Check out how gorgeous Zion is right now — PHOTOS
A view of Zion National Park as seen from the Kayenta Trail on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
Hikers approach the "Wall Street" along the Virgin River while hiking the Narrows at Zion National Park in Utah on Monday, Sept. 7, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
People take photos around a waterfall at the Lower Emerald Pool at Zion National Park in Utah on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
People walk along the Virgin River while hiking the Narrows at Zion National Park in Utah on Monday, Sept. 7, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
People walk along the Virgin River while hiking the Narrows at Zion National Park in Utah on Monday, Sept. 7, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
Hikers hand off a tarantula found along the Emerald Pools trail at Zion National Park in Utah on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
People walk along the Virgin River while hiking the Narrows at Zion National Park in Utah on Monday, Sept. 7, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
People cross a bridge over the Virgin River to the Emerald Pools trail at Zion National Park in Utah on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
People cross a bridge over the Virgin River to the pedestrian entrance at Zion National Park in Utah on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
Hikers make their way along the Kayenta trail at Zion National Park in Utah on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
People walk along the Virgin River while hiking the Narrows at Zion National Park in Utah on Monday, Sept. 7, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
People walk along the Virgin River while hiking the Narrows at Zion National Park in Utah on Monday, Sept. 7, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
People walk along the Virgin River while hiking the Narrows at Zion National Park in Utah on Monday, Sept. 7, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
Hikers make their way along the Kayenta trail at Zion National Park in Utah on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
People take photos around a waterfall at the Lower Emerald Pool at Zion National Park in Utah on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
Hikers hand off a tarantula found along the Emerald Pools trail at Zion National Park in Utah on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
A view of Zion National Park as seen from the Kayenta Trail on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
People walk along the Virgin River while hiking the Narrows at Zion National Park in Utah on Monday, Sept. 7, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
People walk along the Virgin River while hiking the Narrows at Zion National Park in Utah on Monday, Sept. 7, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
People enjoy the Virgin River at Zion National Park in Utah on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
A man takes a photo at the Upper Emerald Pool at Zion National Park in Utah on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
People cross a bridge over the Virgin River to the Emerald Pools trail at Zion National Park in Utah on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
People pose for a photo at the Upper Emerald Pool at Zion National Park in Utah on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
Hikers walk through the "Wall Street" area along the Virgin River in the Narrows at Zion National Park in Utah on Monday, Sept. 7, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
People cross a bridge over the Virgin River to the Emerald Pools trail at Zion National Park in Utah on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
A waterfall at the Lower Emerald Pool is shown at Zion National Park in Utah on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
A view of Zion National Park as seen from the Kayenta Trail on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
A shuttle departs from the Weeping Rock trailhead at Zion National Park in Utah on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
A man bikes along the road near the Weeping Rock trailhead at Zion National Park in Utah on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
People walk through the Virgin River while hiking the Narrows at Zion National Park in Utah on Monday, Sept. 7, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
A couple relaxes by the Virgin River near the Temple of Sinawava stop at Zion National Park in Utah on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
A woman relaxes along the Virgin River at Zion National Park in Utah on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
Climbers take turns hiking up along a small waterfall in the Narrows at Zion National Park in Utah on Monday, Sept. 7, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
Hikers walk along the Lower Emerald Pool trail at Zion National Park in Utah on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
A man douses himself with water in the Virgin River while hiking the Narrows at Zion National Park in Utah on Monday, Sept. 7, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
People outside of the Zion Lodge at Zion National Park in Utah on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
People make their way along the Emerald Pools trail at Zion National Park in Utah on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
People walk along the Virgin River while hiking the Narrows at Zion National Park in Utah on Monday, Sept. 7, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
A hiker stands near the "Wall Street" area along the Virgin River in the Narrows at Zion National Park in Utah on Monday, Sept. 7, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
A view of Zion National Park in Utah is shown on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
A man relaxes at the Upper Emerald Pool at Zion National Park in Utah on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
A couple takes in the views at Zion National Park in Utah on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
People wade through the Virgin River while hiking the Narrows at Zion National Park in Utah on Monday, Sept. 7, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
People walk along the Virgin River while hiking the Narrows at Zion National Park in Utah on Monday, Sept. 7, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
A man looks out from Weeping Rock at Zion National Park in Utah on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
People walk along the Virgin River while hiking the Narrows at Zion National Park in Utah on Monday, Sept. 7, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
Hikers walk along the Lower Emerald Pool trail at Zion National Park in Utah on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
Hikers relax by the Upper Emerald Pool at Zion National Park in Utah on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
People relax and enjoy the Virgin River at Zion National Park in Utah on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
A man uses an inner tube to float down a portion of the Virgin River in the Narrows at Zion National Park in Utah on Monday, Sept. 7, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
A man climbs down from a small waterfall in the Narrows at Zion National Park in Utah on Monday, Sept. 7, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
Hikers wander around and relax at the Upper Emerald Pool at Zion National Park in Utah on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
A man sits on a large rock at the Upper Emerald Pool at Zion National Park in Utah on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
People walk along the Virgin River while hiking the Narrows at Zion National Park in Utah on Monday, Sept. 7, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
People cross a bridge over the Virgin River to the pedestrian entrance at Zion National Park in Utah on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
Hikers approach the "Wall Street" along the Virgin River while hiking the Narrows at Zion National Park in Utah on Monday, Sept. 7, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
Living in Las Vegas provides ample opportunities for outdoor escapes that are just a few short hours (sometimes shorter) away, and one of my personal favorites is Zion National Park in southern Utah.
For Labor Day Weekend I decided to take a trip up there as a quick getaway, and although there were large crowds for the holiday weekend, it was as enjoyable as ever.
The first day I was there was largely dedicated to exploring the Emerald Pools trails and the Kayenta trail. I had only ever been to the Lower Emerald Pool before, and finally visiting the Middle and Upper Emerald Pools was more than worth it.
On Labor Day (which seemed to be a little less crowded than on Sunday) I took on the Narrows — a unique hike that involves wading through the Virgin River between narrow canyons that tower a thousand feet above. I made my way a few hours upstream just a bit past an area called "Wall Street," where the canyon narrows even more, and the views were gorgeous. There's also the much more intense Narrows hike that involves a special permit and is about 16 miles long, but for now I'm satisfied with everything I got to experience at Zion.
Check out the photo gallery above.
