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Family-Friendly Outdoor Travel: Autumn in Bryce & Zion National Parks

Springdale, Utah

by Peter Greenberg Peter Greenberg

Family-Friendly Outdoor Travel: Autumn in Bryce & Zion National Parks
  • Oct 26, 2009
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At Utah’s Zion National Park there is no time to love it more than in fall. The crowds have left. The heat has abated. But the fall colors are as startling and exquisite as any you’d find in Maine, Vermont or New Hampshire.

Better yet, it’s just a mere 2.5-hour car-drive north of Las Vegas, making it exceptionally easy to get to.

http://www.petergreenberg.com/2009/10/14/family-friendly-outdoor-travel-autumn-in-bryce-national-parks/

Places on this Skoot

  • Springdale, UT

    Springdale, UT , Springdale, Utah :

    To see the very best that this season has to offer, head for the town of Springdale at Zion’s southern entrance, just off of Highway 9. If you are staying at Zion Lodge or any of the campgrounds, you can drive into the park.

    For travelers who love to combine hiking amidst gorgeous scenery, good food and comfort, a good bet is to stay in Springdale and take advantage of the shuttle system that runs along its main street. It takes you from one end of town right to the visitor center in the park.

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  • Cable Mountain Lodge

    147 Zion Park Blvd. , Springdale, UT : (435) 772-3366

    Looking for lodging in Springdale? Cable Mountain Lodge, features suites so luxurious and complete that they feel more like a home than a hotel.

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  • Mean Bean Coffee House

    932 Zion Park Boulevard, Springdale, Utah 84767 , United States : (435) 772-0654

    In the morning, treat yourself to breakfast at the Mean Bean for great coffee and treats.

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  • Temple of Sinawava

    Temple of Sinawava, Utah 84767 , Utah :

    Then hop on the Springdale shuttle, take it to the park gate, walk through the visitor’s center and grab another shuttle to view the park. Both the town shuttle and the park shuttle are free and stop at every major point of interest.

    Once in the park, take the shuttle to the very end of the line to the Riverside hike (really just a walk that’s so user-friendly wheelchairs can navigate it with ease) at the Temple of Sinawava. Running parallel to the Virgin River, the trail is ideal for families with kids—easy to do, plenty to see and it’s virtually impossible to get lost. If, on the other hand, you’re looking for some romance, do this same hike at night sans children, preferably during a full moon.

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  • Lower Emerald Pools Tr., UT

    Lower Emerald Pools Tr., UT , United States :

    For the peak of fall color, a great hike is the Emerald Pools trail. There you will find the reds, oranges, greens, and golds usually associated with the eastern United States. But this time, the backdrop is the towering red rock walls of Zion and the meandering Virgin River below.

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  • Zion Pizza & Noodle Co

    868 Zion Park Blvd , Springdale, UT : (435) 772-3815

    Back in town, you might want to check out the Zion Pizza and Noodle Company (cash only) which serves up tasty dishes in a family friendly atmosphere.

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  • Switchback Grille & Trading Co

    1149 Zion Park Blvd , Hurricane, UT : (435) 772-3700

    Or for a romantic (and more indulgent) meal, try the Switchback Grille at the Zion Park Inn.

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  • Bryce Canyon National Park

    Bryce Canyon National Park Rd , Bryce Canyon, UT : (435) 834-5322

    Next head out of the park on Highway 89 and set your sights for Bryce National Park—only 1.5 hours away, just off Scenic Byway 12. If you really want to do yourself a favor, set aside some time one year and travel this Byway from start to finish.

    Chockablock with national and state parks, the Federal Highway Administration has named it one of the most beautiful roads in America.

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  • Rubys Inn

    26 South Main Street , Bryce Canyon City, UT : (800) 468-8660

    In the off season, the park’s Bryce Canyon Lodge closes and the most popular place to stay is at Ruby’s Inn. After a big breakfast, bundle up—Bryce is at 9,000 feet—and head into the park.

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  • Navajo Trail

    248 N Main St , Monticello, Utah :

    Hikers, or even walkers, shouldn’t miss the opportunity to take the Navajo Trail down into the canyon. Wandering through the canyon’s hoodoos—a fairyland of stunning sculptural forms created by ice and water—puts you up close and personal with one of nature’s most extraordinary wonders. Later in the season when snow is on the ground, the visitor’s center offers free snowshoes.

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  • Bryce Canyon Lodge

    63 Bryce Canyon National Pk , Bryce Canyon : (435) 834-8700

    Tired after hiking? Perk up with some homemade soup and a piece of pie at the Bryce Canyon Pines (or “The Pines” as locals call it) just down the road from Ruby’s on Route 63.

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  • Cedar Breaks National Monument

    Cedar Breaks National Monument, Pintura, Utah 84720 , United States :

    In a place as spectacular as southern Utah, it is hard to claim you saved the best for last, but, in terms of fall color, here it comes: After leaving Bryce, head back toward Zion by way of Cedar Breaks National Monument. Along route 143, there are entire forests of quaking aspens turning golden in the sunlight—a sight that is truly breathtaking.

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