Bryce Canyon & Zion National Parks, Utah (2019): From Hoodoos to the Narrows
Looking back, our 2019 trip to Bryce Canyon and Zion feels like one of those perfectly timed escapes—taken before we began formally sharing our travel experiences and well before Utah became a recurring theme in our travels.
We started the trip with a flight from Houston to Las Vegas, picked up a rental car, and made the obligatory stops at Whole Foods and the liquor store to stock up for the drive north. During the journey, we made a somewhat spontaneous decision to add Bryce Canyon National Park to the itinerary. What we didn’t fully appreciate at the time was that this detour would add nearly three extra hours of driving on an already long day, especially since our lodging that night was back near Zion at Under Canvas.
Despite the extra miles, Bryce Canyon was absolutely worth it. The park’s landscape feels almost surreal, defined by its dense collection of hoodoos—tall, irregular rock columns shaped by centuries of erosion. While hoodoos can be found around the world, Bryce contains the largest concentration anywhere on Earth. After spending a few hours exploring the amphitheaters and viewpoints, we got back on the road for our first true glamping experience.
We stayed at Under Canvas Zion, a high-end camping property located just outside the park. We opted for a tent with an attached bathroom, as shared bathhouses were a step too far for us. Among the Under Canvas locations we’ve since visited, Zion remains one of the higher-end properties. The food and beverage options were solid and noticeably more robust than what we later experienced at other locations, such as Glacier National Park.
Our tent was ideally situated—close enough to the main lodge for an easy walk to meals, yet far enough away to feel private. Evenings were spent on the front patio, enjoying a drink and watching the sun set over the surrounding desert landscape.
Zion National Park is home to several iconic hikes, but the one we gravitated toward was The Narrows. Rather than following a traditional trail, this hike takes you directly through the Virgin River in the narrowest section of Zion Canyon. The experience is a unique blend of hiking, wading, and occasional swimming, and it remains one of the most memorable hikes we’ve done.
After exploring Zion, we returned to Las Vegas to finish the trip with a stay at the Wynn—our personal favorite on the Strip. The transition from glamping to five-star luxury was stark but welcome. We spent our final days indulging in the Wynn’s dining, cocktails, and service before heading home and, unsurprisingly, beginning to plan our next adventure to Utah.
That next trip, as it turns out, would be Moab.
