Zion Canyon Visitor Center
After finishing the trail at Bryce Canyon, we drove for over two hours and arrived at Zion National Park, the last national park of this trip. We got there around 1 PM, but there was a long line at the entrance fee station, so we had to wait about 15 minutes before we could enter. As soon as we entered Zion Canyon, the atmosphere around the road changed dramatically, and I understood why it’s said that visiting Zion National Park last is a good idea.
As it is called the Garden of the Gods, I couldn’t hide my amazement throughout the drive due to the majestic views of Zion Canyon and the incredible landscapes. The blue sky, the red and massive sandstone rocks, and the green trees came together to create a stunning natural scenery.
While driving through Zion Canyon, we stopped occasionally to take photos and enjoy the scenery as we headed towards the Visitor Center. Since we arrived late in the afternoon, it was definitely hard to find parking, but after circling a few times, we finally found a spot. Our original plan in Zion Canyon was to hike the Weeping Rock Trail, but it was closed that day, so we decided to change our plan and walk the Riverside Walk instead.
The trail courses located on the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive can only be accessed by shuttle bus, so after parking, we moved to the first shuttle stop at the Visitor Center. The shuttle stops and trail courses are detailed on the map, so it’s a good idea to pick up a map when entering the national park or visiting the visitor center and keep it handy.
Riverside Walk
The shuttle arrives every 5 to 10 minutes, but if there are a lot of people, you may have to wait longer. When we went up to the trail, there weren’t as many people as I expected, so we could get on right away, but when we came down, there were so many people, as seen in the last photo below, that we had to wait quite a while to get on.
The Riverside Walk trail is one of the most popular hiking routes in Zion National Park, attracting many visitors due to its beautiful scenery and accessibility.
Classified as an Easy route on the map, the trail is mostly paved, making it comfortable to walk. As you walk along the trail, you can feel the cool air and hear the sound of flowing water right beside you, making it a very pleasant experience.
At the end of the trail, many people were sitting by the water’s edge, relaxing leisurely. We also sat down for a while to enjoy the stunning scenery before heading back. Riverside Walk is an ideal trail for families, beginner hikers, and anyone who wants to leisurely enjoy beautiful nature, so I highly recommend it.
Zion Canyon Visitor Center
That day, we had to return to Las Vegas, so we concluded our Grand Circle trip with a visit to Zion National Park. We had a 3-night, 5-day itinerary, but on the last day, seeing both Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park made it feel like we were short on time. While it’s always tempting to do more, I can’t help but think that an extra day would have been even better. After waiting a long time for this Grand Circle trip since last December, I was so happy to travel in such clear weather. I hope this post helps those planning a Grand Circle trip, and I will wrap it up here.
