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Day Seven: Hiking Zion National Park Narrows

A Day Hiking The Narrows Zion National Park

Plan on Arriving to Zion National Park Early

We ended our National Parks Trip with an exciting hike through the Zion Narrows! We arrived at Zion National Park at 6:30 am and were able to park at the visitor center for FREE! This was the first day we arrived early enough to receive free parking at the Zion National Park Visitor Center so we were excited. We hopped on our private shuttle to head over to the Narrows.

We did not have to show our pass because the park rangers were not at the toll booth. We were thankful we arrived so early because we learned that Zion National Park had closed down the toll booths from about 8am to 1pm. They denied access during that period because they wanted to reduce the number of people at the park on that busy holiday weekend. So make sure you get to the park early enough to avoid being turned away, especially on holiday weekends.

We passed by Angel’s Landing on our way to the Narrows and saw that there was a line forming for the people who wanted to hike Angel’s Landing. The park rangers were limiting the number of people to reduce crowding on the chains section.

There was no such line at the Temple of Sinawava (i.e., the Riverside Walk and The Narrows trailhead).

Tip: Get there early! Guarantee your admission, park for free and avoid the heat.


Use the Riverside Walk Restrooms Before Hiking

There are no bathrooms on the Narrows hike so use the Riverside Walk Restrooms before you hike. The Riverside Walk Restrooms are located next to the Temple of Sinawava shuttle stop (Shuttle Stop #9 on Zion Canyon Line).

If you have to relieve yourself, your only options are to urinate in the water or on dry land. Neither of these options are ideal. This is a very popular hike and there are loads of people around so you will not get much privacy. Urinating on dry land also leaves an unpleasant odor.

If you have to go #2, you will need to defecate in a bag, carry it with you and throw it in the trash bin upon your return. You can bring some toilet paper and some environmentally friendly human waste disposal bags like the one below for emergencies.


Trail Essentials Toilet Bags, Certified Biodegradable and Compostable, 25 Count;
Includes Convenient Water Resistant Carry Case




Tip: Use the bathrooms before you hike, and avoid eating or drinking anything that can cause you to have an upset stomach or give you the urge to urinate frequently.

Check the Weather at the Narrows Before You Hike

Hiking the Narrows, Zion National Park, USA

Check the weather in Zion National Park before you hike. If there is any chance of rain, please do not hike the Narrows. A couple of inches of rain can bring about dangerous flash floods. Flash floods occur when the ground is not able to absorb the water fast enough, creating a dangerous, destructive wall of rushing water and debris.

To escape a flash flood, you need to get to high ground. This is difficult to do in the Narrows because the canyon walls are very steep.

If you do notice the water rising quickly and turning muddy, try and get to high ground anyways because this may be a sign of a flash flood coming your way. Sometimes people get caught off guard because it may not be raining where they are.1

Tip: I recommend planning on hiking the Narrows earlier in your trip. That way if there is a forecast for rain, you have time to try and hike another day. You will also want to avoid visiting the Narrows during Zion’s monsoon season which is from mid-July to September because that increases the likelihood of flash floods. 2 The park also closes the Narrows when the Virgin River’s flow rate is over 150 cubic feet per second or during spring snowmelt so check the NPS notices on current Zion National Park condition.

Mystery Falls, Zion National Park, Utah, USA

Dress in Layers and Bring the Right Hiking Gear

We visited the Narrows at the end of May. Expect it to be cold in the morning because the sun is low and the tall canyon walls block direct sunlight. Thankfully, we were wearing layers, had our neoprene socks and waterproof hiking boots.

If you have children, you should bring a warm jacket, an extra set of clothing (in case they get wet) and even a pair of waterproof gloves to keep their hands dry and warm. We also saw some children wearing fishing bibs which would give them additional protection.

The most difficult part of the Narrows was navigating the areas of the river that had strong currents. You really need at least one hiking stick! We each had our own portable walking stick. We used the hiking stick as a third leg. We planted our pole into the river bed to secure our position before moving our legs to the next position. This will give your upper body a good workout.


Portable Hiking Sticks



Here is a list of other essential items for hiking the Narrows from late spring through summer.

If you decide to hike the Narrows in the fall through mid/late-spring, you will need to wear wetsuits or drysuits. The water will be colder and higher because of the snowmelt. If you do not want to purchase your own suit, you can rent them at Zion Outfitter along with other useful gear.

How long does it take to hike the Narrows?

The wonderful thing about the Narrows hike is that you can hike as long as you want, and then turn right back around. Most people hike up to Wall Street and then turn around. The length of time you spend will depend on your health, level of personal fitness, the water levels and the weather.

We hiked on a chilly morning, but the water levels were low in most areas. My preteen daughter, my mother, husband and I hiked about 7 hours, which included time to stop and take pictures, eat snacks, and explore the side canyon.

Tip: If you hike early in the morning, the Narrows will be less crowded and you will have a better chance getting photos without a slew of people in them. For this reason, I would recommend taking photos while you walk upstream instead of waiting to take them on the way back.

Orderville Canyon

Orderville Canyon, Zion National Park, USA

We hiked into Orderville Canyon because we wanted to see Veiled Falls. We scrambled over the first set of boulders without issue, but we stopped at the second set of boulders. Another set of hikers were returning from that direction, and said there was an even larger set of rocks blocking the path ahead that they were unable to climb over.

2nd set of boulders blocking the trail at Orderville Canyon

We decided to turn around at that point. The boulders were wet and slippery, and we were concerned about climbing back down safely. We did not want to land incorrectly and sprain an ankle or worse slip and hit our head.

Safety First

Keep in mind, if you do get injured in the Narrows, it may take hours before help arrives. Recently, a woman who was canyoneering at the Narrows (i.e., Mystery Canyon) fell 50 to 80 feet.3 The narrow canyon walls prevented a rescue helicopter from reaching her. Sadly, she passed away from her injuries before park medics were able to reach her.

Tip: Pack a travel first aid kit for minor scrapes and injuries. Consider also packing an ankle brace and a knee brace. These items are light and will not take up a lot of space in your hiking bag.

First Aid Kit




We could not have asked for a better day. No one was injured, and the Narrows surpassed our expectations. This place is more beautiful than any of the photos I have seen!


Sources

  1. “Severe Weather 101 – Floods,” The National Severe Storms Laboratory, accessed July 7, 2021, https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/floods/detection/
  2. “Current Conditions,” National Park Service, accessed July 7, 2021, https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/conditions.htm.
  3. “Body of Canyoneer Identified at Zion National Park,” National Park Service, accessed July 7, 2021, https://www.nps.gov/zion/learn/news/body-of-canyoneer-identified-at-zion-national-park.htm

Trip Itinerary

Day 1: Las Vegas

Day 2: Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, Joshua Tree Forest, Grand Canyon West

Day 3: Kayaking to Emerald Cave and Raiders Stadium Tour

Day 4: Bryce Canyon

Day 5: Zion Emerald Pools

Day 6: Zion Horseback Riding

Day 7: Hiking Zion National Park Narrows

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What to Bring to The Narrows

What to bring to The Narrows Zion National Park Trip - Product Images

Neoprene Socks


Neoprene Socks

The water in the Narrows is freezing cold, and these neoprene socks kept our feet comfortable and free of blisters. The girls and I preferred the thick, ankle-high neoprene socks that I purchased from Amazon. We found their size charts to be accurate. The wet suit material is supposed to be very snug so expect resistance in slipping these socks on and off unless you use the wet socks (below).


Knee-High Wet Socks

My husband preferred using these knee-high neoprene socks. These wet socks make it incredibly easy to slip your feet in and out of the thicker neoprene socks. This material is much thinner than the ankle socks, and allows a lot of flexibility. My husband is naturally warm so he just wore these socks with his water shoes.

Hiking Shoes

A good pair of waterproof or water resistant hiking shoes really make a difference on this hike. For additional safety, you will want hiking shoes that give you additional ankle support. We spent most of our time hiking through cold rushing water, balancing on slippery, unstable algae-covered rocks, and trekking through rocky or muddy terrain.


Merrell Women’s Moab 2 Mid Gtx Hiking Boot

Most of us brought low profile hiking shoes that did not have ankle support (see below), but the hike was still doable with the assistance of a hiking stick.



Merrell Child Moab FST Hiking Shoe

The Merrell Moab FST Low Waterproof Shoes are great hiking shoes for kids. They are lightweight, have a good grip, and have a waterproof construction. My daughter hiked all week without any issues.


The North Face Women’s Hedgehog Fastpack Waterproof Hiking Shoe

I fell in love with North Face hiking shoes a long time ago. They have always served me well. This pair was a little heavier than my last pair, but they are comfortable, have great grip, provide nice ventilation and dries quickly. I also appreciated the sturdy construction, which kept my toes from being crushed a couple of times I lost my footing and got wedged between rocks at the Narrows.

Walking Sticks


Portable Hiking Sticks

Can you walk the Narrows without a hiking stick? Well, I passed by a man walking the Narrows barefooted and I saw a couple of mothers hiking the Narrows with their babies in a baby hiking carrier without hiking sticks so I guess it can be done. However, I am not sure how far they got or if they were able to hike the Narrows safely. Our driver told us about a woman he picked up that fell and broke her wrist hiking the Narrows that day – Ouch!

Hiking sticks are necessary to prevent falls and injury. I was able to use my hiking stick to navigate the swift waters and slippery, unstable rocks without falling once! Some areas of the river were murky so the hiking stick also allowed us to gauge how deep the water was.

If you arrive early enough, there are a pile of wooden walking sticks at the end of the Riverside Walk and the beginning of the Narrows Bottom Up trail. However, we brought our own travel hiking sticks on this trip.

Our portable walking sticks are lightweight, but very sturdy. I leaned heavily on my pole while navigating the river and it never collapsed. In fact, none of us had any issues and our heaviest member was 220 lbs.

I love that these hiking sticks are adjustable. They can extend up to 54 inches, but it collapses down to 25.5 inches so it fits easily in our suitcase or can be attached to our backpacks. Just allow yourself a minute or two to set them up. You might need to tighten the metal screw before snapping them in place if you find that the poles are slipping and not holding your weight.

Waterproof Phone Cover


Universal Waterproof Cellphone Case

Protect your phone with a waterproof case. There was low water levels when we went, but some areas of the Narrows had depths of waters that reached our waist. We also saw others slipping and falling into the water.

This waterproof cellphone case keeps your phone dry from accidental falls in the river. Wear it around your neck and easily take photos without having to remove your phone from the case.

Waterproof Bag


Waterproof Dry Bag

If you are planning on bringing other items that cannot get wet, consider getting a waterproof dry bag. These bags come in handy and we have used ours numerous times on kayaking trips and trips to the beach. One was enough for our family of four. I have thrown cameras, keys, phones, portable charges, battery packs, cables and food in this bag.

Hydration Backpack

You need to bring drinking water to the Narrows. Zion National Park issued a warning of dangerous levels of cyanobacteria in the water. You cannot filter out these cyanobacteria toxins. Children and pets are especially susceptible. There was a six month old dog that died from the toxic cyanobacteria blooms last July. The park also advises people to avoid swimming or submerging their heads in the water.


Insulated Hydration Backpack Pack with 2L BPA Free Bladder

My husband, mother and daughter used compact hydration backpacks. These hydration backpacks are nice because they come with an insulated lining which helps keep the water cold for several hours. It also had enough room to pack snacks and hold essential items.


TETON Sports Scout 3400 Internal Frame Backpack

If you want to bring more equipment, consider taking a day hiking backpack. This backpack holds 3400 cubic inches (55 L), and can accommodate two to four day hiking trips. Although it is very roomy, it only weighs 4.5 lbs which still makes it convenient for shorter hikes.

I stored my camera, chargers, portable power bank, cables, wallet, keys, food and my first aid kit in my dry bag and dropped it in my backpack. I never once worried about any of my stuff getting wet.


2 Liter Leak Proof BPA Free Upgraded Water Storage Bag for Hydration Pack

If your backpack does not come with a water bladder or if you need a new one, consider this water storage bag. The wide opening makes it easy to fill, empty and clean. It is BPA-free, and it is very easy to drink water from the mouthpiece. 2 liters was plenty of water for us on this hike.

Anti-bacterial Wipes & Trash bag


Wet Ones Antibacterial Hand Wipes

The thought of my mouthpiece touching the river water or eating food with dirty hands was justification enough for me to bring these on the hike. I chose the wipes over the gel because the wipes do a better job at removing grime.

Remember to also bring an empty trash bag so that you can carry all of your trash back out of the park.

First Aid Kit


First Aid Kit

This basic first aid kit is small, light and easily fits in your pack. It is something you hope you never have to use, but are grateful to have if you do get hurt.

If you have other issues, like a bad knee or ankle, consider bringing a knee brace or ankle brace as well. They are light and take very little space. I packed both just in case anyone had any issues.

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Day Six: Horseback Riding in Zion & Scenic Drive

Horseback riding at Zion National Park

Horseback Riding in Zion National Park

My daughter loves horses so we booked a horseback riding trip while we were in Zion. We chose to go horseback riding with Canyon Trail Rides. This Zion horseback riding company is located inside Zion National Park. It is located across the street from the Zion National Park Lodge and near the Emerald Pools trailhead.

When you book your ticket, you are given a parking pass, and also a gate access code to drive your car through the portion of Zion Canyon Scenic Drive that is normally closed off to private cars when the park shuttle system is in operation. You still have to pay to enter Zion National Park itself, but at least you do not have to worry about finding parking.

Tip: Arrive at least 30 minutes prior to check-in. The horseback riding tours are very punctual, and you will be left behind. If you want to be more time-efficient, you can plan on hiking Emerald Pools the same day you take your horseback ride.

Horses at Canyon Trail Rides, Zion National Park

The one hour horseback riding tour along the Virgin Riverside was wonderful! We had two guides on our trip. One was leading the group and the other was in the back. We rode on the trail in a single file and it felt very safe.

We started our journey by riding our horses through the Virgin River. Then they took individual photos of us crossing the river, and offered them for sale at the end of the tour at $10 per photo.

Our guides entertained us with funny jokes and told us interesting facts about Zion. The one hour ride was the perfect amount of time for me, but my daughter wanted to stay longer! She is already in love with the horse, Black Magic, and is looking forward to returning again for another trail ride.


Beautiful Zion-Mt. Carmel Hwy Scenic Drive

One of the tunnels on Zion-Mount Carmel Hwy

We originally planned to go river tubing down the Virgin River, but we were concerned with the low water levels. The Virgin River tubing is not a lazy river float to begin with. The water is shallow and requires people to get in and out of their tubes to avoid the sharp rocks. So we decided to go on a scenic drive down Zion-Mt. Carmel Hwy instead.

Desert Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni)

The Zion-Mt. Carmel Hwy was a lovely drive. You drive in and out of tunnels that have been carved into the mountains, and get gorgeous views of interesting geological rock formations. We even saw some desert bighorn sheep! There were a lot of cars on this highway, but the Park Rangers did control traffic. Be prepared to wait for several minutes before being allowed through. Some people used this time to get out of their cars and take a few scenic photos.


Before heading home, we had a delicious meal at Whiptail Grill and did a little shopping in Springdale. If you love beautiful rocks, fossils and gemstones, visit the Zion Rock & Gem store, which is located at 1416 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale, UT 84767!

Agate Coasters and Agate Geode Slice Jewelry

Rock hounds will love this place! This shop sells natural rocks, fossils, gemstones, jewelry, coasters and more. My daughter happily spent the remainder of her souvenir money in this shop. She appreciated the informative cards that came with the stones so that she could properly identify them when she returned home.

I purchased some dyed agate slice coasters, and also some gold plated geode slice necklaces (see above). I love that I am reminded of our trip to this park every time I use these coasters. I have also received many compliments on the geode slice necklaces. They are truly one of a kind.


Similar Agate Coasters and Agate Jewelry from Other Sellers


Blue Agate Slice Earrings


Gold Plated Blue Agate Slice Necklace


BLUE AGATE COASTER SET of 4 Sliced Thick with Felt Bumper (4-5″)


Trip Itinerary


Day 1: Las Vegas


Day 2: Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, Joshua Tree Forest, Grand Canyon West


Day 3: Kayaking to Emerald Cave and Raiders Stadium Tour


Day 4: Bryce Canyon


Day 5: Zion Emerald Pools


Day 6: Zion Horseback Riding


Day 7: Hiking Zion National Park Narrows

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Day Five: Zion Emerald Pools

Waterfall at Zion National Park with green trees and red canyons in background.

After a long day in Bryce Canyon National Park, we wanted a nice and relaxing introduction to Zion National Park.

We had a nice breakfast at the airbnb and drove over to the park. We arrived around 10am, and the Zion parking lot at the visitor center was already full so we parked at the public parking lot on Lion Blvd. $10 (cash only) will get you all day parking in this dirt parking lot. The parking lot is close to Springdale-Zion shuttle stop #3, but we just walked about 13 minutes to Zion Outfitter to hop on our private shuttle.

Tip: This is the cheapest paid parking lot we found. However, if you make a purchase of at least $20 at Hoodoos General Store (across the street), you can park in the Hoodoos General Store parking lot for free all day.

Google Maps: Zion Economy Public Parking Lot

Zion National Park Shuttles

Zion National Park does not allow private cars past a certain point when shuttles are in operation.

When we went, Zion National Park was operating on a shuttle ticket reservation system. It was madness. Tickets were sold two weeks in advance, and would sell out in a matter of minutes. Tickets were also made available the day before, but that left a lot of uncertainty. We decided to play it safe and book shuttle tickets with Red Rock Shuttle.

We loved Red Rock Shuttle company! They are a private shuttle company that normally shuttles people for Zion backcountry hiking, but when we went they were also shuttling people into the canyon. We paid $40 per person for a round trip shuttle ride. It is pricey compared to the $2 that the Zion National Park shuttles charged, but I did appreciate that we never waited more than a few minutes to hop on a shuttle. That might not seem like a big deal, but after you have hiked several hours the last thing you want to do is wait in a long line in the hot sun for a ride back to the visitor center. The Red Rock Shuttle drivers were all friendly, told us interesting facts about Zion, and the shuttles had good A/C.

Unfortunately, private shuttle companies can no longer shuttle people into the canyon because Zion National Park Shuttle system is resuming full capacity. See National Park System for latest updates. However, when we return to Zion, I will definitely use Red Rock Shuttle for some backcountry hiking.

Emerald Pools

Our family loves waterfalls so we were excited to explore Zion’s Emerald Pools. The Emerald Pools trailhead is across the street from Zion Lodge. We walked across a bridge and took an easy walk to Lower Emerald Pools.

We saw some wildlife (e.g., tadpoles, snakes, squirrels). This was the one and only snake we came across on our trip.

Snake at Zion Emerald Pools

Lower Emerald Pools

The Lower Emerald Pools were beautiful. It was by far the most beautiful of the three areas.

Zion Lower Emerald Fall

Middle Emerald Pools

We continued on to the Middle Emerald Pools, which was a more strenuous hike up hill.

Zion Middle Emerald Pools

At this point, the sun was beating down on us and there was little shade. The water levels were so low at the middle pools that we were hesitant to continue on our hike, but fellow hikers assured us that the hike was worth the additional trek to the upper pools.

We were so thankful we brought plenty of water, snacks and our cooling towel. This cooling towel has saved us more than a few times on this trip. All you have to do is wet your towel, and place it on your body. We placed it on the back of our necks to help cool our bodies down.

Tip: Wear sunscreen, a hat, and bring plenty of drinking water and a cooling towel.

Upper Emerald Pools

Zion Upper Emerald Pools

The upper pools was my least favorite of the three pools, but to be fair I believe this could be gorgeous when there are higher water levels.

Cliffs at Zion Upper Emerald Pools
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Trip Itinerary


Day 1: Las Vegas


Day 2: Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, Joshua Tree Forest, Grand Canyon West


Day 3: Kayaking to Emerald Cave and Raiders Stadium Tour


Day 4: Bryce Canyon


Day 5: Zion Emerald Pools


Day 6: Zion Horseback Riding


Day 7: Hiking Zion National Park Narrows

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Day Four: Bryce Canyon

Epic Bryce Canyon Day Trip

We had a late start to our day so we chose to skip the Parowan Gap Petroglyphs and head straight to Bryce Canyon National Park. As you drive to Bryce Canyon National Park, you will enjoy views of Dixie National Forest. We took the National Scenic Byway 12 (UT-12). This road has been designated a National Scenic Byway and an All-American Road by the Federal Highway Administration because it has one-of-a-kind features that qualify it as a destination unto itself.

Say it with cookies - Enjoy a wide variety of gifts & treats for every occasion from Cookies by Desi

Mossy Cave & Tropic Ditch Falls

Mossy Cave

Our first stop was the Mossy Cave. There is limited parking at the trailhead so get there early in the morning. This place gets busy between 10am to 6pm. Although we arrived before 10am we still waited a while for a spot to open up. Parking is not allowed along SR 12 so if you cannot find parking, you can try again another time.

Tip #1: Get there early (before 10am) to get parking.

Tip #2: Mossy Cave is a fee area. Bring your National Park Pass or proof of admission before you arrive at the trailhead.

The Mossy Cave hike is an easy 0.4 mile walk from the trailhead with little elevation change (~300 ft). We gave ourselves an hour in this area, which was plenty of time to see the cave and enjoy the waterfall.

Mossy Cave and Tropic Ditch Falls Trail Map
Mossy Cave and Tropic Ditch Falls Trail Map
Source: Google Maps

The Mossy Cave is filled with moss in the summer, but is filled with icicles in the winter! When we went, the icicles were long gone. The small cave was fenced off and was not impressive with just the moss. I enjoyed the hike to Mossy Cave more than the cave itself! I would come back in the colder months to see the icicles.

Mossy Cave's I Hiked the Hoodoos Benchmark
Mossy Cave’s I Hiked the Hoodoos Benchmark

Take a selfie with the Hike the Hoodoos benchmark or take a pencil rubbing. If you visit three of these benchmarks, you will get a free I Hiked the Hoodoos sticker at the Bryce Canyon Visitor Center. You can also buy an official I Hiked the Hoodoos official collectors pin at the Bryce Canyon Visitor Center.

Tropic Ditch Falls

The Tropic Ditch Falls was a short hike from Mossy Cave. Pioneers in 1890s dug an irrigation ditch which allows water to flow seasonally through Water Canyon (from Tropic Reservoir east of the park to communities in the Paria Valley).

This was my favorite part of the hike and the best waterfall I saw on this trip.

Hiking Navajo Loop & Queens Garden Trail

Bryce Canyon Hoodoos
Bryce Canyon Hoodoos

Most people hike Sunrise Point to Sunset point, but we decided to start from Sunset point so we could avoid hiking up the switchbacks.

Switchbacks of Navajo Loop Trail, Bryce Canyon National Park
Switchbacks of Navajo Loop Trail, Bryce Canyon National Park

We parked at the Sunset Point parking lot, and hiked down the switchbacks of Navajo Loop trail. We took a photo at Navajo Loop Hike the Hoodoos benchmark. Then went back to the fork and followed the signs to Queens Garden Trail. Then we took a photo at the Queens Garden Hike the Hoodoos benchmark. The trail through the pine forest was easy and enjoyable. We even saw a couple of cute chipmunks.

We continued on Queens Garden Trail which gradually ascended to Sunrise Point. The hike up was a challenge for my mother and I. We were not used to the elevation change (~8,000 feet) and the heat. We made it though! Our

ATV Bristle Cone Forest

Riding the Quad, Bryce Wildlife Adventure

After all that hiking, we wanted to give our feet a break. We took an ATV tour with Bryce Wildlife Adventure, 1945 West Scenic Highway 12, Bryce, UT 84764. Jeff at Bryce Wildlife Adventure is AMAZING!!!

I had underestimated my ability to hike within the two hours we had given ourselves, and Jeff had called me to make sure that we were okay when we did not show up for our reserved time. We were touched by his concern, and when we spoke to him, we were just hoping to get on the ATV for the remainder of our reserved time to give ourselves a break and enjoy the view. However, Jeff was so kind and generous that he decided to stay late (delaying his own plans) to make sure that we had enough time to see this beautiful bristle cone forest and other scenic spots along the way! He also pointed out the areas where we would see a prairie dog colony that my daughter was so excited to see! We were blown away by his kindness and the beautiful scenery. It was one of the best part of our trips, and we are already looking forward to going back again!

Dinner

We had packed plenty of food and were not hungry enough to eat out. However, when we return we want to try out  Ruby’s Inn Cowboy’s Buffet & Steak Room and Cowboy’s Smokehouse Cafe. We have heard good things about both places.

Our Dark Rangers Telescope Tour did not start until 9pm so we killed some time by driving through the park and stopping by scenic locations.

Natural Bridge at Bryce Canyon
Natural Bridge

Dark Rangers Telescope Tours

Living in the city we rarely get an opportunity to enjoy the stars because of the light pollution so we booked a private Dark Ranger Telescope Tour to take advantage of the dark sky in Bryce Canyon. It was a full moon the night of our tour so it was not the best time to see a lot of stars, but we did have an amazing view of Venus and the full moon.

The clouds rolled in so our ranger ended up showing us an informative astrology presentation. We took refuge from the cold and drank some hot beverages while viewing the multimedia show. I enjoyed the show just as much as I did watching the stars. I also loved that we are able to ask him questions.

Tip: Try and plan your tour during a new moon to get the most out of the dark sky. Bring winter jackets and gloves! Avoid going during monsoon season (July-August).

Trip Itinerary


Day 1: Las Vegas


Day 2: Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, Joshua Tree Forest, Grand Canyon West


Day 3: Kayaking to Emerald Cave and Raiders Stadium Tour


Day 4: Bryce Canyon


Day 5: Zion Emerald Pools


Day 6: Zion Horseback Riding


Day 7: Hiking Zion National Park Narrows