Mountain Mom and Tots

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Sharing is caring:

Bryce Canyon National Park is one of the most visually stunning places I’ve ever been. It’s beautiful red rock hoodoos mix with high altitude pines on the canyon rim, as if it can’t decide if it’s in the desert or mountains.

The drawback of visiting Bryce Canyon National Park is its remote location. With no large cities nearby for lodging and food, Mountain Dad and I chose to stay at Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort, located on the east side of Zion National Park because it was fifteen minutes away from Zion and an hour and a half away from Bryce Canyon.

Bryce Canyon National Park has a beautiful 18 mile one-way scenic drive, where pull outs allow visitors to view amazing rock formations for miles in every direction. Mountain Dad and I decided that in addition to the drive we would hike, eat at Bryce Canyon Lodge and take in the views at overlook places.

Now, I’m a frequent national parks visitor so I was surprised by two new aspects of our visit. The first, dinner at Bryce Canyon Lodge introduced me to the Healthy Parks, Healthy People initiative. The idea is to highlight how the National Parks can contribute to a healthier population and planet.

As part of the initiative, Forever Resorts, the concessioners in charge of the Lodge and its restaurant, made a point to offer low-fat, vegetarian and gluten-free options, with meat procured from local sources. The Lodge at Bryce Canyon Restaurant is Green Restaurant Certified but what surprised me the most was this line from their children’s menu:

“Our menu reflects healthy choices and cooking procedures for our junior rangers, eliminating fried and processed food.” Cool.

The other great thing about Bryce Canyon National Park’s commitment to Healthy Parks, Healthy People was the Hike the Hoodoos program, which Big E and I discovered on the Bristlecone Loop Trail. There are nine interpretive signs with special medallions scattered throughout the trails of the park.

To participate in Hike the Hoodoos, hikers must make a rubbing or take a photo of themselves with at least three of the signs in order to receive a special reward from the rangers at the Visitors Center. Three signs requires a minimum of three miles of hiking, but makes the hike more fun by turning it into a scavenger hunt.

I was impressed with the new developments at Bryce Canyon National Park and loved seeing the beautiful rock formations as Big E and I explored the place. I can’t wait to go back and delve more into the hoodoos. Maybe next time we can go on snowshoes.

Riverside Walk, Zion National Park, Utah

Sharing is caring:

Panorama of Riverside Walk, Zion National Park

The last stop on Zion National Park’s bus system is Temple of Sinawava which empties out into Zion National Park’s busiest trail – Riverside Walk. It’s the most popular for good reason. In addition to being the starting point for longer back country adventures, including the famous Narrows slot canyon hike (I’d love to try that someday without the tots), it’s a paved, flat trail through gorgeous red rock cliffs along the gurgling Virgin river.

Riverside Walk has a little bit for everybody – scenery, wildlife, well marked trail. And although I’m sure it’s breathtaking all year long, the golden leaves against the red rock backdrop were amazing. I could’ve sat at the river’s edge gazing up and around for several hours, but my tots were not as interested as I was.

Once again Big E and little g were content to just play in the sand and throw rocks in the water, until little g got cranky and Mountain Dad had to carry her. The well paved trail is short, only two miles round trip according to our guide book 50 Best Short Hikes in Utah’s National Parks by Ron Adkison.

Even so, given little g’s temperament, we were forced to turn back early. Such is the life of our Mountain family. Even beautiful surroundings can’t counteract the fact that sometimes kids just cry.

Trail Info: Riverside Walk

Distance: 2 miles round trip

Time: 1 hour, assuming your tots cooperate

Tips: Bring a stroller if you want. The paved trail has several off shoots for river access that are unpaved but for the most part the entire path is paved.

Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort, Jolley Gulch

Sharing is caring:

For Mountain Dad’s birthday, the whole family went on vacation at Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort. While we were there for a family reunion in August, Mountain Dad fell in love with the off roading Utility Vehicle we rented and thanks to that, decided to buy a UTV of our own (it arrives next week).

So when a blogging opportunity for Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort came up, we jumped at the chance to visit again. Mountain Dad was eager to get more off road time, and I was eager to enjoy the fall before it got too cold in the mountains.

The great part about off roading is the access to wilderness that would be difficult to reach otherwise. Mountain Dad and I took the tots to Jolley Gulch in Zion National Park, a thirty minute UTV ride from our cabin suite at Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort. To hike to this beautiful overlook with two small tots would’ve been very difficult, but in the UTV we could ride out together, walk a few hundred feet and take in the view without too much trouble.

Back at our cabin, we enjoyed a beautiful sunset and looked forward to exploring Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks in the following days.

Zion National Park in Autumn, Utah

Sharing is caring:

Zion National Park is one of the most popular National Parks in the west. Mountain Dad and I have visited several times over the years, but we had never gone in Autumn until now.

What brought us to Zion National Park was an exciting blogging connection. In August, we stayed at Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort for a big family reunion and afterward I was invited to blog for them. If you’re ever interested in a cool place to stay in the region, it’s great. Just read my previous post.

At Zion National Park on this occasion we loved seeing golden leaves set against a backdrop of red rock cliffs. Rock climbers ascended precarious peaks, while hikers journeyed along Angel’s Landing. Our little mountain family was content to play beside the stream.

There are lots of hidden places in Zion National Park, and this one, just beyond the street parking near Canyon Junction, was our favorite. Big E dug in the warm sand while little g plopped rocks in the water. The gurgle of the stream could be heard from the road, enticing us to get off the beaten path for a while. Warm weather made the trip perfect, and we all enjoyed playing together in a beautiful place.

I’ve been to Zion National Park in the Spring, Summer and Autumn and Autumn was my favorite.

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: