spirobulldog

We will have two full days in Zion.
Day 1 pickup drysuit from Zion Adventure Company @ 7:30
Drive Tunnel, See Great Arch, Checkerboard Mesa
Lunch in the park picnic or lodge
1:00 Narrows hike
7:30 return rental equip
dinner in Springdale

Day 2 7:00 Angels Landing
Lunch
Emerald Pools, Menu Falls, weeping rock


My main question is 5 hours enough for Narrows. Should I do Angels Landing early or afternoon. We will be there mid-Oct. Spending 2 nights in Zion Lodge Cabin. Our plane leaves Vegas @ 11:45 the next day. I think leaving Zion @ 7 will give me plenty of time to get to the airport. this will be on a Sunday that we head to the airport. We will be in Zion all day Fri and Sat.

WhereAreWe

I'm going to assume the Narrows is probably the biggie for you to do, at least on day 1. With that assumption, why would you wait until 1pm to start, thus limiting yourself to 5 hours? Do it first thing in the morning after picking up the drysuit and take as much or as little time as you want. The other stuff that day can be shortchanged a bit if need be.

Unless the temps are really cold, you should do Angels Landing in the morning. The other things that day won't take long - Menu Falls and Weeping Rock are probably a combined 1 hour of walking.

Connie

I agree--start early so you can go as far as you want in the Narrows. At that time of year, it's going to get dark early and it gets dark quickly in the narrow canyon.

Get the boots along with the wetsuit. I know most people only use one stick or pole but I had two poles and found them to be invaluable in keeping my balance. I had a lot less trouble than everyone else in our party (15).

The drive through the tunnel and the scenery is nice but will only take about an hour and isn't a must do, IMO. I'd leave it if you have extra time.

BTW, we enjoyed really good pizza at Pizza and Noodles.

spirobulldog

thanks for the tips

lvk

Another vote for starting the Narrows hike early.

You may already know this, but you can't just show up at Zion Adventure Company and pick up your gear. You need to make an appointment and sit through a 45 minute safety and information presentation video and lecture. You then select and try on your gear. All together, it takes about an hour. If there is a way for you to do this the night before your hike, I highly recommend it. This way you can get up, have breakfast, pack your lunch and head straight out to the Narrows.

The Sun Foods restaurant and grocery store at the main entrance has pricey but very good sandwiches for your picnics. Zion Pizza and Noodle is where we ate after turning in our gear.

Myer

I agree, I would start early that day.

Then, when you go out the east entrance later in the day toward Checkerboard Mesa, if you have time you can hike the relatively short Canyon Overlook for spectacular views of the valley/canyon.

Maybe it's just me. But of all of your activites, I would give up the lunch to get in both hikes.

Lunch on the go.

Menu Falls is neat. However, it's kind of nowhere. It's between stops of the shuttle and will take longer than you'd expect.

I would ask the bus driver to let you off on the way back so that if you have to walk to the next stop after seeing the falls, it's down hill.

spirobulldog

I will pretty much eat three meals a day on the go if needed. However, my wife and kid even have to eat breakfast. The nerve of them. I was thinking that lunch in the grotto picnic area might be a good spot. what about right outside the lodge, is that nice. I wonder if I will have good scenic fall colors mid-oct. One thing good, we are 2 time zones away, so getting up and getting with it will not be a problem.

Photodog

I did the Narrows last October. Used only used the dry pants along with a pair of thermal pants (of mine) and was quite warm. Zion Adventures offered a combo of the dry pants, boots and walking stick for $29. Saw folks walking in shorts with tennis shoes who had mighty red looking legs and didn't seem too happy. If you plan on getting down to Wall Street which is about 4 miles upstream from the start and want to get photos which is lit that time of year about 2pm would suggest you start much earlier. Don't forget you have to take the park shuttle which will take you about 90 minutes to get down to Temple of Sinawava. You then have a mile walk along the Riverwalk Trail even before you start walking in the river. You will need to carry everything with you since you can't access your car. I was able to pick my stuff up from them the night before and caught the first bus out.

If you have a fear of heights do not go past Scout Lookout. Have seen too many folks freeze up once they are out on the Angels Landing Trail. This ties up everyone else because there are few places to pass someone. If you are looking for photos the afternoon gives better light looking up canyon but you will be walking in the heat of the day.

You are cutting it extremely close in my opinion if you leave Springdale at 7am and have a flight at 11:45. What if there is a wreck which slows down/stops traffic. I flew out on a Sunday morning and it took 2 hrs to get through security due to number of folks leaving.

spirobulldog

I'm thinking maybe I should plan on doing Angels Landing the first day and doing Narrows the 2nd day. This way I could get my rental equip the night before and get started the first thing, my 2nd morning. I already had the drysuit, socks, etc reserved, but I can change the day.

claire_bluesky

We were in Zion starting 10/20 last year and it was peak. It was lovely, but remember there won't be that many trees changing colors.

I have two photos of the lodge:

Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8012375...28864378/show/

There's a restaurant w/picnic tables and a lovely view. Some people were sitting in the grass. The weather was perfect.

claire_bluesky

The airport was very crowded as we returned. We allowed approx. 45 minutes less than you, but we printed out our tix at the hotel and split up at the airport - dh returned the rental car while dd and I checked our luggage and got in the security line, a big snake of a line. DH didn't meet up w/us until we were at the gate w/about 15 minutes to go. I think your time sounds right. We also encountered heavy traffic in LV as we were driving to the airport.

Maybe others will chime in.

spirobulldog

OK, lets try this again.

First, ITS GOING TO TAKE 90 MINUTES TO GET FROM LODGE TO RIVER??

Fri
Arrive @ park around 8:30
Drive Tunnel, see Checkboard Mesa, Great Arch, Overlook Trail
(I can do this in my car -correct?)
(is this enough time??)
12:00 lunch @ lodge or picnic
park car at Lodge
1:00 Angels Landing
(isn't this about a 4 hour trip normally??)
6:45 or earlier Zion Adventure Co. get gear
7:45 Dinner @ Spotted Dog, Zion Noodle, Whiptail
(where do I want to eat at??)
Overnight in Zion Lodge-cabin

Sat
7:00 Narrows
(i want to get to the narrow section, how far and how long do I need to allow)
2:00 Emerald Pools
6:30 return rental equip
7:30 Zion Lodge for Dinner

Sun 6:30 Depart for Airport
11:45 flight out of Vegas

WhereAreWe

It will not take 90 minutes from the lodge to the Narrows. I'm assuming that 90 minutes estimate is for Springdale to the Narrows on the park shuttles. Since you're staying in the lodge you get to drive up the canyon partway and jump on the shuttle from there. That will save quite a bit of time. I'm guessing under 30 minutes from Lodge to Narrows.

I'm going to say the same thing I said in my earlier post about your hiking itinerary: do Angel's Landing in the morning, save the driving/easy stuff for the afternoon. No way you should be under time constraints for Angel's Landing - would you want to cut that hike short just to make it back to Springdale in time to pick up your rental gear? You're not going to be sad if you have to cut the Great Arch/Checkerboard Mesa part short, but believe me you will be kicking yourself if you don't give yourself enough time to hike all of Angel's Landing.

J62

It will take only about 10-15min on the bus to get from the Lodge to the trailhead for the Narrows, then an easy 1mi walk on a paved trail.

I really don't think you need to be hiking the narrows starting at 7am. Give yourselves a little more slack - sunrise isn't even till about 7am.

J62

Check that. Oct 15 sunrise: 7:39am sunset 6:55pm

spirobulldog

I agree on Angels Landing. I just thought I should see the stuff at the entrance before I went in. How long should I allow for Narrows and Angels Landing??? We tend to hike a little faster than most people. But I am sure the elevation gain will get me on AL.

J62

If you are driving into the park from the East you will pass by checkerboard mesa, go through the tunnel, and emerge by the arch. You can definitely stop and take roadside pictures right from your car along the way.

If you are arriving from the South through Springdale then I'd go straight to the canyon, and go to the eastern part some afternoon.

kimp

They say that Angels Landing takes 4-5 hours, but we did it in a little over 3. We are from PA & the elevation is nothing, that is if you do such hiking year round. It gets really busy so start early. Check this out for the narrows hike. Gives you some options for the time. www.utah.com/nationparks/zion/zion_narrows.htm

We did the top down trip. It was fantastic! Have fun!

Dayle

Hi spiro,

Fall leaves don't happen at Zion until mid-Nov. It's south and low enough that colors are later than most of Utah.

There would probably be fall colors up high on the Kolob Canyon and Kolob Reservoir areas, much higher elevation.

From around 8,000 ft. and up, peak fall colors are around first week in October.

Before deciding your final hikes, check with the Zion Adven people and ask them about The Subway. If you decide to do it, you will need to go with them and have a permit. It's the greatest hike I've done in my LIFE. It's one of those places you see in amazing, gorgeous pictures of UT and wonder....where is that?

I think it's better in spring when the snowmelt is putting water into the slots, but ask.

spirobulldog

I didn't think zion adven. did any guide through the park. I thought the subway was more of a canyoneering experience?