Springdale, Utah – Gateway to National Parks Galore

Springdale in southeast Utah, sits at the doorstep of one of America’s greatest National Parks, Zion. Although very small, it is without question one of the most spectacular towns in the U.S., nestling between the towering sandstone peaks of Zion Canyon. The canyon walls provide a breathtaking backdrop for hotel guests, and glow a fiery, luminescent orange at sunset. 

Another of the great National Parks of the U.S. west, Bryce Canyon, is just a two-hour drive away. This makes Springdale an integral stop for visitors to the Grand Circle, America’s largest concentration of National Parks and monuments 

Dream

SpringHill Suites, Springdale: This modern, two-story Marriott hotel opened in early 2017 and is just one mile from the entrance to Zion National Park. Staff at the hotel are very friendly and helpful, and the large lobby area is particularly attractive, with its towering vaulted ceiling, and a huge window to the rear, with a stunning view of the red cliffs of Zion Canyon. 

We opted for a 350 square-foot king suite which was spacious, comfortable and clean, with a view to the rear of the property towards the attractive pool and hot tub area. A good buffet breakfast was included in our room rate, available in the dining area to the rear of the large lobby. This added convenience was of particular benefit because it enabled us to make a quick getaway in the morning and maximize time in the park.

We very much enjoyed the Springhill Suites and would likely stay there again when we return to Zion. If we were to choose an alternative hotel, then we would seriously consider the Desert Pearl Inn, which is an attractive looking hotel with studio-apartment style rooms and well-manicured grounds, featuring an attractive lagoon-style swimming pool out front.

Dine

Moki: Relatively new to the Springdale dining scene, this modern, fresh-looking restaurant is connected to the Desert Pearl Inn and quickly became one of our favorite places to dine. Chef Adrian Carpenter, who has an impressive resume having worked alongside several accomplished chefs during his career, brings his New American Cuisine to Zion with a menu featuring local ingredients and “cage-free cooking”. 

We sat on the outdoor patio and ordered a number of dishes including a fig appetizer special, fresh tomato appetizer, pork chop and a particularly delicious sweet potato and eggplant lasagna. Looking forward to returning!

Spotted Dog Café, Zion Canyon, Springdale: This restaurant is something of a Springdale stalwart having been around for more than 30 years. Located on the grounds of Flanigan’s Inn, it is more upscale than most, yet remains very welcoming. The restaurant’s dinner menu features home style cooking using fresh ingredients from local suppliers, with a wide variety of dishes including regional specialities such as red trout, wild game meatloaf, and southwest chicken breast. Our favorite place to eat is on the European style roadside raised patio, with the fabulous backdrop of the red sandstone walls of Zion Canyon.

Deep Creek Coffee Company: This local favorite became a regular stop for us on our way into the park, offering the best coffee we came across in Springdale. Shame it was not open in the afternoon and evening! 

The Castle Dome Café, Zion National Park Lodge: This seasonal café with outdoor patio seating was our regular stop for snacks, smoothies and drinks before and after our exertions on the Zion hiking trails.

Do

Zion National Park, Utah: If there is a single word to describe this jewel of the American west, it is surely “majestic”. One of the most impressive National Parks in the U.S. and one of the most user-friendly, Zion is a “must-visit” attraction that should feature on many peoples’ bucket lists. A shuttle-bus system runs inside and outside Zion, established in the year 2000 to eliminate traffic and parking problems within the park. When the shuttle is running, no private vehicles are allowed on the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. The system works very well, however, we understand that at particularly popular times during July and August, long lines can sometimes develop at the various shuttle-bus stops.

There are two shuttle loops. Outside the park, the Springdale Shuttle has nine stops in town which are easily accessible from most of the major hotels. This takes visitors to the park’s pedestrian entrance near the Zion Canyon Visitor Center, where they transfer to the Zion Canyon Shuttle for the ride into the park, with stops at nine locations on the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. The shuttle provides pedestrian access to all of the major trailheads within the canyon. The shuttle is free, and buses arrive at every stop every 7-10 minutes.

In July 2018, shortly prior to our visit to the park, a severe storm led to flash-floods which severely damaged several of the most popular hiking trails within the park. Very popular trails such as the celebrated Angels Landing and the Middle and Upper Emerald Pools were closed and are likely to remain so well into 2019.

This did not impact our enjoyment of the park: we were able to take alternative trails which proved just as spectacular, and in some cases quite challenging. Having read about the spectacle of Observation Point, and further inspired by a painting hanging in the lobby of our hotel, we decided to tackle this strenuous eight-mile, five-hour roundtrip hike. Beginning at the Weeping Rock trailhead we began the steep ascent, rapidly climbing 2,148 feet, through Echo Canyon, culminating in breathtaking panoramic views of Zion Canyon, with Angels Landing below us. The drop-offs were not as dramatic as the hike to Angels Landing despite its lesser elevation gain of 1,488 feet, making it more suitable for hikers with a mild fear of heights! Our advice is take at least two liters of water per person and snacks!

Another highlight of the park, this time experienced by car, is the drive from Springdale through the park on the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway to the east entrance. Without question one of the great American drives, the highway winds its way through towering orange sandstone canyon walls, passes through the stunning 1.1-mile long Mount Carmel Tunnel, with its galleries providing light through the canyon wall to the outside. Once through the tunnel, this incredible drive continues to meander through sandstone escarpments, wave-like formations carved out of the rock, and arrives at the memorable Checkerboard Mesa, just inside the east entrance.

Also worth noting is that just outside the Mount Carmel Tunnel on the east side sits the parking area for the 1.0-mile roundtrip Canyon Overlook trail. Unfortunately, we could not secure a parking spot, and so we will leave this experience until our next visit!

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah: is approximately a two-hour drive from Springdale. We decided to do a day excursion to the park. Arriving around the middle of the day, we stopped to have a quick bite to eat in the historic National Park Lodge, which opened its doors in 1925.

After lunch we took the short walk to the canyon edge and surveyed the stunning views on the 0.5-mile rim trail linking Sunset Point to Sunrise Point. Following this we opted to take a hike down into the amphitheater in amongst the striking hoodoos. We took a clockwise combination Queen’s Garden and Navajo Loop at a distance of 2.9 miles. This hike outshone all of our expectations and was quite simply spectacular. The journey down into the amphitheater through narrow sandstone canyons and holes in the rock was steep but manageable. This was followed by a fantastically engineered climb up a long series of switchbacks and steps, ascending to Sunset Point. An incredible hike and certainly one of our all-time favorites. 

Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, Kanab, Utah: Just 27 miles from the east entrance of Zion, between Mount Carmel Junction and Kanab on US89, and 11 miles off the highway lies an incredible surprise and a unique experience versus all of the U.S. National and State Parks we have visited to date. Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park is an area of huge, pinkish/orange hued sand dunes beside red sandstone cliffs. When we visited the park around the middle of the day, the small parking lot was almost empty, and we found ourselves almost on our own amongst the dunes. After almost bypassing the park completely we were delighted we took the time to experience this magical place.

Images from the Southwest