Travel with me to Zion National Park

City girls take UTAH, that line lived rent free in my head all weekend.

My girls and I traded the brisk city air for unstable hiking shoes, and the thrill of the climb. We flew into Vegas for a night and stayed at the Bellagio, such a bizarre time to be in Vegas, as you can imagine. We opted for a chill night, or so we thought…a dinner at Rose. Rabbit. Lie proved to be anything but ordinary. Just imagine: a modern supper club with magenta and reddish hues flashing, aerial performances, and a bone marrow so big it made me question what animal had to die.

The next morning, we grabbed our luggage and headed out early for the open road. We cruised through Arizona, then Utah, and got to see the breathtaking mountain tops during the scenic three hour drive.

Once you’re here, you can purchase the $35 pass that’s good for the week inside the park or go for the $80 annual pass that will get you admission in any national park for the year (such a good deal). We arrived to Springdale in the early afternoon and squeezed in a mid-day hike before sundown. If you’re looking for an easy hike, I highly suggest Watchman Trail as a pregame to the more intense hikes you’ll experience later in the trip.

Watchman Trail

Length: 3 miles roundtrip
Difficulty: Easy

Get ready to climb less than 400 feet in elevation, this trail is great for the beginners or experienced hikers.

I recommend lots of heat-tech layers from Uniqlo to wear underneath during the cold nights and chillier mornings. Once you’re on the hike, you’ll warm up and start peeling the layers off. Bring sturdy hiking shoes (which I did not) so you’ll be well-equipped for any treacherous terrain. A backpack to hold your layers, snacks, and water bottle.

When it was time for us to check-in, we made our way over to Zion Wildflower, a beautiful resort 20 minutes away from the visitor center. From yard games and fire-pits to hammocks swaying under the afternoon sun, you’ll find plenty to do at this glamping resort.

Zion Wildflower

Address: 100 Kolob Terrace Rd. Virgin, Utah 84779
Stay: Watchman Canvas Tent
Sleeps: 5
Book here

Make sure to book shuttle tickets in advance, we got a 7am-8am slot, which sounds early, but worked out perfectly. As they say, the early birds gets the worm. Even in the early mornings, the trails were packed, any later and we would have been stuck hiking behind a swarm of people.

Angel’s Landing

Start Location: The Grotto Trailhead - Zion Canyon
Difficulty: Strenuous; steep with exposure to long drop-offs
Distance: 5 miles (round trip), 4-5 hours
Elevation change: 1,488 feet

This hike is as dramatic as it looks. After conquering a series of twenty-one switchbacks known as “Walter’s Wiggles,” you’ll have reached Scout's Lookout, with incredible aerial views of the canyon. Angel’s Landing trail follows the spine of a knife-edge ridge, with metal chains attached to the rock to serve as handrails along most (but not all) of the drop-offs. Make it to the top to take in the astonishing views.

This hike was the hardest thing I’ve ever done…physically. Maybe it was the fear of falling off a 1,000 foot drop on narrow mountain ridges or the fact that I was hiking in nike running shoes with ZERO grip. We came, we saw, we conquered. It felt pretty amazing at the top, 10/10 would recommend!

Emerald Pools Trail

Distance: 1.2-mile round-trip loop to the Lower Pool; 2-mile round-trip visit to the Middle and Lower Pools; 2.5-mile round-trip hike to all three.
Hiking time: About 1 hour
Best season: March–November
Difficulty: Easy (Lower Pool); moderate (Middle and Upper Pools)
Hazards: Small drop-offs
Finding the trailhead: From the Zion Visitor Center, take the Zion Canyon shuttle to Zion Lodge. The trailhead and parking area are on the west side of the road opposite the lodge.
Shuttle Stop: Zion Lodge

Kolob Canyon Scenic Drive

By now, your body is complete jello. Don’t leave Springdale without driving to see Kolob Canyon! There are spectacular views and even spots to park your RV if you want to overnight camp.

Our Utah trip came to a close as we drove back to Vegas. We checked-in to the Delano Hotel and decided to sleep early to make one final pit stop.

Seven Magic Mountains

Address: S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89054
Best time to go: Sunrise

Another girls trip in the book! Can’t wait until the next one. Hope this post helps anyone whose deciding to travel safely during this time to Zion and Vegas.

Let me know if there are other awesome hikes to check out in the Bay Area or New York!