Zion National Park is a hiker’s paradise. People from all over the world come here to hike the many trails at Zion. However, you don’t need to be an avid hiker to enjoy Zion. We found plenty of activities to keep us busy during our three day stop. We visited Zion with our travel trailer, and we stayed at the Zion Canyon Campground located in Springdale. There is a Springdale shuttle that stops at the campground entrance and takes you to the visitor center where you can catch the Zion Park shuttle.

There are six trails at Zion that are described as easy trails. We decided to try two of them on our first day in the park. The first trail we hiked was the Lower Emerald Pool Trail. It is 1.2 miles round trip, and the trailhead is across the road from the Zion Lodge. This trail was described as paved and flat, but we did not find that description to be accurate. It was not a difficult hike but there were some uphill and downhill sections. There were places in the trail with tree roots to climb over and some areas where part of the trail had eroded. This was not a trail for those with mobility problems. When we got to the Lower pools, there was not much to see. Due to several years of drought the waterfall was nothing more than a trickle and the pool below was stagnant. The scenery along the trail was beautiful though and we felt it was an enjoyable walk.

After we finished the Emerald Pools Trail we hopped back on the shuttle and went to the Riverside Walk. The Riverside Walk is 2.2 miles round trip and takes you along the river to the start of the Narrows hike. If I were to do just one hike at Zion this is the one I would choose. It is a very pretty walk along the river. The park brochure claims that it can be narrow with steep slopes in places, but we found this trail to be easier than the Emerald Pools trail. Luckily there were a lot of shaded areas on both trails. It was 95 degrees in mid-September and the heat can get to you when you are walking the trails. Make sure to take your water bottle with you as there are bottle filling stations at the trailheads. We also had our collapsible walking sticks with us. We find that they really help with balance as you are stepping over rocks and tree roots on the trail.

Driving the scenic Zion-Mt Carmel Highway is a good activity while you are staying at Zion. The highway winds through the canyon and up the mountain. There are many switchbacks and steep drop-offs, so it is not for the faint of heart. Near the top of the highway is the 1.1-mile-long Zion- Mt Carmel tunnel. If you are driving an oversize vehicle (like a motorhome) or if you are towing a trailer, you need to get a permit to drive through the tunnel. All oversize vehicles need a ranger escort through the tunnel.

There are many pull outs and viewpoints along the highway, but it can get crowded so make sure that you get an early start if you want to find room to pull off.

The small town of Springdale is home to many restaurants and shops. Sitting on an outdoor patio sipping a local beer is a fine way to relax at the end of the day.