Zion National Park: What We’d Do Again (and What We’d Do Differently)

Zion National Park was one of the places I had been looking forward to most on our Southwest road trip. We even planned to spend one night at Cable Mountain Lodge in Springdale before moving into Zion Lodge inside the park.

As with most road trips, though, our plans changed a little—and honestly, they changed for the better.

A Last-Minute Change of Plans

Originally, we weren’t planning to hike The Narrows. But after talking with another family at Bryce Canyon, we changed our minds.

The next morning, we were at the outfitter by 7:00 a.m. to rent gear before the crowds and the heat.

We had also reserved e-bikes, but quickly learned our youngest wasn’t old enough to ride one. Since I wasn’t about to leave him pedaling while the rest of us cruised along, I switched to a regular bike too.

Looking back, I’d skip the bikes altogether. Even visiting the week after the Fourth of July, the shuttle lines really weren’t bad, and we could have saved quite a bit of money.

Hiking The Narrows

The Narrows absolutely lived up to the hype.

The paved Riverside Walk to the river is beautiful on its own, so even if you don’t want to hike in the water, it’s worth the walk.

As for the rental gear? I think sturdy water sandals would have been just fine.

The one thing I would recommend is a walking stick. Walking over the uneven, slippery rocks while the current pushes against your legs is much harder than it looks, and the walking stick made a huge difference.

A Couple More Stops

Next, we hiked Weeping Rock. It’s a short hike, but don’t let the “easy” rating fool you—it is steep!

We skipped Emerald Pools after hearing it was mostly dried up because of the drought and decided to try a local swimming hole instead.

              

One of our favorite discoveries was Nudie Pool, a hidden spot just outside the park. It was the perfect place to cool off, and by the time we left, it was full of local families enjoying the afternoon. This was definitely an adventure to get to, but we were in a truly local spot, and it was awesome! If you google how to find it, please note that there are a couple of different paths to get down or up. I highly recommend NOT taking the path at the end of the brick wall; instead, walk a little up the wall and you will see a not-so-dusty, much less prickly hill to go down.

Moving Into Zion Lodge

 

Later that day, we checked into Zion Lodge. A fire alarm had delayed housekeeping, so the staff upgraded us to a cabin, which was incredibly kind. The only challenge? Two teenage boys in double beds made for a pretty cozy night! 😂

That evening, we slowed down, walked around the lodge, and spotted wild turkeys, mule deer, and even baby deer. It was the perfect way to end our time in Zion.

If we had a little more time, I would have loved to do the Overlook, but it just didn't work out.

Final Thoughts

If I had to share just a few tips for Zion, they’d be these:

• Skip the bikes unless your whole group can ride comfortably.
• Rent a walking stick if you’re hiking The Narrows.
• Don’t be afraid to change your plans—you might end up loving the new adventure even more.
• If you can’t stay inside the park, Cable Mountain Lodge is an amazing alternative.

Zion was everything we’d hoped it would be, and it was the perfect ending to our National Park adventures before heading to Las Vegas.

Safe travels and happy memory making! ❤️