2 Days in Zion National Park
I have been wanting to go to Zion for a long time. We were supposed to go in the summer of 2020 and we all know what was going on then so we had to cancel our trip. In June 2023 we were able to plan a quick trip and get in as much of the sites as we could.
From our home in Southern California, we started our road trip. We decided to break up the long drive with an overnight stay in Las Vegas which was about a 4 hour drive for us. We woke up really early the next day for our final leg to Zion which took about 2 1/2 hours. We are not advanced hikers by any stretch of the imagination we simply wanted to take in the beautiful sites that Zion has to offer.
We only had two days in Zion and wanted to make the most of it. Here is what we did in 2 days- some of the things to not miss and some things that are not worth in on such a short time schedule.
Day 1: Arrive in Springdale, Park Shuttle Service and Emerald Pools Trail
The town of Springdale is a cute town with good restaurants and has several shuttle stops that takes you to and from the park entrance or the visitor center. Once at the visitor center you buy your park shuttle pass which gives you all day access to in park shuttle. Get started early because the shuttle line can get to be very long. We started at 8:30 am and only had to wait about 15 minutes.
The park shuttle has 9 stops inside the park. We had done a little research and decided that we wanted to hike the Kayenta Trail to the Emerald Pools. This trail is off of Stop #6- The Grotto.
The whole trip took about 2 hours and offered some beautiful views of the park and the Virgin River. This trail can be steep and crowded so bring so water and patience. We decided to do to the middle pool and, to be honest, the Emerald pool looked more like a pond. While the views were beautiful getting there, once at the Emerald Pools if felt very anti-climatic.
Day 2: The Narrows
I suggest renting waterproof boots and a walking stick the prior day. We rented our gear after returning from the park on day one so we wouldn’t have to do it in the morning. It is a very easy process and is totally worth the $35. To get to the Narrows, you will take the park shuttle to the last stop. Once off the shuttle you will walk the mile long Riverside Walk. This will get you to the opening of the Narrows. There you start the in-water hike through the beautiful canyons. This was the absolute highlight of the trip for me!!
The water is cold and walking upstream on rocks can be challenging but overall it was fun and beautiful. Highly recommend!