Travel Diary_Utah
VISiTING utah’s natural wonders
Do you ever get to the end of the year and just feel mentally and physically drained? Certainly, 2019 was a year full of adventures for us, and we are super grateful for all the opportunities we got. But by the end of it we were like, “Ok we need to unplug for a bit”.
Of all the options we can think of, traveling is always our first choice when it comes to refreshing our minds and “recharging batteries”. There’s something special about exploring new landscapes, breathing fresh air, enjoying the company of friends and family, or simply meeting new people.
This year we decided to head to Arizona, a state that we hold close to our hearts, as some of our family members live there. We are absolutely in love with its mountains, canyons and deserts. To top that, Arizona is a short ride away from Utah and some of its beautiful parks. If you are looking to fully immerse yourself in nature, this is the perfect trip for you!
Bryce Canyon National Park-Sunset Point
For this first part of our Travel Diary we want to tell you a little bit about two of Utah’s gems [and our personal favorites]: Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park. We were literally blown away by their colors and grandiosity, and we think you will too!
Now, before getting into details, we have a few pro travel tips:
Where to stay? We would recommend staying in Orderville, a small town located right in between Zion [20 minutes ride] and Bryce [1 hour ride]. You won’t find five star hotels, but you can still find beautiful and affordable hometowns for rent on Airbnb. Also, the town has a nice supermarket fully stocked that is open Monday through Saturday until 9PM, and a few restaurants.
When is the best time to go? Normally, one would think that the warm season is the best time to visit. However, we experienced a high level of tourists during our winter stay, which makes us think that it would be even worse during summer. If you are looking for some quiet and peaceful walks, we would suggest going during the fall or winter.
What kind of clothes should I bring? Obviously this will depend on what time of the year you go, but if you decide to visit during winter like we did, then we got plenty of advice for you [bear in mind that we are in Chicago and we are used to really cold weather!].
The temperature in Zion was quite nice, about mid 40s Fahrenheit. Definitely wear warm and comfortable clothes, but don’t feel the need to prepare for -20F weather. It’s always best to layer, especially if you want to hike.
Bryce was a different experience. Because it’s higher in altitude [about 8000 feet], the temperature dropped quite a bit (low 30s Fahrenheit) and it was also windy. So for this park, you definitely want to think about wearing hats, scarfs and warm shoes!
How much is the entrance fee to the parks? The entrance to Zion is $30 per vehicle, while the fee to enter Bryce is $35 per vehicle. If you are the kind of person that likes nature and goes to National Parks all the time, we would suggest getting the annual pass [$80 per vehicle], as it’s only a few dollars more, but it gives you access to all the other National Parks in the United States.
Now that we have taken care of the basics, what do you say, shall we start our visual tour of the parks?
The first stop will be Zion. This is Utah's first national park and probably the most visited. As we mentioned before, it can get a bit crowded, but the good news is that private cars are restricted to certain areas which helps create a more peaceful environment. To move around the park you can use the free shuttles, that stop in the most important locations.
Before you get to the main section in the park though, you should drive up Route 9 to the area by the Upper East entrance to the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel. There you will find the Canyon Overlook Trail, which is one of the few official trails in the upper East Canyon. It’s a fairly short walk [about 20 minutes each way] and not too complicated. In the end, your efforts will be totally paid off with one of the most breathtaking views of the canyon.
If you are up for the task, your next stop should be Angels Landing Trail. It’s a five miles hike and it takes about four hours round trip. Make sure to pack water and snacks… You will need them both! If you are afraid of heights, the last part of the trail might feel a bit frightening, but we promise you, the view is totally worth it!
If you prefer to do something a bit more relaxing the Riverside Walk Trail would be the perfect choice for you. The two mile round trip is very easy, mostly on a paved trail, and it allows you to enjoy the views along the Virgin River. The trail takes you directly to the starting point of the famous Narrows where you can get wet if you want to...although in winter it might not be that fun.
Once you get some rest [after all that walking, you should probably give it a good night of sleep!], it’s time to head to Bryce Canyon. We are not particularly fond of snow, but we can tell you that the landscape in winter is absolutely stunning and worth having your tippi toes frozen!
This park is the smallest National Park in Utah and one of the ten smallest in the nation. The erosion throughout the centuries has shaped Bryce into thousands of spires [also known as Hoodoos] and pinnacles, making it one of the most extraordinary places in the world.
Although it will be a bit colder, we suggest you get there early in the morning. There’s almost no one, and the quiet landscape will feel even more magical. We started our walk at Sunset Point and made it all the way down through the Queen’s Garden Trail, to finally get back up to Sunrise Point. It’s a fairly easy trail, even with snow! and it’s about two miles long. It was truly magical! So peaceful….so beautiful! The photos don’t give it enough justice!
This is the end of our blog for now. We hope we inspired you to do some road trips this year!
The second part of our Travel Diary is coming up next month with our TOP 5 small wonders in Arizona and Utah. If you don’t want to miss it, make sure to subscribe to get notifications!