ZION National Park the Ultimate Travel Planning Guide

[@AliceFordAdventures]

What are your top 3 Favorite road trip snacks? Mine are trail mix, dried fruit and chips.

[@dtna]

Go to Trader Joe's and make your old trail mix. Or get Power Bars and Tiger's Milk bars.

[@uk2488]

Have you ever tried Bar-b-q grippos chips you can only get them in Kentucky and Ohio

[@wyomtnhippie]

Homemade elk, deer, or pronghorn jerky. Dried fruit Gorp (trailmix)

[@pete26167]

Beef jerky 😋

[@radisson8627]

Thanks for sharing. Zion appears to be a magnificent site to explore. Like most hikes during peak of summers, it is always best to get an early start to avoid crowds and to take advantage of cooler temperatures before the sun hits hard, wear a large sunhat that covers your ears and drink LOTS of water. Keep yourself hydrated at all times and take breaks in the shade if you can, and most important know your limits if your are a novice.

[@timvandusen4192]

Very informative planning info - thanks.

[@kary9008]

Thank you! This was very helpful.

[@AliceFordAdventures]

You’re very welcome

[@karricompton]

We are planning a Utah trip next May and am binging videos such as yours to prepare.

[@richardfarrell4537]

Excellent presentation

[@weedhopp]

As always Another great informative video Thank you for sharing

[@AliceFordAdventures]

Thank you

[@weedhopp]

Absolutely Love all of your content

[@JohnnyontheTrail]

Thanks Alice for this video, you've pretty much covered all my questions. we are heading to Zion for a couple of days at the end of this month. I'm looking forward to seeing this National Park.

[@AliceFordAdventures]

Have an awesome trip!

[@henryw4129]

Thanks for the informative video. I hope you have a speedy recovery for your arm/shoulder.

[@AliceFordAdventures]

Thank you

[@uk2488]

Summer sausage with cheddar cheese in it beef jerky mix nuts.

[@mikeinthemountains]

Trail mix, peanut butter bars and bananas. Great video- makes me want to pack my bags and go!

[@AliceFordAdventures]

Makes me want a nutter butter!!

[@tinderkeep5652]

Thanks for all the info about Zion. It's a place I'd REALLY like to visit, but continue to vacillate about it because of the crowds - may just continue to watch it experienced by you and others here on KZbin. Looks like the same "arthroscopy" entry points I had for a fairly recent rotator cuff surgery I had. Wishing for you a speedy recovery.

[@mariabell2886]

same here with the crowds. She did a great job explaining best ways to avoid excessive crowds, but still a bit too "touristy" for me. With so many other hikes available without the crowds, I'll enjoy this one through the eyes of others.

[@Gandhiownsyou]

The key to getting away from the crowds is to use the backcountry. I very much dislike “Disneyland” vibes when I’m out in natural areas, but I actually found it pretty easy to avoid that during my trip a couple months ago. We did a larger section of the Zion traverse, starting out in the western side of the park and hiking down towards Zion Canyon over 3 days. We saw maybe a dozen or so people per day in late September, until the last 2.5 miles or so coming up on Angels Landing. The crowds all come up and do the ~3 mile loop to Angiel’s landing and back to the parking lot, and if they go further, most don’t make it more than a half mile past where the chain section starts. Same thing with The Subway. Permits limit it to 80 hikers per day, we saw maybe 10 hikers and a single group of 4 Canyoneers the day we did it. The Narrows was our only real disappointment, the crowds were enormous and there was always a thick crowd around us, but we also missed picking up our permit to hike in from the top, and had to come in from the bottom for a day hike instead of doing the full overnight. Coming in from the top would have been much, much less crowded. The takeaway is, you can absolutely get peace and isolation in Zion and not see people for hours at a time, you just have to apply for the permits and get away from the main road and it’s shuttle system. Anything with a park shuttle stop is going to be a theme park for the first couple miles.

[@jamiepizz]

Great video, thanks for the tips! I bypassed Zion for Bryce this past Memorial Day weekend (definitely did not disappoint) but time to start planning for Zion!

[@AliceFordAdventures]

Bryce is magical too. What was your favorite trail?

[@jamiepizz]

@@AliceFordAdventures I got permits for 2 nights and hiked a bit of the Under the Rim Trail and went back on Memorial Day and did the Queens Garden Loop /Wall Street. Both were amazing in different ways.

[@AliceFordAdventures]

@@jamiepizz Awesome yes those two are very different but both super beautiful.

[@MOAB-UT]

Don't skip a visit to MOAB if you have time.

[@mattblack7876]

Get well soon Alice and I thank you for the supreme information about Zion-Mexico rules!-🇬🇧

[@AliceFordAdventures]

Thanks Matt

[@lynngemeinhart8975]

Thanks for the timely video. I'll be in Kanab in March for a photography symposium. I had been considering going to Zion or Bryce while I am in the neighborhood. The state parks sound like a good option also. Have a speedy recovery. Thanks again.

[@AliceFordAdventures]

Thanks so much Lynn have a great trip. If you have time get yourself to Bears Ear and Grand Staircase

[@2manysigns]

Great information Alice !

[@AliceFordAdventures]

Thanks so much

[@seanart1508]

Sorry to hear that you hurt yourself, i hope that you make a speedy recovery Alice.

[@AliceFordAdventures]

Thanks me too

[@treasuretrove5986]

Wow, such as beautiful place to visit

[@AliceFordAdventures]

It sure is!

[@davidreed5443]

I loved your primo dancing in the narrows! What happened to your shoulder?

[@penultimateh766]

Fantastic advice, thank you!

[@AliceFordAdventures]

Thank you

[@ashleylucas-hemphill3689]

Hope you feel better soon! I have to take a rest from running this week, bc I am getting a series of rabies shots. On Wednesday, I was running at night on the trails here in Texas, and a bat flew into my face! I hate taking time off of running..I'm enjoying your hiking videos though!

[@AliceFordAdventures]

Oh my goodness that’s not something you’d imagine in a million years. I hate taking time off too but hope all my supplements make me super human and I recover quickly. Hope those shots don’t hurt too much

[@tinderkeep5652]

@@AliceFordAdventures What supplements are you taking, if you don't mind me asking?

[@tinderkeep5652]

@@AliceFordAdventures Well, since you seem unwilling to list your supplements (don't blame you since the list may be as long as mine and considering all you "do" share here) I'll mention one of many I use, perhaps an important one that sped my full recovery (torn bicep tendon and rotator cuff surgery), except for total muscle rebuild (specifically the bicep), from the forecasted 6-8 months to just 3-months - full range with no pain, and back to carrying 40# backpack and hopefully soon back to 50-55#, splitting wood, and other such activities. The one you may want to look into which you "may not" already know about (since even my surgeon did not) is Serrapeptase. Be sure to use only as recommended.

[@AliceFordAdventures]

@@tinderkeep5652 not unwilling just haven’t gotten to your comment yet. Will send the list in a bit

[@tinderkeep5652]

@@AliceFordAdventures I began to wonder if I may have misled you and anyone who read what I wrote about my quick recovery (at least for my late 60's age) from the surgery in just a few months rather than the forecast 6-8 months, being due mostly to the use of the serapeptase - it was not. The only thing that stuff helped with was clearing up the scar tissue left in the joint - which prior to using, felt like it needed more than just a little squirt of WD-40. I'm guessing the "quick-heal" was due mostly to the 100+ miles of hiking that I started just about a week after surgery, removing the sling during the hikes so the arm could swing, aiding nutrient flow into the joint. I didn't put the 40# backpack back on for the hikes until a little before the 3rd month post-op. I take lots of other supplements besides the one mentioned, and of course I also eat healthy, which may have also aided in recovery.

[@angelag5806]

What do u do for food? Local deli in springsdale? If stay in hotel/motel?

[@AliceFordAdventures]

Yes I usually bring a tub of food in my car with snack items and Springdale has a ton of restaurants and a great country store with sandwiches to go.

[@canyonwonder]

Great video! Just a heads up, guided canyoneering companies are not permitted within the park so to do the Subway top-down you will need your own rope and necessary skills to match. That being said it is quite magical. I recently got a chance to do it and made a video. Hope it looks as fun as it was!

[@sabahetaalek-finkelman4898]

did you say to bring a bike clock to keep us safe on the ebike?

[@AliceFordAdventures]

A bike lock. So you can store your bike at the parking lot if you go hiking

[@DaddyDoggAbbott]

Thank you kindly for speaking the truth

[@cece3194]

Shoulder issues are a real pain. I tore a muscle to my shoulder blade. It hurt up through my neck and head! God made our bodies to be healing machines. Get well. God bless.

[@AliceFordAdventures]

Yes they are a real pain. I separated my AC joint and tore my rotator cuff but little by little getting back together

[@denniscarey1621]

Animal lovers should consider staying a few days in Kanab and volunteering at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. Such a wonderful place. BTW, PB&J and Cliff bars on the road.

[@AliceFordAdventures]

Yes, I almost forgot about best friends, what a wonderful place.

[@jasoncombs7545]

Heading out into nature used to be a great escape from humans for a little while. Now they're more of a headache in the parks than at home, lol. They're just checking everything out same as I am, so can't blame them. Some beautiful places to see out there. Need to see as much as possible while they still exist unscathed by human activity. Hope you're back to 100% quickly, Alice. Sliding a backpack on while in a sling isn't ideal.

[@amazon7891]

Thirteen hikers have fallen and died from Angels Landing, or the trail to it, since last 20 years. Because the park has not yet implemented a permit system, the exact figure of Angels Landing summiteers is unknown. Even if working with a moderate estimate of 150,000 summiteers per year, however, the death toll would stand well below the 0.0001% mark over the last decade. Not only are these very good odds for survival, they also make Angels Landing a far safer venture than the headlines would have it appear and far less deadly than other popular trails like the Mist Trail on Yosemite’s Half Dome, Colorado’s Longs Peak, or the Grand Canyon’s Bright Angel Trail, all of which have a similar Yosemite Decimal System rating.

[@AliceFordAdventures]

Good to know the actual statistics thank you

[@karricompton]

I’ve hiked the bright angel in Grand Canyon and it wasn’t scary at all.

[@DieOldLiveYoung]

Does it cost to explore?

[@AliceFordAdventures]

You’ll need to pay an entrance fee to get into this park.

[@exbassguide]

Trail mix with M&Ms or protein bars for energy when needed.

[@DaddyDoggAbbott]

Fun fact I climbed Angeles Landing right next to the person that died the park ranger that's on him for not knowing how to climb

[@Herofriends01]

Summer of '69' AAAAAAALLLL MIIIIINEEEEEE 😍😙😙😙😙😙

[@MOAB-UT]

National Parks should be FREE for all.

[@AliceFordAdventures]

They are pretty inexpensive considering how much money it takes to keep people safe, maintain roads, pay staff, take out garbage and provide infrastructure. I don’t think $20 for a vehicle full of people is unreasonable

[@MOAB-UT]

@@AliceFordAdventures Right so I guess those people don't pay any taxes. It is a "National" Park that BTW brings in hundreds of millions, if not billions in annual tax revenue for the town of Springdale. Don't minimize it by saying it's "just $20" when you even admitted to paying ~ $80 for an annual pass (that many will use once or twice.) So if a local is out of job and low on cash, they are prohibited from enjoying the park with their family? They will be locked out and that is just wrong. $20 or $80 might be nothing to you but it is a lot to a struggling family on top of all their other bills. We had to pay at Yosemite to and even local state beaches and all the tolls getting there. We literally travel out of the country to hit much nicer tropical beaches and spend less than we would in the US. Something is very wrong with that. I know this is just how it is but it gets annoying. It all adds up- many other nickel's and dimes but hey, if your happy, go for it. Maybe you are a very wealthy influencer but for most working people, it gets old quick. As far as keeping people safe, I'll give them an "F." didn't you clearly just stated that many people DIE every year on that trail? That doesn't sound very SAFE to me. Maybe they should raise the fee since you think it's "pretty inexpensive" and actually make it safe. A woman died the day after we hiked Half Dome in Yosemite (on HD.) Many simple safeguards could have protected her but they did not chose to invest in safety. It makes you wonder where the money actually goes. Don't get me wrong, Zion is a beautiful park and we will visit soon but it all adds up. Hotel for 3 nights is over $600 and that's before we step foot in the park or rent a car.

[@AliceFordAdventures]

@@MOAB-UT if you can pay $600 for a hotel or hundreds of dollars for a rental car you can pay $20 to get into a park. No amount of safety measures can keep people safe from their own stupidity either. Paved roads, stairs on trails, snow plowing, waste and sewage are hugely expensive components in parks. I saw how terrible things were when we didn’t have park rangers or garbage or sewage maintenance and it’s not good. Maybe parks should have an economic application for a yearly pass for low income people to make it more inclusive.

[@MOAB-UT]

@@AliceFordAdventures It's really not about me or how much I can afford. Fortunately I can afford it but many families cannot and they would be literally turned away at the entrance and that is just wrong. Covid has hit many families and small business owners hard. Many are out of work and just trying to survive. I was simply making a broader more important point that the National Parks belong to everyone. No one should be turned away. In case you were not aware, Zion NP is primarily funded via Congress. It takes in over $30 million a year via the US D.O.T. and not all of that is from entry fees. There are other special funding programs as well as philanthropic groups that donate to Zion. Furthermore, the town of Springdale brings in over $4 million per year in taxable revenue because of tourists. Even without a fee, I am pretty sure they have enough money to pick up some trash and empty the porta potties. It's not nice to refer to people as stupid. The women who died when we were at Yosemite simply slipped on the final ascent of Half Dome because clipping on is actually "discouraged." With all the money these parks take in, they can well afford to do more. The problem is the bureaucracy has grown so big, just like with tolls and so many other things, they depend on high annual revenues each year just to pay those in high position. Meanwhile, the average Park Ranger in Utah is making only about $26k per year or $12.50 per hour. Where does all the money go?

[@MOAB-UT]

@@AliceFordAdventures Based on your lack of a reply that you agree with everything I shared. Hopefully I made you aware of a few things you might not have known before and you can now see things in a new light. In conclusion, I will repeat my first comment: National Parks should be FREE for all. Cheers!

[@oscarmolinaoutdooradventur1648]

❤️❤️👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@wholeeyschmoley580]

WHEEEEEEE!!!!!

[@jimszczodrowski3695]

pine nuts-macadamia nuts-jerky

[@AliceFordAdventures]

Yum

[@DaddyDoggAbbott]

2007 to 2009 I was looking for a reason to fall too bad that guy did

[@DaddyDoggAbbott]

When I pass away this is where I want my ashes spread fun fact

[@DaddyDoggAbbott]

I still feel bad for the 13-year old girl the group left behind and she fell to her death look it up

[@DaddyDoggAbbott]

When mountains freeze and heat up causes Avalanches so please stay safe even if you're just hiking the trails

[@DaddyDoggAbbott]

I'm still annoyed they're trying to shut down this mountain all together