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One day is definitely far from enough time to appreciate Zion National Park’s unsurpassable beauty. However, one day is better than none. If you have the opportunity to experience Zion’s magnificence, take advantage of your time in this natural wonderland.

My limited time in Zion was just enough to hike The Narrows and learn a smidge about the park’s unique geographical history. I admit, my knowledge of America’s national parks and natural landscapes is pretty minimal. (It’s really a shame it’s taken me nearly 25 years to realize the vast beauty awaiting exploration in my own country.) On that note, my road trip and time in Zion opened my eyes to the gorgeous places and spaces in America.

Watchman Campground at Zion National Park

To maximize our time in the park, I made camping reservations. I immediately made the reservation the moment I knew we were doing a cross-country road trip, as the camping spaces fill up insanely fast during peak summer months. If I had not made the reservation in March for our August trip, I doubt we would have camped at Zion.

We stayed in Watchman Campground’s Loop D site, which is located near the park’s main entrance alongside the other campsites. We arrived around noon, which is the earliest you can set up camp (literally). We pitched our tent and set off to hike The Narrows.

Travel tip: Make reservations ahead of time if you would like a guaranteed camping spot in Zion National Park. Reservation season camping is usually from the end of February until the end of November. You can make reservations for Watchman Campground six months prior to your arrival date by clicking here. 

Hiking The Narrows

The Narrows is the narrowest section of Zion Canyon with towering canyon walls and beautiful views along the river. The first part of the trail is paved and begins at the Temple of Sinawava. Once the walkway ends, hikers can wade upstream in the Virgin River to see more of The Narrows.

Although an early morning hike would have been more of my cup of tea, our road trip schedule made it nearly impossible for a sunrise hike at The Narrows. Instead, my boyfriend and I hiked in the early afternoon. It was stunning and really fun to be in the water surrounded by the gorgeous canyon walls. The lighting wasn’t ideal for photos, and the hoards of people made it difficult to capture what I had envisioned. Even with the swarms of visitors (it was peak season after all), The Narrows was spectacular. Wading through the water proved to be a challenge, as the rocks in the river were extremely slippery and the ground was uneven. We enjoyed every minute of the hike, though. The awe-inducing canyon walls provided ample shade from the intense desert sun while the cool raging water rushed around our bodies as we hiked further into the canyon crevices.

Tips for Hiking The Narrows

• Check the weather beforehand, as flash floods often happen in the summer.
• The earlier, the better.
• Dress in layers.
• Wear closed-toe shoes.
• Bring snacks and water.
• Be aware of your own safety.
• More information can be found here.

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We hiked and explored The Narrows area for almost three hours. Then, headed back toward the campsite for some more exploring as well as to make dinner, grab firewood, shower, and enjoy the night under the stars. We needed to get some sleep to prepare for our 10 hour drive from Zion to Denver the next day!