Utah?Next trip plan good distraction! Ideas needed :)

Someone mentioned that Zion is crowded. Yes, it is, for good reason -- it's great. And it is easy to get away from the crowds -- hit the hiking trails! You won't be alone, but the crowds thin out as you climb up from the canyon floor.

LOL if that was only true, watch some videos of Angles Landing. It's packed with people. Some less popular trails that may work on. But they have very limited parking is a big issue, you can't drive in the canyon so you have to park at the visitors center and grab a shuttle. We could not find a parking place and that was several years before the mob arrived. I've heard of people getting to the gates at 7 AM and still finding a long line.

I saw a recent video showing the mobs but could not find it on youtube. Hidden Canyon is a good less popular hike that gives you a taste of exposure without the insane riskes of Angles Landing with a mob going up.

Kolob Point is a possibility but it is very underwhelming comapred with the Valley. My advice save the Valley trip for off season

isn't there another entrance/etc. to Zion to the west and north?
would that be as crowded?
bumpy

Bumpyroad wrote:
isn't there another entrance/etc. to Zion to the west and north?
would that be as crowded?
bumpy

There's another area that's part of ZNP, but not another entrance to the canyon.

dedmiston wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:
isn't there another entrance/etc. to Zion to the west and north?
would that be as crowded?
bumpy

There's another area that's part of ZNP, but not another entrance to the canyon.

That's Kolob Canyon we drove it last year and it was mildly interesting, you can see the backside of the canyon at considerable distance. Probably not worth the effort unless you are serious hikers.

agesilaus wrote:
Hidden Canyon is a good less popular hike that gives you a taste of exposure without the insane riskes of Angles Landing with a mob going up.

This is a good choice for a hike with fewer people. Go in the a.m. so you'll be in the shade of the canyon. Once you get to the sign that says end of the trail, keep going. Your boys will love the route finding and scrambling as there isn't a specific trail. You may have to backtrack a few hundred yards at times to find another route when you realize you can't keep going. Once past the trail end sign, the canyon is quite a bit narrower so not so much sun. Stays quite a bit cooler than down in the canyon.

The hike up Zion Narrows is also a good place to spend a hot day. You'll be wading in the river so quite cool. Plus the canyon is narrow with little sun. Make sure you have some good shoes for wading/walking in the river. Do check on the weather to make sure there's no rain up river as the water can rise quite quickly in the narrow canyon.

If you can get a spot, the campgrounds at Zion are great as you can walk to the river from your campsite. The Virgin "River" at this point is somewhat of a misnomer, as except for spring runoff, it's more like a stream. The kids build little dams to funnel the water around while adults set up their lawnchairs in or near the creek to soak their feet and cool of in the shade of the overhanging cottonwood trees.

thanks everyone! great tips to save for this summer,,,,,,or when we can go!

If i had children that age i would plan on spending time in Salt Lake at Cherry Hills waterpark or Lagoon both have attached RV campgrounds. Cherry Hills was always a favorite of our kids but Lagoon is more for teenagers with a few rides for smaller kids.

agesilaus wrote:

Someone mentioned that Zion is crowded. Yes, it is, for good reason -- it's great. And it is easy to get away from the crowds -- hit the hiking trails! You won't be alone, but the crowds thin out as you climb up from the canyon floor.

LOL if that was only true, watch some videos of Angles Landing. It's packed with people. Some less popular trails that may work on. But they have very limited parking is a big issue, you can't drive in the canyon so you have to park at the visitors center and grab a shuttle. We could not find a parking place and that was several years before the mob arrived. I've heard of people getting to the gates at 7 AM and still finding a long line.

I saw a recent video showing the mobs but could not find it on youtube. Hidden Canyon is a good less popular hike that gives you a taste of exposure without the insane riskes of Angles Landing with a mob going up.

Kolob Point is a possibility but it is very underwhelming comapred with the Valley. My advice save the Valley trip for off season

I have to agree with Jim. The last time I hiked Angles Landing the chain sections near the top were so crowded that you waited 10 minutes or so just to get your chance to advance 20' or so. There are still many great hiking opportunities in the park, but don't try the popular ones on a nice weekend!

And, don't think that hitting the park a couple of days before the shuttles start is a good idea. Absolutely no parking at any cutoff, and bumper to bumper stop & go driving. Now I know why the shuttles exist.