Utah's Hidden Gems - Part 2
Updated: Jan 25, 2023
The second Utah post covers two diverse parks Zion NP and Bryce Canyon NP and the city of St George, which has a few hidden gems of it's own! Not only is St George located 41 miles from Zion NP, but it's minutes from Snow Canyon State Park!
The first time I experienced Snow Canyon SP, the unique landscape caught me by surprise. It truly is a hidden gem as there were very few people there. This scenic park is located in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, amid lava flows and sandstone cliffs. It offers more than 38 miles of hiking trails and over 15 miles of equestrian trails, I hope you will have the chance to check it out!
Red Mountain Resort offers relaxing accommodations in a serene setting. Make sure you allow time to enjoy their award winning spa, it's well worth it. https://www.redmountainresort.com/
Zion NP https://www.nps.gov/zion/index.htm If you are going to spend several days in Zion I would recommend staying in Springdale as it is only 1 mile from the park. I enjoyed the views at the Desert Pearl, the Virgin River runs along side the property and it has great views of the Zion cliffs! https://www.desertpearl.com/en/homepage
My favorite Zion highlights:
The Narrows
It's the narrowest section of Zion Canyon and one of the premier hikes in the park it's on the North Fork of the Virgin River. The farther you hike up the river the more narrow the canyon becomes and the less people you see. If you love photography you do not want to miss this hike! If you want to avoid crowds I'd recommend visiting the park in the fall, there is an outfitter in town that will provide waders, boots & poles if the river is too cold for you. Hiking the Narrows was definitely a favorite of our family!
Angel's Landing Trail
This hike is one of the world's most renowned hikes. It was definitely a favorite hike of mine! I thought I would be nervous with having to use the chains bolted to into the cliff and the steep switchbacks and sheer drop offs, but surprisingly I wasn't. If you have severe fear of heights I would not recommend the last 1/2 mile of this hike, but you will enjoy the amazing views from Scout Lookout.
Echo Canyon and Emerald Pool are worth exploring as well.
Bryce NP https://www.nps.gov/brca/index.htm Bryce Canyon is not a single canyon, but a series of natural amphitheaters or bowls, carved into the edge of a high plateau. The most famous of these is the Bryce Amphitheater, which is filled with irregularly eroded spires of rocks called hoodoos. It has four main viewpoints, all found within the first few miles of the park: Bryce Point, Inspiration Point, Sunset Point, and Sunrise Point.
Bryce offers a variety of hikes where you can walk down into the canyon and explore the various landscapes. I would recommend checking out a few of them such as the Rim Trail, Navajo/Queens Garden Trail or Peek A Boo Trail.
By hiking down into the canyon you will gain a deeper appreciation for the different rock formations and their size.
This park is definitely a hidden gem, not only was I surprised by the elevation of the park (highest point is Rainbow Point at 9,105 ft) but I was surprised by the unique rock formations. It's definitely worth visiting in person!
Photos courtesy of Jill Theriault
Written by: Jill Theriault
Crossroads Coaching - @crossroadscoachingongodstime
Awesome pictures! I also love the one of Curt, but really love you three in the cave!! Your little adventures!