Valley of Fire State Park to Zion National Park – 18 September 2025
A Bumpy Start, but Desert Magic in Utah
The road out of Overton, Nevada gave us more drama than we’d bargained for. We pulled into a little garage to top up the tank when Derek spotted something worrying—the back left tire was sitting funny. A closer look revealed the inside tread was wearing down abnormally. After crawling underneath, he discovered the problem: the left rear spring stack was twisted.
As luck would have it, there was a tire shop right there. The mechanics broke the news that the springs we’d had fitted in Victoria (at major $$$) were the wrong size. They were so big they’d compressed the hanger, shredding the rubber in the process. The fix? Replacing all four springs with the correct size and two hangers—again costing us a pretty penny, but at least the suspension geometry was finally correct. A couple of hours later, we were patched up, grateful it happened here and not in the middle of nowhere, and ready to roll again.
The wind came up and by the time we reached the KOA at Zion National Park it was too late to go to the Park, so instead I took Jax for a walk around the neighbourhood and then planned our hikes for the next couple days.
The following day we were up at 5am to head out to Ponderosa Ranch and got dropped near the start of the East Mesa Trail. From there, we hiked up to Observation Point in Zion National Park (13.5km round trip)— and what an unforgettable view! At 6,507 feet, it actually towers higher than the famous Angels Landing, offering a sweeping panorama over all of Zion Canyon and is one of the most popular hikes in the park. The climb was a workout (those switchbacks made sure of that!) but every step was worth it.
On the way back, we finally got to see the scenery we’d missed in the pitch black early morning: 190-million-year-old Navajo sandstone cliffs, carved into incredible formations and painted in shades of red, orange, and cream. The dramatic canyon walls rising above us were jaw dropping.
Zion is the first of Utah’s “Mighty 5” we’re exploring. Unlike most parks where you look down into a canyon, here you start on the valley floor and look up at sheer sandstone walls — and the hikes even take you above them. Truly one of a kind!
Exploring Zion – The Emerald Pools Trail
The next morning we allowed ourselves a slow start before driving into Springdale, where we parked the car and hopped on the shuttle into Zion National Park. From the Visitor Centre, the park’s shuttle system whisked us deeper into the canyon toward the trailheads.
I had my heart set on the famous Narrows hike — wading through a slot canyon in knee-deep water sounded like such an adventure. But after reading about the number of twisted ankles and knee injuries it can cause, we decided it wasn’t worth the risk this trip. Reluctantly, we chose a safer alternative: the Emerald Pools Trail, which begins at Zion Lodge.
The hike starts with a bridge crossing over the Virgin River before winding along a paved trail toward the Lower Emerald Pool. Waterfalls trickled down the cliffside into shaded grottoes, and fat ground squirrels darted across the path. We even spotted a young deer, calmly nibbling on foliage just off the trail. The valley views were spectacular, and the shady sections of the path were a welcome relief from the heat.
From there, the trail climbs steeply on sandy, rocky switchbacks to the Upper Emerald Pool, tucked against the base of a massive cliff. Reaching the top felt like such a reward — a shady spot to sit, cool down, and soak in the incredible scenery.
Though the Emerald Pools hike is considered moderate, it’s also one of the park’s most accident-prone trails — more injuries here than even Angel’s Landing. I was beyond grateful for my hiking sticks; honestly, I don’t think I would have managed the final stretch without them.
In the end, while it wasn’t the Narrows, the Emerald Pools gave us a glimpse of Zion’s quiet magic — waterfalls, wildlife, and views that make every step worth it.
