This was my first time ever visiting Zion National Park in Utah and I think it definitely lives up to the hype – photos do not do this place justice!
This was just one stop during my 10-day solo road trip through the Southwest USA and I am so glad I didn’t skip it.
I happened to visit Zion on a holiday weekend, so I was only able to explore the park for half a day before all the crowds came in – after 10am it was impossible to find parking anywhere. But I managed to catch the sunrise by hiking the Canyon Overlook Trail early in the morning, and explored Canyon Scenic Drive for photo ops with the remainder of my time there.
Plan your visit: Check for alerts, current park conditions and more on the NPS official website here.
Continue scrolling to view my photo gallery of my visit to Zion National Park in Utah:
Canyon Overlook Trail
Zion Canyon Overlook Trail
I opted to catch the sunrise from the viewpoint at Canyon Overlook Trail.
It’s a quick and easy hike and watching the sun coming up over the canyon was absolutely worth waking up at 4am for.
Read more: A Guide for Hiking Canyon Overlook Trail in Zion National Park
Zion Canyon Scenic Drive
Zion Canyon Scenic Drive
After my morning hike I drove through Zion Canyon Scenic Drive to explore more of the park from my car.
The park was so crowded at this point that I couldn’t find parking anywhere in the designated lots. However, I managed to find a spot off the side of the road to stop and have breakfast.
Have you visited Zion National Park in Utah? Share your favorite photo-worthy spots with me in the comments below!
————— Read More —————
The Best Southwest USA National Parks Road Trip Itinerary
Best Hikes in Arches National Park – 5 Easy Trails You Can’t Miss
A Complete Travel Guide for Visiting Joshua Tree, California
Pin me for later –
About the Author
Hi I’m Rylie – Welcome to my corner of the internet!
I’m a solo traveler & photographer based in Southern California, on a mission to explore the world and inspire you to do the same.
—————
![Best Things to Do in Big Bear Lake, California: [Save this reel for your next visit!] Big Bear is a popular destination for skiing and snowboarding in the winter, but there’s also plenty more to do here year-round! Here’s a quick guide for some of the best things to do in BB: HIKING
There’s no shortage of hiking options around Big Bear Lake! Some of the most popular trails are:
- Castle Rock Trail (pictured)
- Pine Knot Trail
- Woodland Trail
- Cougar Crest Trail BIKE ALONG ALPINE PEDAL PATH
Rent bikes and spend the afternoon peddling along the lake on the Alpine Pedal Path! The trail is paved and stretches for 3 miles, and also passes by the Big Bear Solar Observatory and the Big Bear Discovery Center. RIDE DOWN THE ALPINE SLIDE - @alpineslidebigbear
Big Bear’s Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain is a cross between an outdoor slide and a rollercoaster! Riders take a ski lift to the top and get to control the speed going down, and a single ride only costs $9.
There’s also a variety of other attractions here, including the Soaring Eagle (which is similar to zip lining except you’re sitting in a chair), and the Mine Shaft Coaster, which more closely resembles a rollercoaster. HAVE A PICNIC AT BOULDER BAY PARK
Boulder Bay Park is well-maintained and has beautiful views of the mountains right along the lake. Spend an afternoon here having a picnic, or get out on the water for boating, kayaking or canoeing. You can read my complete guide for the 15 Best Things to Do in Big Bear Lake, California up on the blog! Link in bio —> @wanderfullyrylie ⚲ Big Bear Lake, California #bigbearlake #californiablogger #travelreels](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img/https://www.wanderfullyrylie.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)
[…] 20 Photos to Inspire You to Visit Zion National Park in Utah […]