GETAWAY SERIES // Weekend in Zion

Ever since Andrew and I went on our 2020 national parks road trip, I’ve wanted to go back to Zion National Park. I found it to be absolutely beautiful and couldn’t wait to return. Andrew had booked a couple sites at Watchman Campground and our friends were down to join our adventure.

So buckle up, and join me for my breakdown of our recent getaway to Zion!

Friday

Our trip to Zion started before the sun came up. We were on the road before 5:00am, so really bright and early. We made it to Nevada when our trip got interesting. 60 miles outside of Vegas, our check engine light came on… So we swung by a Vegas auto shop and killed a couple hours in their lobby as they looked at our car. Unfortunately, nothing was able to be fixed but we were filled in on what was most likely going on. We still had a few hours left of our drive and had to keep going, so we kept driving as the small fear that our car would break down simmered in my mind.

Thankfully, we pulled into our campsite around 3:45pm and our friends, Pete and Shannon were already there. The four of us decided to go hike the Lower and Middle Emerald Pool Trails, catching up and enjoying the park views.

That evening, as we were making dinner, the rest of our friends showed up. Living in a different state from all of them can be tough at times, so I was looking forward to squeezing in some fun adventures with them. We rounded out the night circled around what would’ve been a campfire (burn ban in place) just chatting, before heading to our tents for sleep.

Saturday

Saturday morning, we all woke up early and enjoyed a breakfast of pancakes and eggs. Then we split up - a group of us heading to Scout’s Landing, another to a different hike. Andrew and I had hiked up to Scout’s Landing when we last camped at Zion and while it was strenuous, we thoroughly enjoyed it. So, it was a no-brainer to go back with friends this time.

When we got up to Scout’s Landing, our friends continued onto Angel’s Landing. I’m not the biggest fan of heights, so I was fine hanging back (and thankfully Andrew stuck with me). We took the time to enjoy a couple snacks and steer clear of fearless squirrels and chipmunks.

When we got back to our campsite afterwards, everybody just wanted to take a breather. We were sweaty, hot, and tired, so we spent the next few hours laying low. Swung by the camp market, enjoyed some shaved ice, and played the Just One party game. For dinner, we decided to go the nearby Zion Brewery, which was much appreciated because none of us really wanted to heat up our camp stoves in such hot conditions. We ended the evening with a quick walk along the Pa’rus Trail as the sun went down.

Sunday

Again, we woke up bright and early. Breakfast consisted of camp stove coffee, mini muffins, and granola bars. Keeping it simple! We took the shuttle to the Narrows, another favorite from our last trip to Zion. And it was just as beautiful as I remembered. The views of the sun hitting the mountain side were absolutely stunning and I was happy that I got to share such an amazing place with friends.

As the early afternoon rolled around, we were all ready to hit the road. Andrew and I had to work the next day, Pete and Shannon were heading to Bryce Canyon National Park, and the rest of our friends had to make it to Boise. So we all bid each other farewell, and Andrew and I started our long drive back to San Diego.

Here’s to another great weekend getaway, and many more to come!