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After posting the 3 easy hikes I recommend in Zion, I thought I should also provide shorter options for the park’s most iconic and challenging trails. Angel’s Landing and Observation Point are magnificent hikes, but you don’t have to go the full distance to get a great experience. I’ve done these trails twice each and I am happy to share my tips on how to shorten them for a great experience. CLOSURE… Read More
My 6-day Bryce and Zion itinerary is pretty ambitious, but there are plenty of easy/moderate hikes you can do in both parks. This post includes my 3 favorite easy hikes in Zion. I’ll also be posting shorter versions of Zion’s most iconic trails soon – subscribe so you won’t miss it! Canyon Overlook Trail This trailhead is located just past the Mount Carmel Tunnel heading to the east side of the park…. Read More
It is my 2013 trip to Bryce and Zion that ignited my passion for national parks. I’d been to a handful of national parks before, but this was the first time I did some big hikes and realized how much more there is to see once you get out of your car! This is the exact itinerary I followed on that trip – you will be sore, but your soul will be… Read More
[Last Updated May 2, 2026] Many of the national parks in the West offer amazing accommodations in the form of historic hotels and lodges built at the beginning of the 20th century. Train travel made America’s national parks more accessible at the time, creating the need for accommodations within or nearby. Spending the night at a national park lodge isn’t cheap, and the amenities one might expect at that price point are… Read More
[Kanab, UT] One of the most memorable things about last year’s Zion Half Marathon was the rainy, muddy race morning. The rain itself wasn’t so bad, but then we got to the starting line, where a row of porta potties and a warming tent were placed on the outskirts of a grassy field. Due to all the rain overnight, the grassy field had turned into a muddy treacherous mess. This year’s weather… Read More
