Zion National Park - Incredible Hikes, Spectacular Views

Details
Category: Haute This Issue
Published on Monday, 28 September 2020 18:44
Written by Lukas Saville

With glowing red-and-white cliffs, plunging canyons and stunning views from tall rocky peaks, Zion National Park will take your breath away. This gorgeous corner of Utah boasts some of the most spectacular scenery in the state.

Centered on the beautiful Zion Canyon, 24km long and 800m deep. Zion National Park is packed with fantastic hiking trails, from thrilling ascents with spectacular views over the landscape, to fun, easy routes that allow visitors to explore the river and the canyon floor. Wherever you choose to hike, this place is unforgettable.

Travel: Hiking Oahu’s Diamond Head Crater Review – Strenuous Climb, Spectacular Views

Hiking in Zion National Park is a bucket list activity for all keen adventurers, with some truly iconic and unforgettable trails. The most popular trail in the park is the ascent of Angel’s Landing, a jagged rock that towers over the canyon, reached by a series of sharp switchbacks known as Walter’s Wiggles.

Angel's Landing

 

Reaching the top of Angel’s Landing requires a head for heights – visitors will need to negotiate a heart-stopping run of chains to get to the summit. However, the views from the top are a welcome reward – a magnificent panorama over Zion Canyon.

If that sounds a little too much like hard work, don’t despair! There are some wonderful hikes that follow the river through the canyon, giving visitors the opportunity to admire the fascinating geology and unique flora of the national park.

Travel: Pearl Harbor and USS Arizona Review – Impressive, Not to be Missed

If hikers are prepared to get their feet wet, head for the Narrows, a picturesque slot canyon that will make you feel as though you are entering another world. This is an ideal hike for families as the length can be customized depending on time, energy, and fitness levels.

Slot Canyon

 

Zion National Park lies on the Colorado Plateau, created by sedimentation to form mineral-rich rocks with colorful layers. The fast-flowing Virgin River has carved out the dramatic Zion Canyon and Kolob Canyons, creating a stunning backdrop for some truly spectacular hikes.

Vail, Colorado Review - Perfect, Heavenly, Like Nothing on Earth

For a little challenge, ascend the canyon to Observation Point, where you’ll enjoy a magnificent view, or head for Canyon Overlook for a double treat – a panorama over both Zion and Pine Creek Canyons.

Emerald Pools

 

Zion Canyon is a lush oasis that stands in marked contrast to some of the drier, desolate parts of Utah, such as Canyonlands or Bryce Canyon. The gurgling Virgin River supports a wide range of rare plants, insects, and amphibians, as well as enormous cottonwood trees and hanging gardens of mosses and ferns.

Away from the river, and at higher elevations, the vegetation changes considerably, with desert grasses, hardy juniper trees, and ponderosa pines that cling to the red cliffs. This remarkable biodiversity is yet another reason for the park’s popularity, and a visit here is a wonderful opportunity to learn about Utah’s fascinating ecology.

Observation Point

 

Zion has something to offer all visitors, including short family-friendly hikes on the canyon rim, fun expeditions splashing through the river, tough ascents to iconic viewpoints, and peaceful routes leading to picturesque pools.

London Travel Review: Vibrant, Electric, Enchanting

The opportunities for wildlife watching, travel photography and outdoor adventures are endless. Choose Zion National Park for your next hiking adventure and start exploring this beautiful part of Utah!

 

All images courtesy of Lukas Seville and used with permission.

Haute News

Haute Tease

  • Le Ministre, Le Pouvoir et L'argent

    Si les fautes commises par l'ancien président de l'Assemblée nationale sont patentes et inexcusables au regard de ses fonctions, s'interroger sur le fonctionnement des ministères et des fonds accordés relève désormais de la nécessité. Explications.  

  • Essential Albums for Dinner Parties

    Every party needs music, and you may think that an elegant dinner party calls for classical music in the background—but jazz, that synthesis of European, African, and New World traditions, is America's classical music.

     

  • Spring, if You’re Reading This… Can You Visit Soon

    As I look outside my window, to see a whole city covered in a blanket of snow, I’m reminded of Bing Crosby, Christmas carols and all things holiday. Yet, the presents under the tree have been opened for some time now, the ornaments gone, and lights properly put away. Don’t get me wrong, I love winter, being from Colorado; I love skiing down the slopes of Breckenridge and walking in my snow-boots to Starbucks. I love everything from the first frost to the last flake falling.

     

  • Medical Science: COVID-19 - How Does It Kill You?

    After more than a year, SARS-CoV-2 is still killing people. The long-term damage of this silent, diabolical enemy are just becoming known and medical professionals are learning more about how it does its lethal damage.

     

  • Gifted Review – A Perfectly Balanced Film of Life, Love, Hurt and Hope

    Gifted, from Fox Searchlight Pictures, presents the story of balance, of finding the right place, of love, passion, hope, the cruelties of predestination, the mysteries of fate, the pursuit of betterment, and what to do when the worlds collide.

     

  • Money News: Global Markets Tumble; Sensex Survives

    The Dow Jones Industrial, fighting the Bear market, managed to rally steadily throughout the week, with only minor setbacks the DOW wasn’t able to pull itself out of the firmly held grasp of the bear market and closed down.