Start Your Visit to Zion National Park with a Stroll on the Pa’rus Trail

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May 092012

The Pa’rus Trail at Zion National Park is a recent addition (1995) to the park’s trail system. It connects the Campgrounds near the Visitor Center, the Human History Museum and the Canyon Junction shuttle bus stop. Since private cars are not allowed to stop along the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive from April through October, families staying in Springdale generally grab the town shuttle to the Visitor Center than hop on a Park Shuttle for the ride deeper into the Park. The Pa’rus Trail offers an accessible, dog and baby stroller friendly option to begin or end your visit with an hour long 1.7 mile one way stroll criss-crossing Oak Creek, Pine Creek and the Virgin River. Bikes can be rented from Zion Outfitter located near the Visitor Center, sharing a parking lot with the Giant Screen Theater.

Zion National Park's Pa'rus Trail criss-crosses the Virgin River and nearby creeks

The word Pa’rus means “bubbling, tumbling water” and this walk definitely lives up to its name. This lower section of the river is more controlled than the upper reaches seen on the Riverside Walk. A trailside exhibit points out the remains of an old dam and explains how water from the river still supplies nearby Springdale. The design of the trail keeps the water in view as you navigate several footbridges along the way.

Strolling the Pa'rus Trail

Due to the fact that there is little shade, this is a trail best done on cooler days or in the morning or evening on hot days. We visited in the late afternoon on a warm spring day and found the trail almost empty except for a few very polite bike riders. We are told it can be pretty busy on a summer morning however. As with all the trails in Zion National Park, the Pa’rus offers one stunning view after another. The cliffs at this end of the canyon are not as steep or as sharp as those closer the Narrows but are beautiful in their own way.

Along the Pa'rus Trail

Depending on your plans and energy levels, you can opt to walk a short section of the trail as far as the Museum, keep going to the end of the trail or turn around and stroll back to where you started. For one way walkers, the shuttle bus stop at the end of the trail offers access to the rest of the sights and trailheads along the Scenic Drive, as well as the option of a quick return to the Park entrance when you are done for the day.

If you have walked on the Pa’rus Trail let us know your thoughts.

Zion’s Riverside Walk Offers Easy Access to Park’s Wonders

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May 032012

During our recent visit to Zion National Park we explored some of the easier hiking and walking trails including the Emerald Pools Lower Trail, the Pa’rus Trail and the Riverside Walk. The level, lightly paved Riverside Walk begins at the Temple of Sinawava shuttle bus stop, the last one along the Canyon road. The trail travels a mile along the banks of the Virgin River until it disappears into the river itself. It is a this point that the sides of the Canyon quickly close in and the famous Narrows Trail begins, allowing adventurous hikers to walk through the water for miles deep into the narrowest parts of the canyon in the summer when water levels are low. In the Spring, the Narrows are off limits but the Riverside Walk is a pleasant jaunt.

The easy Riverside Walk trail provides access to Zion's famous Narrows Hike

Unlike the strenuous Narrows Trail, the Riverside Walk is welcoming to hikers of all ages and abilities. We enjoyed it in the early evening and had it almost to ourselves. Lush riparian vegetation such as cottonwoods and elder flourish along this trail due to the reliable water supply and the abundant shade provided by the towering vertical cliffs that can rise 1,000 feet or more overhead. There is even a small area that qualifies as a swamp. The impact of a recent spring storm was evident as waterfalls and springs still flowed at some points along the almost sheer Navajo sandstone cliff faces.

Towering Riverside Walk waterfall at Zion National Park

In areas where the water flows frequently the cliff faces sport multi-color bands of color, the result of moisture leaching different minerals from the red rocks. Hanging gardens of plants growing right out of the sandstone are common along parts of the trail.

Hanging Gardens on the Riverside Walk

Along there way there are several river access points where you can take off your shoes and dip your toes in the frigid waters if you want to be able to say you walked in the river.

Whatever time of year, the Riverside Walk at Zion National Park offers a pleasant opportunity for families with kids of all ages to explore the Canyon.

Emerald Pools Lower Trail Great for All Ages at Zion National Park

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Apr 292012

Zion National Park is known for challenging hiking trails such as the trip to Angel’s Landing that rises almost 1500 feet in 2.5 miles and requires the hiker to cross near vertical rock faces using small footholds and chains bolted into the rock. Another classic, the Narrows, involves miles of strenuous walking in the Virgin River – it is only open in the summer and fall when spring water levels drop to safe levels.

For those visitors with smaller kids, older adults, and others that don’t see themselves tackling those more challenging trails, Zion still offers some lovely options including our three favorites for all ages: The Emerald Pools Lower Trail, The Pa’rus Trail, and The Riverside Walk. Each of these trails is suitable for all ages yet allows access to some of Zion’s most beautiful scenery and wildlife. In this article we feature photos from our stroll along the Emerald Pools Lower Trail.

The Emerald Pools Lower Trail is accessed via a footbridge over the Virgin River located opposite the Zion Lodge

The Emerald Pools Lower Trail travels a rolling .6 miles of paved trail through cottonwoods and river bottom vegetation. We saw a number of mule deer filling up on the spring greens.

Mule Deer seen along the Emerald Pools Lower Trail at Zion National Park

The short walk soon brings you to a stunning canyon alcove that houses the Lower Emerald Pool, which is fed by waterfalls from the Middle and Upper Pools located higher up the cliffs.

Waterfalls feed Zion's Lower Emerald Pool

The trail can be slippery when the waterfalls are running as the trail actually runs through the mist behind the falls. At this point, you can continue via a rougher, steeper trail to the Middle and Upper pools and eventually make a loop back to the Grotto picnic area and then back to the Lodge or a shuttle bus stop.

The trail continues behind the waterfall then heads higher up the cliffs towards the Midde and Upper pools

If your group is not that ambitious you can return the way you came for an easy 1.2 mile round trip. Either way the views of the surrounding cliffs are stunning.

Cliffs seen from the Emerald Pool Lower Trail

Later this week we’ll share some photos from some of our other favorite Zion National Park trails for all ages.

Travel to Zion National Park with(out) Teens!

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Apr 132012

Travel to Zion National Park with(out) Teens!

In the category of the day we thought would never arrive, Camera Guy and Mary T are about to head out on their first vacation without kids in 18 years! With no close relatives nearby we’ve never had the opportunity to drop the kids off for a few days of grownup time. So why now? Because the teens are heading out on their own Spring Break church service trip. So, while they are in Miami helping out at homeless shelters and food banks mom and dad have decided to check Zion National Park off the bucket list. We’ll be flying into Vegas, driving to Zion and staying a couple of nights in the Park with a daytrip to Bryce Canyon if the snow expected this weekend leaves the roads passable. We’ll [...]

Yellowstone: Top Five Reasons Why Families with Teens Must Visit ASAP

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Jan 242012

Yellowstone: Top Five Reasons Why Families with Teens Must Visit ASAP

We recently asked the teens to think back on all our family trips and choose the one they would most like to revisit. Without blinking they said it would have to be Yellowstone National Park. Yes, Yellowstone beat out Disney, Hawaii, South Dakota, the Jersey Shore, San Diego, Bermuda, a cruise, the Bahamas and many other destinations. Why? Because it truly is a one of a kind experience that can’t be had anywhere else. If you haven’t been there yet, make sure you take your teens and tweens to Yellowstone before they go off to college. Yellowstone is the stuff that lifetime family memories are made of. Established as the country’s first National Park in 1872, Yellowstone is located in the northwestern corner of Wyoming with small tracts of adjoining land in [...]

A Family Heli-Hiking Adventure Q & A

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Dec 052011

Guest Post By Topher Donahue, Sponsored by CMH Summer Adventures Thinking about an adventure vacation with your teens and extended family? CMH Summer Adventures offers a wide range of hiking and outdoor adventure vacations. The following discussion with recent participants shows adventurous holidays can be fun for family members ages 2 to 90. Last summer, a family of 12 from Toronto, representing four generations, gathered to share a Heli-Hiking trip with CMH Summer Adventures, in the Bugaboo Mountains on the British Columbia/ Alberta boarder in Western Canada. The youngest, Cooper, was not quite two years old, and the oldest, Helen, was 90 years old. Afterwards, I tracked down three women from the family to find out how the trip went for everyone. Helen, Barbara and Sarah all took time to [...]

Teens and Tweens Enjoy the Hike up Flattop Mountain near Anchorage, AK

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Jul 092011

Teens and Tweens Enjoy the Hike up Flattop Mountain near Anchorage, AK

We’re back from Alaska and have many great stories and photos to share. In 7 days we covered roughly 700 miles from Anchorage to the Kenai Peninsula and Whittier to Hatcher Pass and Willow. We felt like we just got a taste of what the State has to offer but are thankful that we had fairly good weather and enjoyed lots of time with cousins, aunts and uncles along the way. Over the next few weeks we’ll share our Top 10 list of the best things to do when visiting Alaska with teens and tweens, starting with a hike up Flattop Mountain in the Chugach State Park on the eastern side of Anchorage. The summit of the 3,500 foot mountain is reached via a 1.7 mile trail that rises 1300 feet [...]

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