Category: Hike

Sliding Rock, Alpine, Utah

Tucked among the subdivisions of Alpine, Utah is a secret swim spot that’s a favorite with the locals. The hike there is an easy stroll along a mostly paved but traffic free road, to a beautiful end result – a natural water slide.

To get to Sliding Rock the whole family headed North on Alpine’s Main Street and turned left on Fort Canyon Road. We followed the curves in the road for about a mile and a half until we reached a metal gate on the north side of the road. The sound of flowing water from nearby creek, plus the other cars parked along the road signaled that we had arrived.

As we passed through the gate to start our hike, I immediately wished I had brought a bike. The trail began as gravel but quickly changed to asphalt and the lack of shade would’ve been less noticeable with a biking breeze in my face. Big E and little g survived the uphill trek well, but we were excruciatingly slow thanks to little g’s tiny stride and resistance to being carried.

One mile up the well defined trail we reached our destination – Sliding Rock! Water spills over rocky slopes creating a fun water ride into a cold pool below.

Playing in the water was so fun, but I also made sure to keep a close eye on the tots as there were some ledges to the south of the water slide area.

Mountain Dad was like a kid himself, scrambling up the sides to slide down the slick rock surface. And just so we’re clear, it doesn’t hurt your backside to enjoy this trip.

The return hike was a pleasant downhill stroll past trees and wildflowers. The perfect end to the perfect summer afternoon.

Sliding Rock
Distance: 1 mile
Difficulty: Easy hike, Moderate scrambling required at the sliding rock
Tips: Stay on the pavement until you reach the water. At the fork in the road take the right. 

Secret Swim Spot, Zion National Park, Utah

The coolest hike in Zion National Park won’t be found on any map or brochure. It’s a secret spot, that we scouted out like treasure seekers on a hunt. And we hit the jackpot.
Thanks to a tip from the book Day Trips with a Splash: Swimming Holes of the Southwest by Pancho Doll, we knew there was a short hike that led to a waterfall with a natural water slide. The trick was to find it.

We started out on the side of the road, where we could hear water flowing but couldn’t see anything. Following the desert brush trail until the trees grew larger, we soon found the source of the sound, a rocky stream.

We followed the stream for less than half a mile, carrying the tots over ever larger boulders, waiting for a glimpse of the elusive water fall. We weren’t sure the place existed but after scrambling and hiking about thirty minutes we found a wider section of the stream with water deep enough for jumping. Awesome!

I would’ve been content there, but Mountain Dad decided to scramble over the rock wall to find the elusive natural water slide. I’m so glad he did.

The rock scrambling was rewarded with a beautiful red rock cove. The water cascaded from above, pooled three to four feet at the deepest and trickled down to the rocks below. We all enjoyed sliding down the mossy slope into the cool water below, and feeling the sand squish between our toes. It was the perfect place to play on a hot summer day.
Trail Info:
Difficulty: Difficult, but worth it
Length: 1 mile round trip
Tips: More adults than children make the rock scrambling easier.

Lower Emerald Pool Trail, Zion National Park, Utah

Zion National Park was the first National Park established in Utah and it’s easy to see why. The beautiful cliffs of red sandstone tower around you, as the meandering Virgin River gurgles happily. Now, there’s plenty to see and do in Zion National Park, but Mountain Dad and I chose to take the tots hiking on the Lower Emerald Pool Trail our first day, because of the promise of water.
The Lower Emerald Pool Trail begins across the street from Zion Lodge. The trail was paved at the beginning, well marked and relatively flat. Little g hated being strapped into the pack, as always, but her tiny legs just couldn’t keep up, even with great trail conditions.

On this hot summer day, the cool water showering us from above was a welcome respite. Emerald Pools gets its name from the green algae growing in the water, but the waterfalls are what make the hike truly interesting. 

Lower Emerald Pools Trail connects to Upper Emerald Pools trail and the Kayenta Trail. Big E was a great hiker for the Lower and Upper Emerald Pools Trails, walking on his own the entire time. 

Construction on an off shoot of this trail made a portion unreachable, but we were satisfied with the large waterfall of the Lower Emerald Pool and this small waterfall of what I call the Middle Emerald Pool. We stopped here for a picnic, and to let the tots splash in the water, refreshing after an afternoon in the sun. 

On the hike down, it was obvious that Little g enjoyed herself. Nothing tires out the little ones like some outdoor exercise!

TRAIL INFO:
Location: Zion National Park, Utah
Distance: 1.5 miles round trip
Difficulty: Moderate
Rating: 4 Stars
Tips: Bring your own water bottle. Zion National Park no longer sells plastic water bottles in an effort to reduce waste.

Grotto Trail, Nebo Loop Scenic Byway, Utah

Looking for a short, fun hike to wrap up the summer? The tots and I really enjoyed Grotto Trail off the Nebo Loop Scenic Byway. This half mile hike followed a rocky stream to an interesting cave like rock formation adorned with a twenty foot tall waterfall.

Little g was content in the pack as long as she had her pacifier and Big E was a big help by carrying snacks and water in his little red backpack. We enjoyed the Grotto Trail hike along with our cousins and the wood bridges across the rocky stream were highlights of the hike.

At the end of the trail, we enjoyed the mysteriousness of the waterfall cave, where Grotto Trail gets its name. Verdent moss clung to the craggy walls and the cool spray from the water splashed our faces. It was a great hike for a summer day.

Trail Info: Grotto Trail
Length: approximately 0.5 mile
Difficulty: Easy
Rating: 5 stars, this is the perfect hike for kids
Tips: Go with friends. This hike is short and sweet, less than ten miles up the canyon from the city of Payson, Utah.  Bring the whole crew and enjoy.