Watchman Trail and Starlit Nights at Zion National Park
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
Zion National Park is a park of contradictions. It is a stunning, diverse ecosystem that being said, it often feels like the "Disneyland" of the National Park System. Swarmed with touristy crowds checking off a box, as well as nature lovers competing for a moment of quiet. But even amongst the noise, there’s not doubt you can still find those high-reward moments that bring the desert magic to life.
To close out the Spring season, we were on a new adventure, to take on a ”Mighty Five in Five" trip across Utah and Zion was serving as a first stop to kick things off. Arriving at a reserved campsite only to find someone else’s car in your spot is sadly, not a first for us. During a previous trip to Lake Tahoe, we spent upward of two hours sitting on our tailgate on the side of the campground driveway, in the dark, waiting for a camp host to figure out how to free up our campsite. So, when we arrived at Zion and a car was parked in our site, we felt a bit of campsite PTSD creeping in.
Thankfully, Zion had a secret weapon: Camp Host Kevin. Not only did he already know exactly which vehicle and site was the culprit, despite unsuccessful attempts to contact the owner of the vehicle, he quickly pivoted, getting us into a temporary spot so we could enjoy our lunch and hit the trails without losing daylight. It was a masterclass in park hospitality and a reminder that even in a crowded park, the right people can make all the difference.
Hiking the Watchman Trail
With multiple trips to Zion National Park under our belt, there's one hike in particular we had yet to have the chance to complete. Watchmen Trail as simple as it is had always eluded us due to construction or poor timing. So for this trip, it was at the top of our list and was the perfect low-intensity, high-reward hike.
Hiking from the campground, (so no shuttle needed), the trail begins like many hikes in Zion, winding along the banks of the Virgin River before gaining steady elevation. The well maintained dirt path winds through a desert landscape of prickly pear cacti and pinyon pines and offers constant sweeping views. I’m starting to believe that no true Zion hike is complete without even a minimal amount of switchbacks, and in the first mile a short amount lead to the mesa overlook.
Watchman Trail Logistics:
Distance: 3.3 miles, out-and-back lollipop trail
Difficulty: Moderate (steady but manageable incline and a well maintained pathway)
Pets: not allowed
Of course, Zion wouldn’t be Zion without a little "people watching." Along the trail, we had to call out a tourist for picking up a live bat off a stone wall, dodged evidence of someone’s dehydration in the form of mid-trail vomit, and navigated around human waste from someone who clearly couldn't wait for a restroom.
Zion is truly a love-hate relationship, but rather than let it dampen the mood, we reframed it as Zion provides beautiful hiking and sociological research all in one cohesive experience.
At the top of the trail with no one continuing along the loop, we were treated to a break from the crowds. We had the entire loop to ourselves to enjoy views of the iconic Watchman, Temples and Towers, lower Zion Canyon, and the town of Springdale.
Watchman Trail is the perfect "low-stress, high-reward" hike especially since it doesn't require a shuttle or a permit. Transitioning from a dusty afternoon on the trail to a quiet, star-filled night at the campground. The golden hour show began, when the sun hits the red sandstone and the park begins to glow. We broke out our new Nemo Stargaze Camp Chairs and lighting setup and enjoyed a hot meal, my first time trying Alpine Aire’s Wild Mushroom Fettuccine Alfredo. As the first night of our upcoming adventures, the evening felt like the ultimate luxury.
Camping Under the Stars
Stargazing in an International Dark Sky Park is never short of incredible, and with a lead-up to a new moon and cloudless skies, the stargazing this night was nothing short of incredible. Since it was the tail end of Spring, that classic high-desert evening temperature drop was nearly non-existent. The air was cool but comfortable enough it makes a campfire feel like an aesthetic more than a necessity and allowed me to enjoy the evening with only a jacket. The combination of the weather and the atmosphere resulted in an enjoyable few hours dancing around the campsite to get the perfect nighttime photos.
The various glows from nearby campfires added unique, warm hues to the trees that surrounded us. With tripod trial and error, I was able to frame the massive silhouette of the Watchman cliffs against thousands of stars, capturing the contrast between the human energy of the campground and the stillness of the sky. When it was finally time to turn in for the night, I was able to close my eyes to the view of the stars above from the windows of our iKamper, and in true camping tradition, had the first of many solid nights of sleep for the perfect end to our first stop of our "Mighty Five in Five.”
Comments