Zion National Park is such a stunning National Park to explore! Every which way you look, colorful, painterly cliffs jet up against the bright blue sky. When you go in search of such beauty and it envelopes you, it’s enough to take your breath away.

My boyfriend Marcus and I were in search of an adventurous road trip that was outside the normal proximity of San Diego, Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, or Sedona destinations. We had four days to spend, so we set our sights on Utah. 

It was the perfect destination for our first major road trip together! The drive, with supercharging, is about nine hours door-to-door. Our supercharging route is included at the bottom of this post, but let me first convince you why you should escape to Zion. 

After our very last charge in St. George, we winded our way through the immense darkness and couldn't see what was surrounding us. Everything was left to our imagination. Except the sky!

Marcus stopped the car in the middle of the highway, turned off the headlights, grabbed my hand and said: “Let’s get out and look up!” We held onto one another as the stars shimmered and gleamed as bright as we had ever seen. The milky way swirled through the galaxy, stardust cradling the cosmos to create a band stretching through the sky. Lost in the twinkle of the stars, our eyes dazzled when a shooting star fell over us. 

It was like time stood still, and the frame froze to capture a memory we will cherish forever. 

Where to Stay: 

As we followed the stars, we arrived at East Zion Resort with the evening ahead of us. We laughed as we searched for the extension cord our hosts set out to charge the Tesla overnight. iPhone flashlights came in handy as we traipsed through the gravel to find our lodging for the next few days. 

The experience of staying in a yurt was everything we thought it would be and more! Tucked in the hillside of Orderville, Utah, it had everything you’d need for a fantastic glamping experience: a medium-sized fridge, two-burner stove, microwave, barbeque and fire pit. Yurt #1 was the best slice of heaven on the very edge of the camp.

Playing games on a glamping trip is always fun, and I was certain I brought a childhood game I could beat Marcus in. We hollered into the night playing Egyptian Rats Crew. In the end, I figured out why the name morphs into Egyptian Rat Screw… because I was the one completely screwed by his quickness. That night he learned just how mad I get when I lose! The only thing that helped his plight, was my delight in seeing him laugh so hard. 

Two Day Zion National Park Itinerary

Day 1:

Morning - Canyon Overlook Trail and Riverside Walk

In the morning, our imagination was left behind with the stunning view of mountains from our very own porch! One of my absolute favorite things is to enjoy hot coffee and watch the morning light. After my second cup, we descended from Orderville to the East Entrance Ranger Station and purchased our Park Pass there. When you purchase your pass, be sure to keep it handy, as you’ll be asked to show it when you venture in and out of the park.

While Zion has so many hikes to choose from, we decided that our itinerary would focus on enjoying a leisurely pace, while hiking the trails with the best views. 

Our first hike was Canyon Overlook Trail. Once we parked at the base, I realized just how much mid-Winter is the ideal time to hit the easy/moderate trails to avoid crowds, enjoy the solitude, and really take in the scenery. 

Canyon Overlook Trail is only about one mile (1 mile) long, with parking and bathrooms at the base. It’s the quickest hike in the park to get you to the most gorgeous viewpoint! Just look at this:

Unreal. 

Satisfied with the trek and stunning photos, we took a thirty minute drive down Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. We stopped for photos along the way until we reached the Riverside Walk Trailhead. Riverside Walk is the gateway to The Narrows and is about two miles (2.2 miles) roundtrip. This trail has the option of taking the pathway, or venturing on your own down by the water and “just around the riverbeeendd” (as Marcus sang...). Your neck might hurt from looking up, as the gorgeous cliffs produce so many colors! I wondered just how many it might take on a palette to paint.

Afternoon - Where to Eat in Zion

After two hikes, we were starving! We drove back to Springdale and headed straight to Zion Canyon Brew Pub. The food was delicious! They have more options than you might think - from healthy salads heaping with grilled salmon, to hamburgers…and even elk burgers! Of all places to also offer chimichurri fries, I’m always tickled to see Marcus pile up his fries in the middle of a hamburger. 

Evening - Craft Beer

For our evening adventure, we dipped down into Colorado City, Arizona, to experience beers that were more than 4%. We went to Edge of the World Brewery - I would highly recommend the Lemon Sage Saison. While in Arizona, we took liberty of picking up some bourbon while we could, and hit a charge back in St. George. This isn’t to say that liquor is extinct in Utah, it’s just that it’s a bit more of a rare find.  

Driving back in the darkness, it started snowing! It was coming down so hard that while driving, it looked like we hit hyperspace in Star Wars. Marcus stopped the car in the middle of the street and this time, I knew what his look meant. Jump out and frolic in the flurries! Real magic really does happen every once in awhile.

Back at the yurt, we grabbed our bourbon hot cocoa and sat by the fire pit. There’s just something about campfires in the country that provides an extra special space to share deep thoughts and stories. You get to know another layer of your person. As the snow continued to fall on our noses, I didn’t want to be anywhere else. And that was the best feeling of perfect contentment. 

Day 2:

Morning - The Watchman, plus Where to Charge in Zion

With day two ahead of us, the Tesla didn’t charge overnight because of how cold it got with the snow. So we started at the Zion Visitor Center where we were able to purchase an electric vehicle pass to charge all day ($5 for 3 days). (During the off-season, you can also inquire about charging at Zion National Park Lodge for a few hours.)

Once plugged in, we headed for The Watchman trail. This is a great trail if you’re looking for a bit of a challenge, but still want to enjoy conversation. There are a few strenuous drop-offs, while the view tends to stay the same the entire way - simply altering in distance and height. The trail is three miles (3 miles) roundtrip, and is considered moderate. Once you reach the top, the view of The Watchman to the South is a great place to stop and eat lunch.

Our plan for the afternoon was to catch the sunset on another trail. Before we ventured out, we picked up groceries from Sol Foods, a sweet little market. At the checkout, I saw cookies for a sale and when I asked the cashier about them, he said he just made them that morning! The sense of small town vibes was very heartwarming. 

Sunset Hike - Pa’rus Trail

Cold enough to keep the groceries in the car, we set off for our last trail of the weekend. The Pa’rus Trail is the easiest and only paved trail in all of Zion National Park. The three and a half mile (3.5 miles) trail begins at the Zion Visitor center, and is the only trail that allows pets and bicycles. It was the perfect trail to take in the sunset. With our Strawberry Sky Ale in hand, we watched the sun splash shades of orange across the rocks, while the horizon turned into our very own strawberry sky. The sky spoke with color, we laughed together, and exchanged thoughts on the angles of the rocks. As the light faded, our eyes adjusted and my point of view continued to enhance with the unique perspective Marcus brings to my life. 

Evening - La Buona Vita

After such a gorgeous hike, a hearty Italian dinner was the move. Snoop Dogg even showed up! The stars emerged again, twinkling as bright as the first night. We stirred the spaghetti sauce while sippin’ our Cali Red, and sang along to country songs. 

Exploring Zion in two days is definitely doable. To be able to drive somewhere stunning and see life from another angle is just what some of us need sometimes. Even if we didn’t manage to see everything, who says we can’t just charge up and head out again?!

Tesla Supercharger Route (in a Model 3) from Orange County (area) to East Zion National Park:

Start: Orange County, California

Stop #1: Hesperia, CA next to Target and spots to grab food, or Yermo, CA (next to EddieWorld - closest thing you’ll get to a Buc-ee's in the state of California!)

Stop #2: Baker, CA - these superchargers are in the middle of the desert, so the only thing nearby is a Shell convenient store .

Stop #3: Las Vegas, NV - next to The Linq Promenade. Plentyyyy of restaurants nearby with the most expensive Starbuck’s stop you’ll find along the way. If you’re in need of some last minute layers, there is a Lululemon in the Forum Shop’s at Caesar’s.

Stop #4: St. George, UT - next to  a Starbucks. If you’re looking for a burrito that almost rivals that of Southern California, walk to La Cocina Mexican Street Food.

End: Orderville, Utah

Hours of Driving: Door-to-door with charging, about nine hours.

What to Wear - The Art of Layering

In order to make your trip in the cold and rain or snow enjoyable, it’s important to know the Art of Layering! I learned this technique during a trip to Northern Ireland in the cold and wet month of March.

Base layer: Wicks sweat off your skin

1. Top: REI Midweight Base Layer Top / Lululemon Engineered Warmth Half Zip

2. Bottom: REI Midweight Base Layer Tights / Lululemon Keep the Thermal Tight

3. Socks: Coolmax Midweight Hiking Crew Socks

Middle Layer: Retains body heat

1. Top: The North Face Osito Fleece Jacket / Lululemon Light Cotton Fleece

2. Bottom: Jeans or pants

Outer Layer: Shields you from wind and rain

1. Top: Eddie Bauer Rain Jacket - Charly Jacket or Centennial Collection / Lululemon Glide Along Softshell Rain Jacket

Sandy Liang Luna Eye Puffer

Hiking boots: I prefer hiking boots that go over the ankle for a lot of support. Mine are Ralph Lauren (discontinued). Similar: Sorel Joan of Arctic Next Boot. Other colors here. More options: Cole Haan Hiker Boot and  JBU Redrock Ankle Boots. 

Click image below to shop the link!