Zion National Park

Beautiful Zion National Park

It feels like it’s been a while since we have gotten away on vacation, so this one was much appreciated. Not only because of where we were, but because Portland got hammered with rain while we were gone and I got a sun burn. Always makes for a perfect vacation, don’t you think?

From Portland we flew into Las Vegas. Not being huge Vegas fans we planned something outside of town that was more fun than throwing down money. We drove some exotic cars. After a day of that we were off on our 2 hour drive to St. George, Utah, which is about 45 minutes away from Zion. We could have gotten closer, but my brother had a connection for a house in St. George, so we took advantage of that.

Some scrambling required, but worth it

The first day we hiked Hidden Canyon. It was a pretty easy hike with some parts of the trail that had chains because the trail is on the edge. After you get to the end of the trail you can choose to scramble over some rocks and trees and different things to continue into the canyon. It’s pretty cool to walk through, so I suggest you give it a try.

Narrow trails on Hidden Canyon

Narrow hiking trails of Hidden Canyon

Hiking through Hidden Canyon

At the top of Hidden Canyon

Hidden Canyon in Zion National Park. This is where you have to scramble over rocks.

The next day we took on Angel’s Landing. I had heard a little bit about it, but I had done no planning for this trip. My brother was in charge and I was just along for the ride.

The very top of that rock is our goal. Angel’s landing

The trail starts out really pleasant, even though you can see in the distance where you are headed. Then the winding starts, but it’s not until you get way back in the canyon that a kind of switchbacks you never knew existed, go straight up. And I do mean straight up.

A wall of switchbacks called Walters Wiggles

Halfway up the switchbacks looking down. I think I counted 14 switchbacks in this section alone

Once up here you can grab a bite, enjoy the views and decide if you want to venture out to the last half mile.

If you look you can see the trail and the people on the trail headed to the top

You can see that the trail gets really narrow in spots and you saw how tall it was in the first picture

There is lots of climbing and holding on to chains

The last half mile is some of the craziest hiking I have ever done. There are chains to hold on to, and you will want to because it’s over a 1000 ft drop off on both sides and it’s narrow and rocky.

I was the most nervous about coming down, but once we started down it was a piece of cake. So glad we did this hike and so glad we ventured to the very end. Not everyone does and not everyone who is on the trail should be. You do see some people who are paralyzed with fear, but they press on.