We've been planning to go back to Zion National Park since our quick trip there last year. Ruby hasn't stopped talking about hiking The Narrows since the last time & so we planned a stop there before heading into Salt Lake. I love this place so much & it kind of feels like our family's "place" now. We all just love it so much & can never get over how incredibly beautiful it is there. There's red rock, water to play in, & an ice cream stop every day - so we're pretty much covered. Except for showers...I would've really loved a shower.
Ruby was so excited to be back
Noah was in heaven with all the dirt & sticks he could find.
Right before we hiked the Emerald Pools
Playing in the river. Noah was so scared of the water last year so it was fun to see him hop right in & play in it this year. At one point he just jumped right in & started swimming with his hat on.
At the lower pool
Just past the middle pool. I can never get enough of that red rock!
We made it to the upper pool! I'm always so proud of these kids for being such good hikers. This was such a great family hike & the 3 different pools were great pay-offs along the way. The kids had so much fun playing in the upper pool before we headed back down. We later found out no one is supposed to get in the water...which would explain why our kids were the only ones splashing in it...oops. But they sure had a great time.
Hiking The Narrows! Ruby was amazing on this hike. She kept saying, "I'm not giving up!" I think she hiked about a total of 4 miles all by herself & most of it through water that sometimes was above her waist. We got so much farther than we did last year which was fun.
I couldn't have been prouder of this little boy! He was so scared last year of this hike & we had to hold him the whole time, but this year he was determined to do it by himself. He hiked through all the rocks & water like a champ & was loving every minute of it. He kept saying things like, "I'm so strong" & "I'm tough". I love the confidence this kind of stuff gives kids. I feel like it's so good for them!
Noah was so exhausted by the end of our hike in that he slept in the carrier on my back the whole hike back. There's something so satisfying about being exhausted by the end of a day spent hiking & playing in nature. Camping at Zion was definitely a highlight from our trip. It's always good for the soul to spend time outdoors recharging & focusing on simplicity.
"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread. Places to play in & pray in. Where nature may heal & give strength to body & soul alike."
-John Muir
