RV Lifestyle Stop 1: Zion National Park The vibe: Awesome canyon and iconic hikes What to do: Zion Canyon is one of the most intriguing natural wonders in the country and it chalks up the visitor numbers to prove it. See what makes Zion so extraordinary by taking on the national park’s two iconic hikes: Angels Landing (permit required), a chain-assisted white-knuckle climb to a lofty narrow plateau; and the Narrows, where the trail is the Virgin River and you wade through the water as it churns through a towering slot canyon. What to eat: In the heart of the canyon, the historic Zion Lodge has two places to eat: a small café and a full-fledged restaurant. The food isn’t particularly memorable, but the setting certainly is and it’s the only place to eat inside the national park if you don’t bring your own supplies. Just outside of Zion National Park’s south entrance, Zion Canyon Brew Pub was the first microbrewery in southern Utah and it serves up pub grub that pairs perfectly with its beers. More restaurants, coffee shops and small grocery stores abound in Springdale, the gateway town hugging Zion’s south entrance. Where to stay: Zion National Park has two in-park accommodation options: camping or Zion Lodge. You need to book months in advance to get a reservation for either. Zion National Park has three campgrounds. Watchman Campground is open year-round. Make reservations up to six months ahead of your visit. South Campground is closed for a long-term rehabilitation project. Utah may not have the most national parks of any state – that honour goes to California – but it certainly has the highest concentration. All of Utah’s Mighty 5 are within easy driving distance of one another. The state is prime for an epic national parks road trip that you can squeeze into a short amount of time. Even with only a week or two available, it’s possible to get to know the distinct personality of each of the state’s national parks. Here’s how to plan an unforgettable drive in Utah. Where should you start a Utah national parks road trip? You can tackle Utah’s national parks west to east or vice versa, depending on your starting destination. Going from west to east is generally the most popular option because Zion National Park is just a few hours from Las Vegas. You could also start this road trip in Salt Lake City heading for either Zion or Arches first. When is the best time to explore Utah’s national parks? Late spring and early fall are the best seasons for road tripping in Utah. Summer is a popular time, but that means more vehicles on the road and more hikers on the trails. Winter is great for solitude seekers, but make sure that you have the know-how to drive on snowy roads, as well as a backup plan in case of closures or worse. State highways in some areas might be shut down until May because of heavy snowfall, particularly in the high elevations around Brian Head and Cedar Breaks National Monument north of Zion National Park. The Ultimate Utah National Parks Road Trip: EXPLORING UTAH’S MIGHTY 5 How to see Utah’s Mighty 5 national parks on an epic road trip 24 | www.snowbirds.org
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