Today, I was set to visit the stunning Zion National Park, a true gem! I woke up right on time, eager to finally see this amazing national park. I woke up Sean, brushed my teeth, did my hair, and we headed out. Sean didn’t mind skipping breakfast.
Unpaid nights
The hostel still hadn’t charged me for the other nights I was staying, and it seemed they had made a mistake. Housekeeping came by several times, asking if the beds beneath and across from me were occupied. The first night, I said yes; the second night, I said no. It seemed like the hostel had serious administration problems. I could have taken advantage of the situation and left without paying, saving myself $220. Some nights cost $60 due to the increased rates for EDC. But I wasn’t going to steal from them—I’m a good guy. I planned to sort it out when I got back from the national park.
On the road to Zion National Park
The first thing I did was fill up the tank at the 7-Eleven across the street. This way, it would be easier to split the fuel costs with Sean.
Once the tank was full, I paid inside the shop. A strange thing about fueling up in America: you have to pay first before you can use the pump, and then return for your change afterward. I grabbed a small snack, knowing we’d stop later for a late breakfast.
Sean was probably the worst road-trip photographer I’d encountered on this journey. He didn’t bother trying to make the picture perfect. Oh well, it happens. I didn’t want to risk a fine, and Sean was a bit freaked out by me steering with one hand and snapping photos while driving 80 miles per hour.
Rest Stop in Washington
After two hours, I was getting drowsy and tired. It was time to take a break from driving. Feeling hungry, we decided to stop in a town called Washington, as we were passing through a populated area.
We took a 30-minute break at Subway and had a good meal. It was amusing to watch Sean order his food with his French accent. From there, it was another hour to Zion National Park. I was prepared for the day with some small snacks and a gallon of water. I knew it would be a tough day ahead.
Around 10:30 am, we arrived at the Zion National Park visitor center. We got lucky with parking: initially, we found a one-hour spot, but then someone left right behind us. Without hesitation, I moved the car and took the spot. First problem solved. Before entering the park, a woman informed us we needed to drive back to Springdale, a mile away, to catch the shuttle into the park. I hated all the hassle.
Mini bus into Zion National Park
We picked up a map and some information at the visitor center. My main goal was to see ‘The Narrows,’ a cool canyon hike. The woman told us we could explore it for up to four hours or until we got bored. I asked for additional recommendations, and she gave us a tip about a special hike that she insisted we absolutely had to try.
We left the visitor center and hopped on the bus immediately since cars weren’t allowed in the park. I didn’t mind at all. The Narrows was at the last bus stop, with buses arriving every ten minutes. Malena had told me about this amazing national park, and I was already impressed by the scenic drive on the bus.
Towards the Narrows
After 30 minutes, we reached the Narrows, the final bus stop. It was quite crowded, in my opinion. After a quick restroom break, I had to wait for Sean again. He had this special ability to disappear in crowds. I searched for him for about 10 minutes (even checking the restroom), thinking he might have already started. But after walking 50 meters, I spotted him following behind me.
That day, I finally got to know Sean better. He worked for the government in Paris, though not as a lawyer; his job was related to legal matters in some way. Sean traveled primarily to the US for EDC but also to explore LA and other parts of the country. He was impressed by my journey so far. Over the past few days, I noticed Sean enjoyed posting Facebook pictures with quirky English captions. It always made me laugh whenever I saw a new post from him.
He was a cool guy, and I enjoyed how he tried to communicate in a mix of French and English. Whenever he did that, I’d jokingly reply with ‘Je ne parle pas français.’ I knew it wasn’t correct, but it was all in good fun. I’d also throw in other phrases like ‘J’mappelle Lolita,’ ‘putain de merde,’ and ‘suis-moi, salaud.’
Beautiful Rivers and Wildlife
The hike to the river was long and incredible. Despite the intense heat, we paced ourselves, taking breaks along the way.
Wow, this hike is incredible! Along the way, we encountered some friendly squirrels and beautiful deer. I’m loving every moment of this, and we’ve only just begun! It’s been an hour since we entered the park. After a while, Sean wanted some photos taken of himself. We were resting in the shade of the canyon near the riverbank. I suggested Sean climb onto a rock in the river for the perfect shot. He did, and we both had a good laugh when we realized the river was deeper than anticipated—Sean even got his t-shirt wet!
After his photo session, we continued our hike. We paused at a waterfall to capture some more amazing photos, and this time I joined in for a picture too.
After capturing that stunning waterfall (check out the first two photos above), it wasn’t long before we reached the river. At this point, the trail vanished, and we found ourselves wading directly on the riverbed. This was Sean’s first time in such a setting, and despite wearing his regular Nikes, he didn’t seem to care that they were getting soaked. His only other option was a pair of flimsy flip-flops—not exactly ideal for a hike like this!
Finally, we entered the Narrows, and it was nothing short of magical. I was captivated by the beauty around us. As we continued upstream, the river gradually deepened, adding to the sense of adventure.
Return to the Bus
After taking in the waterfall (see the first picture below), I decided it was time to head back. Sean, however, was completely enchanted and eager to keep exploring. I reassured him that there were still more incredible spots to discover in the park. By that point, we had already been out here for two and a half hours.
We made our way back to the hiking trail after wading through the river for about three-quarters of a mile. The cool water was refreshing, keeping the heat at bay. After about 20 minutes, we rejoined the trail and headed back to the start. From there, we hopped on the bus and disembarked at the next stop, ready for our next enchanting adventure, namely the Weeping Rock.
The Weeping Rock – A Must See!
There weren’t many hikers around, which made the solitude of this spot all the more enjoyable. The trail wasn’t very long, but it was noticeably steeper, and for good reason. After about 15 minutes of hiking, we reached the end of the trail. I took some initial shots of the small waterfall, capturing the water as it cascaded down the canyon slopes—a truly breathtaking sight. My close-ups turned out well, capturing the intricate details.
As I admired the scene, I noticed a group of people gathered under the ledge of the canyon. Sean had already joined them, and I couldn’t help but wonder what had caught their attention. How could they not be mesmerized by the waterfall right here?
A Hidden Overlook
I climbed the final steps toward the group, and as I did, I caught sight of the view to my left. It was absolutely breathtaking. Just when I thought I’d seen everything Zion National Park had to offer, I was taken by surprise again. I had no idea this spot would reveal such a stunning overlook! The water cascading down only added to the magic of the scene.
We lingered at the overlook for about 15 minutes, soaking in the stunning view. With time left for one more adventure, we decided to make the most of it. Back on the bus, I asked the driver if she could recommend another short hike in Zion National Park. She suggested we check out the Emerald Lakes, so that’s exactly where we headed next.
A Hike at the Emerald Pools
A couple of stops later, we got off at the lodge area and headed toward the trail. We crossed the road and made our way over a bridge spanning the river. I couldn’t resist heading down toe the riverbank to capture some incredible shots. This national park was nothing short of spectacular.
We began our hike to the Emerald Pools, which are divided into three: the Lower, Middle, and Upper Emerald Pools. We aimed for the Upper Pool, a 2-mile trek that proved challenging due to its steep inclines. I won’t delve into all the details here, but the effort was worth it. After 15 minutes, we arrived at the Lower Pool, a stunning lake with water gracefully cascading down the surrounding slopes.
After admiring the first lake (see the pictures above), we pressed on along the trail that hugged the cliffside. The enormous rocks around us were awe-inspiring, making me feel tiny in their presence. The hike grew more challenging as the trail steepened. Sean kept a strong pace, which was surprising—he’d been slowing me down on the return from the Narrows, haha!
Arrival at the Second Pool
We took a brief detour to visit the second Emerald Pool, but it was no bother; the stunning scenery made for a captivating distraction.
After 30 minutes, we reached the Middle Emerald Pool. While it wasn’t particularly impressive—a small brook rather than a grand pool—the view of the valley was lovely. We pressed on, knowing it was just a 0.3-mile stretch to the Upper Emerald Pool. The final leg of the hike proved to be quite strenuous, with steeper terrain and numerous stairs challenging our endurance.
When we arrived, I had to wait for a French tourist to finish her swim in the Emerald Lake—photobombers, right? I couldn’t help but chuckle at the situation. We spent about 15 minutes there, soaking in the views. As the sun began its descent and with a three-hour drive back to Las Vegas ahead, I was eager to head back. Sean was keen to scale some rocks and snap cool photos, but I nudged him to wrap it up. The return journey took about 45 minutes, including the bus ride back to the visitor center.
We headed back, and I was exhausted—what a day! I could hardly wait to feel the refreshing chill of the car’s air conditioning.
The Return Journey to Las Vegas
Once we were in the car and leaving Zion National Park, we made two stops along with the other travelers to snap some final shots of The Watchman mountain—a name that truly lives up to its grandeur. As we drove away, I promised myself, “One day, Utah, I’ll be back.”
After two hours on the road, we stopped at McDonald’s for a quick and budget-friendly dinner. As we neared Las Vegas, Sean wanted to capture the city lights on camera. I explained that with my camera’s current settings, it wouldn’t turn out well, especially with the car moving. I took the camera from him, adjusted the settings, and snapped the final photo (see above). Sean was quite alarmed, thinking I might crash while taking the shot, and I couldn’t help but laugh at his reaction.
“Relax, dude, I’ve done this a thousand times,” I reassured him. “I’m too young to die!!” he replied with a hint of panic. After 15 minutes, I had to make a quick stop because of my small bladder—so annoying. Another 20 minutes later, we finally arrived back at the hostel. I immediately cleared the car of any trash. Tomorrow was the big day: time to return the car at the airport and catch our flight out of Las Vegas.
In the evening, I packed my backpack and prepared for the next day. I double-checked my flight details and set my alarm for 8 a.m.
