Beyond the 9 to 5: Hiking in Utah

I recently had the opportunity to take a father daughter trip out West for Memorial Day weekend, and with neither of us having been to any of the national parks in Utah, it seemed like the perfect choice. Hiking for all skill levels, stunning geology, small towns, and breathtaking views...sounds perfect, right? It is.

We started our journey in Zion National Park, ventured up to Kolob Canyon, and even squeezed in a couple hours of hiking at Bryce Canyon on our last evening before flying home the next day (totally worth it even for the short amount of time). I felt like we did this trip right, for the most part, so here are a few of my recommendations, plus a couple of things I learned along the way.

Hit River Rock Roasting Company for breakfast on your way into Zion. It's not to be missed! I had asked our Airbnb host for some food recommendations, and this was by far the best place she could have mentioned to us. It became part of our daily routine, on the way in and on the way out. It's a great place to sit in the warm sun without the humidity, which we gladly left behind in Ohio.

It really is the perfect spot to grab a light, energizing breakfast and coffee on the way into the canyon, offering an incredible view with outdoor or indoor seating. It's bustling by late morning, so if you have a full day of hiking ahead, my advice is to stop by early. This will leave you enough time to sip your coffee outside while overlooking the mountains in the distance and river below. It can be reached on your way toward Zion coming down from Cedar City to the north or up from St. George to the southwest. After a long day of hiking, you should consider stopping here again for a slice of pizza and icy cold beer (pictured below: my dad enjoying a Coors Light-blue mountains? Check!).

Next on my list...do a variety of hikes in Zion Canyon National Park. There is something for everyone. What to avoid: visiting on a holiday weekend.

Especially the busiest holiday weekend all year. If you don't mind the influx of visitors, fantastic! For us, it was a lot harder to find our way "off the beaten path", because almost every path was beaten..by lots of feet, simultaneously. There were also multiple trails closed due to rockfall or snow melt, including the Narrows, which consequently still remains on my bucket list. An excuse to go back soon...

Regardless, the weather was perfect. We enjoyed mid-70s and sunshine. I have this lucky thing that happens when I travel where the weather ends up being great, even when uncharacteristic for the destination or time of year. I was very happy this continued in Zion as it had snowed the week before and the day we left. It's always good to be prepared with lots of layers just in case, as weather can change unexpectedly, especially with the changing elevation. Tip: Bring a jacket, layers, and appropriate hiking shoes. If you're lucky enough to get an Airbnb host as awesome as ours, you might also find a closet full of rain and cold-weather hiking gear (yes, she got a 5-star review-my dad ended up using a jacket).

Getting in to the park, it's probably best to stop and find a spot in Springdale (the quaint little town right outside the park entrance), unless you arrive early...and I mean, EARLY (an early I don't encounter very often). Early is also good if you are planning to hike to Angel's landing, the most popular hike in the park with one of the best views. If you don't make it there early enough (yes, I said early again), you will likely have a three-hour wait time in order to get your hand stamped in order to climb to the summit. Simply put, try to beat the rush or be ready to practice your patience!

Plan A for us included hiking to Angel's landing, but a long backup at a pay machine in a parking lot caused us to put put the kibosh on that. I say avoid and opt for street parking. Neither of us wanted to spend half a day waiting in line with so much else to see. For us, the decision to skip the summit turned out to be the right choice. We enjoyed several great trails, including most of the Angel's Landing hike, with no wait. Scout's Lookout is only 500 ft. or so below the summit and offers a beautiful lookout point pictured above). On your way down, which is must easier, make sure to stop and take in all of the rock. The geology is both colorful and remarkable. It's also a good chance to enjoy the nature, chat with other hikers, and stop for a trail snack. This hike will certainly get your heart pumping as it includes fairly quick elevation gain through several back to back, steep switchbacks. It's definitely a fun one though, and we appreciated the workout.

This brings me to my second favorite hike, along the river at the bottom of the canyon. While the free shuttle connecting each trail head is very nice, we opted to hop off and hit the trails that follow along the river in between each stop. This was the perfect way to find solitude. Not many others were doing this, so we were able to get unobstructed photos and hear nothing but the sounds of nature. You'll likely catch some rock climbers scaling the canyon wall if you take this route too. This portion of the trip reminded me how tiny we are in the grand scheme of things, especially with the towering canyon walls all around. Hiking along the river will also take you to Zion Lodge. Here you will find a large, beautiful green space featuring three enormous trees. It is the absolute perfect place for a nap, soaking up sunshine, and kicking off those hiking boots. The breeze blowing cottonwood through the air made for a moment I will never forget.

Don't leave Zion without exploring Kolob Canyon (pictured below). Breathtaking rock formations, beautiful colors, and a very scenic drive for those who prefer something that does not include strenuous activity. This drive was the perfect end to a great day for us, and we met a lot of really nice travelers at the main lookout point.

On the final evening of our trip, we decided to squeeze in a visit to Bryce Canyon, really making the most of our time. Because we had originally planned to only hit Zion, this was an added bonus and didn't really feel rushed. If you can though, take an entire week to fully enjoy both parks.

The hike we chose was the Queen's Garden trail, which starts from the top of the canyon down. After hiking all day in Zion, I had to remind my dad that hiking back up would be the more challenging part. The rock formations are truly incredible and will quickly draw you in further.

So what's the end to a perfect trip? Giant ice cream cones (a vacation necessity in our family). Next time I go back to Utah, I want to rent a camper and sleep in the middle of nowhere between the canyons. I've seen pictures of the stars, so Utah, be ready, because I will be back soon.

Cheers to working hard and adventuring often!