Zion & Bryce Canyon: An In-Depth Review and Travel Guide

Okay, so planning a trip to see the amazing rock formations and big open spaces of southern Utah? The two jewels in its crown, those really should be Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon. Very, very different from each other, and also they are only a couple of hours apart. What I want to do is take a closer look at what makes each place so incredible and really give you what I think are the best tips for making your visit absolutely top-notch.

Zion National Park: A Valley of Immense Walls

Now, Zion – well, you’ve just got to imagine yourself down in this very steep valley, and pretty much everywhere you look are giant sandstone cliffs. What’s also true is that these rock faces just soar; so very tall, they’re layered in reds, creams, and pinks. Anyway, the Virgin River carved all of this out for so long, and now the canyon bottom is really quite walkable and offers loads of trails for seeing the park. Then there’s the light, particularly that golden light you sometimes find at either end of the day. You can’t capture it on your phone right, I tell you, it does something wonderful to all the rock. Basically, the atmosphere is amazing, kind of almost spiritual even, particularly when there aren’t so many people around. If I were to tell you only one thing it’s this; arrive very early!

Iconic Hikes in Zion

Basically, it should be said the hiking is world-class, very popular, and worth a little effort getting everything prepared. Now, you, you know, really can’t talk about hikes in Zion without mentioning The Narrows, which is that really quite legendary trek right in the Virgin River. Actually, for parts of the trail, you’re sort of wading, and sometimes it might even be swimming, between these just truly amazing canyon walls. Well, the whole experience is quite unique and tends to get very busy in the summer, you see. Also, it’s almost crucial to rent appropriate footwear and, arguably, check water levels before going.

You know, arguably there’s the Angels Landing trail as well which provides you views, like, you wouldn’t believe; I mean it. In a way, the last part of it involves a chain-assisted climb up to the summit and, seemingly, while it’s popular for very good reason, those that have a bit of a thing about heights might just find it quite challenging. Okay, maybe, it’s very closed to casual hikers and those that are prone to falling. You almost must enter a lottery system these days for a permit, this helps reduce trail congestion. Really, from up there you look over Zion Canyon that, basically, is laid out beneath you; one thing is for certain, it’s a great photo spot.

Getting Around Zion: Shuttle System

Now, so here’s something you want to hear, for a good chunk of the year, the park makes use of a shuttle system. Well, that helps with handling the crowds along the main canyon road. Anyway, it means you just leave your car back in Springdale and get on a shuttle, what’s important here is it drops you off at the trailheads. Just remember, it might be helpful if you checked the shuttle schedule because, it’s almost always changing, also bear in mind there can be lines, especially in peak season. Just think of this as, you know, part of the whole experience and definitely not something you just can opt-out of.

Tips for Visiting Zion

Very important here is you try to get there quite early to kind of side-step the crowds, you see, as parking at the visitor center goes super fast, as a matter of fact. So what can be done, you could perhaps book accommodation right there in Springdale. Well, there’s kind of somewhere at the entrance of the park; as you might be aware this does give you a bit of an edge in the morning.

Okay, so if it’s likely to be pretty warm when you plan on visiting; hydration, hydration and you guessed it; more hydration is needed when hiking in Zion. Really, in a way bring extra water and some snacks with plenty of salt to give you more of a spring in your step, right?. The only thing to consider; is it very important that you keep a close eye on the weather forecast, it is a canyon after all and, you know, those flash floods really happen, so safety must come first.

Bryce Canyon National Park: A Fairyland of Hoodoos

Bryce Canyon might not even be a canyon at all, technically. Right, it’s what people in the know call a collection of gigantic natural amphitheaters just absolutely packed with these super distinctive geological formations. That is to say; those formations that people call “hoodoos”. In short, these tall, skinny spires of rock are, seemingly, what make Bryce Canyon so unique, they really are awesome. Okay, then the views that you have looking right over the amphitheaters are just spectacular, really good spots for getting that family photo that will probably last the test of time. In other words, expect a sight so striking it’s something to do with feeling you’ve rocked up in another world, and probably nothing like your local park at home.

Must-See Viewpoints in Bryce Canyon

So you’re thinking, well where is the best view of these crazy rock structures, right?. Anyway, some of the kind of best viewpoints that you are sure to want to know about include Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, Inspiration Point, and arguably Bryce Point too. What’s very obvious when visiting all of them is that each offers different angles and light on the hoodoos; each arguably has something a little extra-special that stands out from the others.

Well, if it’s photographs that you are wanting to snap up, Sunrise Point actually can deliver views that people say look especially very nice in the early morning light – hence the name, it’s true. As you probably can imagine, later on during the day, the aptly-named Sunset Point seems to offer amazing opportunities for seeing those hoodoos with very colorful shadows, kind of creating some real vivid colors on the sandstone.

Hiking Among the Hoodoos

Okay, so, of course, it’s tempting just to kind of stick to seeing Bryce Canyon from up top, there, but it also makes a ton of sense to actually hike down into the amphitheaters to actually see those hoodoos, right? Anyway, a choice you will face includes the Navajo Loop and also the Queen’s Garden Trail, these actually connect, they let you experience the rock formations at ground level, literally, with you zig-zagging past rock faces up close.

Right, bear in mind as well, so climbing back up that you have descended, arguably, is just that little bit harder. Arguably, altitude in Bryce is also, typically, just a little higher than Zion; it may cause some visitors, very likely including you, to find the hikes slightly harder on your legs and also a strain on the lungs. Therefore it’s essential, I suggest, to take your time and also carry lots more fluids, okay?

Stargazing in Bryce Canyon

Anyway, something you possibly will know is that Bryce Canyon has super dark night skies, due in part to the absence of so many unnatural things such as; large settlements that would make your vision all hazy. As you can see in practice this basically gives you super conditions for just jaw-dropping stargazing. Then, for those so inclined there is the chance to actually attend ranger-led astronomy programs and also telescope viewing events and also kind of experience the cosmos there at the park in person.

Tips for Visiting Bryce Canyon

Right, you’re possibly figuring that the time to go may determine what you get out of Bryce Canyon? Anyway, bear this in mind when booking. Actually, bear in mind too that during the summer that thunder and lightning are a pretty standard fixture, I suppose you could call it. Should this happen whilst on a walk you’ll want to go somewhere sheltered straight away.

You know, it makes a ton of sense to keep clothing handy so that, like, you have something very warm that is, pretty much, easy to get out in all sorts of conditions that you’ll get as things very soon drop in temperature as night slowly falls, this will then guarantee your viewing comfort if you happen to stargaze as much of your visit comes about when the daylight slowly fades away.