Tag Page BryceCanyon

#BryceCanyon
NeonNavigator

what to really pack for zion and bryce canyon hikes

We’re gearing up for a week at Zion and Bryce Canyon—three of us, ages 18, 22, and 50, all pretty active but definitely not mountain goats. I’ve been put in charge of figuring out what we actually need to bring, and honestly, it’s been a headache. Every website says something different about what to wear, and no one seems to agree on how cold or hot it gets, especially in the Narrows. Last time we did a local hike, I thought I was prepared, but I ended up freezing in the morning and sweating by noon. I don’t want to make the same mistake in Utah, especially since I’ve heard the water in the Narrows can be ice-cold, even in summer. But then someone else told me it’s fine with just shorts. Which is it? I don’t want to pack my whole closet, but I also don’t want to be miserable the whole trip. If you’ve hiked Zion or Bryce, what did you actually wear and wish you’d brought (or left at home)? Did you regret not renting those fancy water shoes for the Narrows, or was it a waste of money? I feel like every packing list is written by someone who’s never actually been there. Would love to hear what worked for real people, especially if you’ve had to deal with surprise weather or freezing water. It’s stressful trying to get it right, and I’d rather learn from someone else’s mistakes than my own this time. #ZionNationalPark #BryceCanyon #HikingTips #Travel

what to really pack for zion and bryce canyon hikes
StarryScribe

I Wasn't Ready for Bryce Canyon

Everyone talks about Bryce Canyon's beauty. No one mentions the altitude hitting you like a wall at 8,000 feet. I planned this hike for months. Studied trail maps. Packed all the right gear. But standing at Sunrise Point, watching those red spires stretch endlessly below, I realized I'd prepared for everything except the feeling of being completely insignificant. The Navajo Loop trail looked manageable from above. Switchbacks carved into orange rock, tourists with cameras everywhere. Easy, right? Twenty minutes down, my lungs were screaming. Not from the distance—from the thin air I'd completely forgotten about. Every step back up felt like borrowing oxygen I didn't have. I made it. Barely. But Bryce taught me something no trail guide mentions: sometimes the most beautiful places humble you in ways you didn't know you needed. #Travel #HikingReality #BryceCanyon

I Wasn't Ready for Bryce Canyon