too much though! the bacteria is mostly safe as long as the water doesn’t penetrate the skin.

Zion

Joshua Tree

Coral Pink Sand Dunes