April Utah Backpacking
 

Hi,

I'm planning a short trip to Utah in mid-April and was thinking about doing a 3day - 2night backpacking trip in Zion. I've never been there and would love some suggestions. I'm taking my girlfriend who hasn't done too much hiking so probably no more than 20 miles total.

Thanks!

April can be a great time in Zion. The trees will be greening up and the contrast of that color against the canyon walls provides some great photo ops. The Angel's Landing hike would likely be open, as well as a bunch of other great areas. Zion is a few thousand feet below Bryce, so warmer weather! Your girlfriend could easily do the Angel's Landing hike as it's about 5 miles round trip on a very good (mostly paved) trail. At the top you might want to take the narrow ridge up the fin to the very top but your girlfriend might want to stay behind, as part of it is on a narrow trail with incredible 1000+ feet drops on either side.
The Narrows along the Virgin River will probably be inaccessible because of high water and cold temps.

Go to www.nps.gov and put Zion into the search box for information on trails, camping, what permits are needed to camp in remote areas etc.

I'd hike the entire Narrows (you have to have a permit and can be tough to get). At that time of year it may be to dangerous-water might be flowing to much/fast/high.

You can do it as a shorter day hike without a permit. I really love that hike and Angels Landing.

Are you talking about day hikes or actual backpacking (carry your tent, food, etc and go out for a couple nights)?

The West Rim trail starting from Lava Point and ending at the Grotto is great, overall a total elevation loss of 3400 feet with a lot of big views. It's 13 or 14.5 miles, depending on which trail you take (at one point the trail splits and you can take a longer loop if you want). You would need a shuttle ride to get to Lava Point (or one from the Grotto back to Lava Point). Zion Adventure Company does that I believe. You could do it as a one or two night trip (or as a long dayhike if you wanted to).

I'm not sure what trail conditions would be like in April, there may be snow. You'd need to do some research on that as well as how to get a permit here:
http://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/backpacking.htm

There are better places to backpack than Zion--try more towards Moab or the Cedar Mesa. If your gf has not backpacked before, don't make the trip so hard she never wants to go again!! (says the wise voice of one who caused many a boyfriend to keel over!)

While the Narrows through-hike (starting at the top, camping over night and hiking all the way through), the West Rim from Lave to Grotto and the East rim trails are all wonderful over night hikes and trails, (and not too strenuous except for their length), all of these would be iffy in April due to snow and/or snow melt. The rim trails are on the mesa tops and get much more snow than the canyon floor. Even in a dry year like last year was the trails were snowy and muddy in late April.

The only over night hike that I would recommend as most certain in April would be to Kolob Arch via LaVerkin Creek. It is a 14 mile round trip and has a little bit of everything. The pay off is the Arch which is best seen in the early morning light. You could stay two nights and explore up to Bear Trap canyon and the beautiful falls there.

sc,

I agree with StantonHyde. A 2-3 day backpack in somewhere around Moab would be far better. Chesler Park in the Needles District of Canyonlands is incredible. Might be hard for a first timer though as you have to carry all your water.

The thru hike of the Narrows most likely would not be an option in April/May. That is usually peak runoff.

Escalante area would be another good option.

I hope you are experienced in backpacking. If you are not familiar with the desert southwest, spend some very serious time studying and have all the proper equipment. Be sure to get a permit if required, check in with the local ranger station and register your route. Remember 48 Hours.

What makes The Narrows so attractive to backpackers is the fact that there is water. Otherwise, to backpack multiple days in most of the Southwest is pretty tough. I backpacked in Guadalupe NP in November(wasn't even hot), and we still underestimated the amount of water we needed. Had we been doing more than just 1 night, we would have been in far worse shape. I do agree, water probably wouldn't allow this trip. But that is just not something you are going to know or be guaranteed anytime-- until you get there.