Quick 2 day trip to Zion National Park
View of The West Temple, the Sundial, the Witch Head, and Altar of Sacrifice from Pine Creek Canyon Overlook
First, let's start by asking ourselves a question.
Why is it important to take your time when traveling?
This was my third visit to Zion National Park. The first time, I was with my family when I was a teenager. The second visit was with some friends and my partner. The big difference this time around was that we didn't have any time limits or fixed plans to follow. When you're traveling with others, you often have to hurry through each stop because you want to see as much as possible in a short time. There's nothing wrong with that approach, trying to cover a lot of ground efficiently, but I've always dreamed of having the freedom to travel more spontaneously. And that's exactly what we did on this trip.
Why is Zion National Park so popular?
Zion National Park is in the southwest of Utah, USA. It's known for its stunning scenery with tall sandstone cliffs, narrow slot canyons, and meandering rivers. The park spreads across 229 square miles and draws millions of visitors annually who want to explore its hiking paths, rock climbing spots, and picturesque routes for driving. Zion National Park is a real marvel of nature that has something special for everyone to enjoy.
What can you do with 2 day itinerary Zion National Park?
Well, there are so many things to do and see in the park so a couple of days is just not enough. As for us, we did some camping, hiking, enjoying local food and brewery, and backroads exploration in our 4x4 vehicle in this trip.
Check out our experiences in Zion National Park
We stayed at a quiet dispersed campsite near Zion National Park (1st day)
In late August, we headed to Utah and reached our first campsite not far from the park. The site was surrounded by beautiful mountains and had a little creek nearby. The only downside was there were too many ants and flying insects for our liking, however, most of them disappeared after sunset, which was a big relief. In the quiet darkness, we had a quick dinner and went to bed early to get ready for the exciting adventures we had planned for the next day.
Dispersed camping near Zion National Park
A creek next to our dispersed campsite
First time camping next to a creek, which was great.
Golden hour
A little trail that leads to other dispersed campsites at this location
We had a very nice breakfast in a local restaurant (2nd day)
On the second day of our trip, we woke up and went to a small town near the entrance of Zion National Park. We had breakfast at a local place called Oscar’s Cafe, which was great.
View through a window at Osca’s Cafe
Delicious omelet and burrito with coffee at Oscar's cafe for breakfast
Hiking the Canyon Overlook Trail was such a rewarding experience (2nd day)
After breakfast, we decided to take on one of the most famous hikes in the park, the Canyon Overlook Trail.
Even though it was a weekday and pretty early at around 9 am, finding parking was a bit tough. After some effort, we eventually found an open spot. It's a good idea to park in town and use the shuttle to avoid this issue. The park can get really crowded, especially on weekends, and there isn't enough parking.
The hike was easy and a short climb to a lookout point, taking less than an hour. There was a lot of interesting vegetation and geological features to see, as well as some wild life such as small lizards. When you reach the top, you're treated to a stunning view of most of Zion National Park. It's a sight that truly leaves you amazed, so take your time to soak it all in if you go.
There are many more trails in Zion National Park, but on this trip, we only had time for one. We're considering doing the Narrows trail next time we're here.
Canyon Overlook Trail - Geology here is incredible
Jaw-dropping scenery at the top of the Canyon Overlook Trail. You can see the West Temple and other peaks as well as the Zion mount Carmel tunnel
View of Zion scenic drive from Pine Creek Canyon Overlook
The West Temple, the Sundial, the Witch Head Altar of Sacrifice from Pine Creek Canyon Overlook
Resting on our way down
Lizard sighting!
Having some cold beer after the hike was heaven (2nd day)
After we finished the trail, we discovered a brewery just outside the park's entrance. We sat down by a creek and huge cliffs and had refreshing cold beers. It was a fantastic way to relax, cool off, and get our energy back after hiking in the hot weather.
Foray Pomegranate and Conviction Stout at the Zion Canyon Brew PubWe drove off-road to Smithsonian Butte for even more incredible views (2nd day)
For our last stop in Utah on this trip, we ventured onto a backcountry road to discover the most amazing view to Smithsonian Butte. Because this area had been hit with weeks of rain, a lot of soil had washed away, making the road rocky and uneven. Luckily, our vehicle had a low-range capability that helped us navigate carefully along the way to our destination. All the effort was totally worth it in the end because we were treated to a breathtaking panoramic view of the Canaan Mountain Wilderness.
After spending a couple of hours taking pictures and videos of the stunning scenery, we eventually had to give in to the high temperatures and pack up a bit early. We realized we couldn't handle the intense heat that would persist through the night. Also, our home wasn't too far of a drive back anyway.
On a side note, this was the moment when I strongly felt the need for an off-road travel trailer - maybe not one with full air conditioning, but at least with an automatic fan. It would make staying longer and more comfortably at an epic location like this much easier. Well, maybe someday. 🤞
Rocky uphill to Smithsonian Butte near Zion National Park
View of Canaan Mountain Wilderness from Smithsonian Butte
All in all, those two days were simply amazing. We're absolutely planning to return to the Zion National Park area for more adventures in the future, no doubt about it.