Of all the National Parks we’ve recently come to know, I would have to say Zion is one of my favorite. It just seemed more accessible to us. Zion is Utah’s first National Park and within the park boundaries, visitors can enjoy a multitude of hiking adventures suitable for all ages.
Follow the paths where ancient native people and pioneers walked. Gaze up at massive sandstone cliffs of cream, pink, and red that soar into a brilliant blue sky. Challenge your courage in a narrow slot canyon. Zion’s unique array of plants and animals will enchant you as you absorb the rich history of the past and enjoy the excitement of present day adventures.
We would have loved to hike the Narrows, but circumstances (most notably time and lack of advanced planning) prevented us this time around. Instead, we enjoyed several shorter hikes including the Lower and Upper Emerald Pool Trails, Grotto Trail, Kayenta Trail, Weeping Rock Trail, and Riverside Walk.
We spent an entire day exploring the canyon and discovering Zion National Park more intimately. The weather was perfect and we had the chance to see many wildflowers in bloom and wildlife sightings – including a Mountain Goat! As we had done at Death Valley and Grand Canyon, the kids enjoyed completing the activities in the Junior Ranger book while we rode on the bus and during intermittent breaks throughout the day.
Zion National Park features stunning scenery, sandstone cliffs among the highest in the world, diverse plant and animal communities, and Ancestral Puebloan, Paiute, and Mormon pioneer history. It’s a wonderful outdoor classroom for homeschoolers and school groups. In addition to the Junior Ranger program, the park has also developed several FREE curriculum materials, Zion National Park Curriculum Materials, to help educators bring their students to Zion, or alternatively, bring Zion into your home or classroom. We look forward to exploring the geologic processes in more depth with the aide of the lessons and materials developed by the park.