Zion/Bryce Day Hike Recommendations?
 

We'll be in Bryce one day and Zion two days. I have two kids (6 and 9) and would like some suggestions for some easy hiking we could do. What are great easy hikes where you see a lot, and feel you've really experienced the parks? Please help. We leave in two weeks! Thanks!

In Zion I would highly recommend and feel your family can do part of the Angels Landing trail. I saw numerous families with children in that age range when I did my hike. You don't have to take it all the way to the end. About 90% of the trail is paved. It's just the very last part with the chains and 1000+ foot dropoffs that you should avoid.

Check out this web page, it describes the hikes. There are several easy ones that kids could handle easily. I believe the Lower Emerald Pools across from the Lodge is very easy and I believe the Riverside Walk is paved, but pleasant. The shuttle takes you up and you take the hikes you want at the stops. Enjoy your trip. It's beautiful there.<BR><BR>http://www.americanparks.net/zion_hiking.htm

I like the walk down to Tower Bridge and back. Coming back is steep. If you want to avoid steepness, take a walk along the rim. You can get away from the prime viewpoints where the tourist buses stop.<BR>There are also ones like the Queen's Garden that are nice. With a 6 year old, it think it depends on how well he does. With adults, it depends on how well you can handle the altitude.<BR><BR><BR><BR>

We were in Bryce and Zion last summer with our two daughters, then ages 12 and 9. In Zion we hiked the Emerald Pools, Weeping Rock, Riverside, and Canyon Overlook trails. They were all wonderful and certainly within our kids' hiking ability. They enjoyed the Riverside trail the most--it is paved for about a mile, then you can hike in the river itself in the area called the Narrows(make sure to wear Tevas or old sneakers).<BR>In Bryce, we hiked the Navaho Loop/Queen's Garden trail which I also highly recommend. It is about 3 miles, but except for the last few hundred yards, it is very easy. Again, our girls loved it.

At Zion, The Canyon Overlook and Riverside Walk are great - both are fairly short and flat and have a &quot;treat&quot; at the end (one the amazing view, and the other the river shich everyone wades around in, when it's moving slowly).<BR><BR>Angels Landing is my all-time favorite trail. I'm not sure if it's appropriate for kids because it is steep and full of switchbacks. and once you get to the top at Scout's Point(where most people stop) there's an extended part which has 1500' drops on both sides. This part is the best...really cool, scary as hell, but definitely NOT for the little ones. There are markers where people have fallen off and died. <BR><BR>

In Bryce, I liked the short hike to Mossy Cave. It is accessed from the road to Tropic, rather than thru the main entrance to the park.<BR><BR>In both parks, there are lots of short hikes that are interesting.

I second the recommendation to hike the narrows right through the river. It's really interesting to walk right through the water between the narrow walls of the canyon. But, bring other good dry hiking shoes for after.<BR><BR>I would strongly recommend NOT hiking Angels Landing past any point where you start to feel uncomfortable about the safety of your family. I hiked there with my husband and another couple last year, and when we reached the treacherous point the others have mentioned we all looked at each other and decided that our children needed their parents to return home to them alive and turned back.<BR><BR>It's not in any way appropriate for kids yours ages (and I don't think, anyone.) And all of aus re in great shape, athletic and enjoy exciting fun activities, but this is where we drew the line.<BR><BR>Hope you enjoy Zion!

Another easy Bryce hike is the Bristlecone pine trail (1 mile loop). There are some nice view points along the trail, and there are no steep hills to climb.