20211014_085000The Watchman and Virgin River from the Pa’rus Trail (October 2021)

Our time in Zion National Park was brief, and although we hardly scratched the surface of what it had to offer, we managed to see a few of its notable formations from the scenic Highway 9 drive from west to east of the park. And although we didn’t opt to go north to do the challenging hikes, we did a few, easy ones that still offered some incredible views along the way. Despite our limitations, we could still acknowledge that Zion, along with the rest of Utah, is unbelievably beautiful.

We had actually hit most of what we saw on our first day (rather, afternoon) in Zion. We had been lucky that we’d arrived on a Tuesday, as it was less crowded and we were still able to enter the park with our car– come Thursday (i.e. start of the weekend), the entrance was completely closed by 9:00, which forced visitors, including us, to park in Springdale and hoof it to the pedestrian entrance, just to enter Zion. More on that in a short while…

We didn’t spend much time in Zion on our first full day there, as we had decided last minute to do a quick, half-day trip to Bryce Canyon about 90 minutes to 2 hours away. Since we would be in Utah for such a short amount of time, we wanted to maximize the number of sites we saw in the state. Our visit to Bryce took up the morning and early afternoon, and we returned to Zion later that afternoon to repeat the scenic Highway 9 drive (with some stops at the turnouts for photos).

Just like the night before, we got an early dinner at the same restaurant. I ordered some tofu tacos with a small glass of Sauvignon-Merlot blend, and I split the chips and fresh guacamole with my dad. The tacos were pretty good, the tofu blackened and well-spiced and the house-made guacamole a delight. You may think I’m vegetarian based on the fact that I had mushroom sopes and tofu tacos at this restaurant, but I actually am not: I opted for vegetarian options, just because I didn’t want to overeat and feel stuffed afterwards.

20211013_155402Blackened tofu tacos with Sauvignon-Merlot blend and fresh chips and guac

On our very last morning in Zion, my dad and I decided to do one last hike before we left for our next destination. Upon checking out from our hotel, we proceeded to head towards the park entrance, only to find that it was closed off to cars– it was barely 9:00, yet all of the parking inside Zion was full! It shouldn’t have been a surprised as it was the start of the weekend, but still, absolutely crazy…

Thankfully, there was still parking just a few meters from the park entrance (although that filled up within an hour or two). Granted, we had to pay $20 USD for just a couple of hours (although it does guarantee a full day of parking), but it wasn’t too bad. It was also fortunate that the hike we would do was just 0.75 miles/1.2 km from the entrance, so it wasn’t too bad of a walk over– if we had opted to do, say, the Canyon Overlook Trail that day, that would have been impossible!

My dad and I did the Pa’rus Trail, which was 3.5 miles/5.6 km round-trip. It is an easy trail: I wouldn’t even call it a hike, but more of a pleasant stroll along flat, paved roads. The only thing I would caution is to be mindful of the cyclists who zip through along these roads, as they’re shared between them and pedestrians! Otherwise, it is a simple walk that offers some of the most-stunning scenes of the Watchman mountain and deep-blue Virgin River below it.

20211014_082142The Watchman and Virgin River

It was a chilly 48°F/9°C when we started the Pa’rus Trail. However, we soon warmed up as we walked and admired the scenery in front of us. Tons of solid, austere mountains surrounding us, with the morning sun gradually creeping in and giving the land a rustic, golden hue. We passed the Watchman Campground (home to plenty of campers with their barbecue grills and tents) and, after crossing a few bridges, we made it to the end at the Canyon Junction. This is where the shuttle stops inside the park, before heading up north to Angels Landing and the notable slot canyons.

20211014_090343Along the Pa’rus Trail. Slow and easy…

We took a short break for water and to admire the views of the Watchman seemingly hovering over the brilliantly-blue Virgin River before heading back. After a stop at the visitor center for some souvenirs and restrooms, we returned to our car where we had a quick lunch before leaving Zion National Park.

Overall, our time in Zion wasn’t as fulfilling as it could’ve been, as we had chosen to skip a lot of the famous hikes and sites, including Angels Landing and The Narrows. We weren’t comfortable in our hiking abilities to do those hikes, as they are difficult due to high elevation or potential flash floods. Perhaps if I were to train more, I could return to Zion and actually do those hikes, but time will tell…in spite of what we didn’t visit, I’m pretty content that we got a glimpse of Zion, that whetted our appetite for a return visit someday.

Stay tuned for the next road trip post soon!

— Rebecca

Published by Rebecca

Blogger, world traveler, poet, foodie, part-time penguin. Welcome!

55 thoughts on “Destination: Zion National Park, Utah (Hiking the Watchman & Mexican Food- Part 2)”

  3. Having done Angel’s Landing once, my nerves are happy to never do it again… great views but terrifying.

    You can get the very same breathtaking view by hiking Observation Point, a slightly less strenuous trail and you don’t have to hike on a thin ridge while clinging to a chain and praying no one around you falls! Obviously I recommend this one if you ever get to go back 🙂 Glad you got a jaunt to Bryce too. (Bryce is so unique, but my fav really is Zion!)

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    1. Exactly! I was very apprehensive about doing Angel’s Landing, so I decided to forgo it. I’ve heard of Observation Point and thought about doing it, but given the limited time we had in Zion, we just hiked the Canyon Overlook Trail. The post on Bryce will be up next week!

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  9. You and your dad packed a lot into your Zion adventure! Your photos are impressive and really capture the beauty of the area. I think I’ve mentioned this before, but it’s hard to get Mexican food in our little corner of Normandie, and the meal you had has me craving Mexican more than ever!

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    1. Mexican food is hard to get in France, even in Paris and bigger cities. Zion is a beautiful corner of Utah, and it has made me fall in love with the US state. ❤️ I hope to return someday soon!

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  10. As others have said, you really squeezed a lot in. The Pa’rus Trail seems like a good choice, relaxing and with wonderful views of The Watchman. The food looks fantastic, we love tofu when cooked creatively and have never had it in Mexican food, let alone a taco so we’d be all over that.

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    1. The Pa’rus Trail is perfect for novices, as it’s honestly more of a stroll than an actual hike. Tofu has really become a popular food, due to the vegetarian scene and the dish’s versatility in being prepared…including in tacos! Thanks for stopping by, Leighton. 🙂

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  14. You sure packed a lot into this adventure. The watchmen views are so beautiful, and those blackened tofu tacos you got look absolutely delicious. I look forward to the next one.

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      1. Thank you so much, Rebecca. This is what I love about where I live—I don’t have to go too far to get to the city or the countryside.

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  16. Wow, what an amazing place to experience untamed adventure and get a few classic photographs – nothing comes close to those 2,000-foot sandstone cliffs. I would love to visit Zion one day to go on the journey through Zion’s Subway and hike Angles Landing. From what I hear, in order to do it nowadays, you must obtain a hiking permit which I think is largely due to overcrowding issues. Thanks for sharing and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx

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    1. Definitely an amazing place for an amazing adventure! Besides the hiking permit, I decided to forgo those two hikes due to being beyond my comfort zone of hiking. But one of these days, I’ll have to try them out! Thanks for reading, Aiva. 😊

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  20. I’m amazed that they close the park so early. I guess all the big National Parks run on shuttles these days. The views are breathtaking. What a joy to be out hiking in that country! Looking forward to your Bryce experience. 😊

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    1. Given that national parks are overrun with tourists, having shuttles helps to mitigate the problem…yet, there are still way too many people visiting! However, it’s unsurprising given just how beautiful such parks like Zion are…thanks for reading, and the post on Bryce will be up this week!

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  22. I love the Pa’rus trail! My girlfriend and I did that back in 2020 when we visited. And yes, the bikers just zip on through! It’s a bummer that you didn’t get to drive into the park. I guess I never had that problem because I always opt to camp inside the park!

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    1. Haha, yes! One needs to be careful not to get run over by cyclist when on the Pa’rus Trail! My dad and I actually drove the park (at least, just Highway 9) the day prior, so we got to see a bit more of Zion! If anything, we’re not campers! 😅

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    1. Besides limiting ourselves based on the crowds, we also limited ourselves due to our physical fitness levels (I was more concerned for my dad, since he’s older…). We had a good experience, but I hope to return for even more of a great one!

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  24. What a stunning place, and the trail seems amazing – though the fact that the path is shared with cyclists is a bit scary and makes me think of a time in Amsterdam where I was nearly ran over by a bike! Seems like you really had a wonderful time!

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