Some Utah trails are the kind we might take only once in a lifetime – others might be so close to our homes that we hike it several times a week. And other trails are so popular with tourists that we tend to only hike them when we have out-of-town guests, then forget about them all together.
Zion National Park is the crown jewel of Utah. It’s our most-visited park, receiving over three million visitors annually. There’s a reason it’s so popular – it really is one of the world’s most remarkable places. In the spring and summer, most parts of the park are so crowded that Utahans tend to find other beautiful spots to hike.
In this article, we’re going to look at one hike that is both iconic and unrivaled, and it’s hike you’ve probably taken. It’s also one of Utah’s most crowded hikes…but this is the absolute perfect time of year to take it. Here are several reasons that every Utahans should take the Zion Riverside trail at least once (and many more times, if possible).
The Zion Riverside Walk is accessible to everyone.
You’ll walk along between towering sandstone cliffs, hear the gurgling of the Virgin River and see vegetation growing right out of the side of the mountain.
The views all along the Riverside are just stunning.
It’s usually very shallow along this trail. The river emerges from the narrows (you’ll see those at the end of the hike), and it meanders through the canyon, surrounded by cliffs, foliage and wildlife.
Please don’t feed them! There’s a park fine if you get caught, but more importantly, they become aggressive to people and can bite if you try to hand feed them. Enjoy their adorable antics from afar.
Visit Zion in the fall and winter, and you’ll find much more peace and quiet on this trail.
If you have the inclination (and some neoprene socks in winter months), you can continue your hike into the narrows a bit. You’ll hike through the water, so you’ll want good shoes and a walking stick to keep from slipping.
While Zion National Park is absolutely crazy during summer months, visitation drops dramatically during the winter. For instance, in July 2015, the park received 481,398 visitors. In November 2015, just 182,190 people visited. In January 2016, only 86,005 people visited Zion. Winter is definitely the time to visit if you want to enjoy Zion National Park’s unrivaled beauty!
