Camping in Zion National Park is an experience that sticks with you—partly because of how insanely hot it is, even after the sun goes down, but mostly because there’s nothing quite like waking up surrounded by the towering red canyon walls glowing in the morning light. We were on a sibling road trip through the Utah National Parks quite a few years back, and we were lucky to snag a spot inside the park.
My sister and I were in a tent, and we were thrilled to leave the rainfly off. The stars were magnificent....even though the sky feels quite narrow from the depths of the valley. My brother, always keen on finding the perfect spot, opted for a hammock. Hung between two trees, he hoped to enjoy the shade after the sun woke and touched the land around us.
At some point in the night, we woke to the sound of something rustling nearby. We figured it was just the usual nighttime critters—until my brother started shoo-ing something away. It was quiet at first, but he got progressively louder. "HEY- get out of here! Staring him down like it wasn’t quite sure what to make of the human cocoon swinging between the trees, was a curious doe. Talk about a close-up encounter with the local fauna.
Drifting to sleep and waking with the sun in Zion is such a gift. I'm a little biased- Zion is one of my favorite places, but with the first light creeping over the cliffs, painting everything in soft oranges and pinks, and the Virgin River close by when a cool-off break is needed, it's truly hard to top. Getting a campsite inside the park isn’t easy—you have to reserve well in advance—but it's well worth sleeping under those canyon walls, feeling like a tiny speck in one of the most breathtaking places on Earth.
Be warned- camping outside the park is seriously frowned up! If you can't find a legitimate place to park, the local law enforcement will give you the boot. (Yes, we know from experience.)
Who else has camped in Zion? Any late-night wildlife encounters?