Biking Down Zions National Park



Zions National Park is one of the most spectacular parks in the world.  Every year over 3 million people visit the park.  Zions National Park has many family friendly hikes as well as some extreme activities.  One of the best ways to view this amazing canyon is by riding down the canyon road on a bike.  In 1997 the park established a bus system that carries passengers up the canyon.   These buses also have bike racks on the front of the bus so you can take your bikes with you.  Each bus is equipted to carry three bikes.  There are nine stops along the bus route, and you can stop at any of them.  The most beautiful and safe area to ride down from is from the Pa'rus Trail bus stop.  The trail from here is off the main road, fully paved and very easy.  Even little kids with little biking experence will enjoy this paved trail.   Bikers travel under and over bridges and have some of the most amazing canyon views.





If you are looking for a longer ride you could start at Zions lodge and bike down from there.  This ride is for more experienced riders, ones who have an understanding of riding with traffic.  There is some traffic from the Zions Lodge, and you will need riders who understand staying out of the center of the road.  Buses do not pass bike riders, you will have to pull over and come to a complete stop for them to pass.  The ride from the Zions Lodge bus stop is beautiful, and you get views you won't get from the bus. 



Near Court of the Patriarchs




For the most amazing views, put your bikes on the bus and take shuttle bus all the way to the Temple of Sinawava.   Lock up your bikes at the top and take the short paved hike to the top of Temple of Sinawava.  The views are amazing and you won't regret taking this short very easy hike.  You may even want to pack some water shoes and let the kids play in the sand and water at the end of the hike. Stopping here and letting the kids play is a great way to break up the bike ride back down the canyon.  While traveling down from the top of Zions, you will have amazing views of the canyon.  Your views are completely unobstructed as you travel down on a bike. 

TIPS & TRICKS

• Review road safty BEFORE you travel down.  Make sure your kids understand what "Stay to the right" or "There's a car" means before you are on the road.
• Take water packs and make sure you drink.  It can get really hot on the road.
• Don't rush your trip.  Plan to spend time stopping and viewing the canyon.  Don't rush down the canyon.  If you are in a rush, take the bus.
• If your children get tired, don't push them too hard.  Just stop at the nearest bus stop and go back to the bottom or start back up again at Pa'rus Trail. 
• It is better not to ride in the heat of the day.  Bike early morning or in the afternoon. 
• If you want to go on one of the many hikes, don't forget a bike lock that can lock all the bikes up.  Many of the hike trail heads have metal bike racks. 
• You can take snacks or a picnic and make a stop at one of the areas and take a break.

























St George Bear Claw Poppy Trail

St George has the best trail for both kids and adults!  Bear Claw Poppy is so much fun and is like a huge BMX track.  Great for beginners kids to adults.  The trail offers marked signes to direct riders to easy or more difficult trails.   The easy and more difficutlt trails all intercect and travel in the same direction.   If you have a little kids who don't want a crazy ride then they can just stay on the easy(green sign) trails.

You can ride Bear Claw Poppy as a out and back.  Start at the most south west trail head and bike up as far as you want to go and then return.  You can avoid much of the advanced trail by just doing an out and back.  You can also be dropped off at the top of trail on the North west side and ride back to the trail head.  This way there are many large advanced drop off and jumps.

To get to the upper trail head: I-15 to Dixie Drive, South on Canyon View Drive.

Past the Green Vally Resort.

The road turns into a dirt road.  At the yeld sign turn right and go down the hill.
This area is used a lot by dirt bikes and 4 wheelers.
Once at the bottom you will see a main dirt road that travels south and up a big hill.

Follow dirt road up the hill to the gate and big parking lot.  If you have a driver you can drop bikers off here and the driver can meet you at the other end.  Bike up the dirt road to the trail head

You will see a gate you have to lift your bikes over. 

Right past the gate is the Bearclaw Poppy sign.

Now the FUN begins!  The first part of the trail has both easy and more difficult.



Once at the bottom follow the trail South.




You can go as slow or as fast as you want.  All trails end up at the same area.



Map of Bearclaw Poppy.  It is located at most South West end of the trail.

Bearclaw Poppy Trail Head

Entrance to Bearclaw Poppy Parking

Turn on Navajo Dr. to get to the parking area.

Big Splash Paddle Boarding

Utah has a number of beautiful lakes and reservoirs, and paddle boarding it an excellent way to enjoy those lakes.   Paddle boards are amazingly stable and easy to maneuver.  They are perfect for adults or kids!  The paddle board is stable enough to hold an adult and a child.  Parents and kids will enjoy the adventure and the amazing views.

 Tips and Tricks

• You will learn a lot from viewing a "How To Paddle Board" video on youtube prior to going.
• Take two people.  Loading and unloading the boards is so much easier with two people.  The board is pretty much the full length of a car and you really need two to get it up on top of a vehicle.
  Later in the afternoon/ evening is a beautiful time to go to the lake.  If you are on the lake as the sun sets, the views are amazing! 
• Bring a picnic or dinner, eating by the lake is so beautiful!  Also bring lots of snacks for the kids.  You can really work up an appetite.
• Don't forget drinking water, sunscreen, and bug repellent.
• If you can bring your own comfortable life jacket.  The rental jackets are sometimes not the most comfortable.
• Take a crawdad trap, or a fishing pole.  My boys really got into trying to catch something.
• Make it fun! Don't have too high of expectations if you are paddling with your kids.
• Let kids know the rules: Never take off life jackets.  Don't go out past a certain area.  Watch out for boats, and don't get in their way.  Don't ram, or bump other paddle boarders.  Wear the leg strap.
• Allow the kids to take a turn and take the board out.
• If you are arriving later in the evening bring jackets and a change of warm clothing, it can get pretty cool after dusk.

High Adrenaline Park City Olympic Park

The Utah Olympic Park is a winter sports park built for the 2002 Winter Olympics, and is now a high adrenaline adventure park.  The park is located 28 miles east of Salt Lake City near Park City, Utah.  There are athletes training all year around.  The practice trampoline is right next to the ski jump pool and both are fun to watch. The ski jumpers do their flips, twists and turns into a swimming pool.  There are many activities including high ropes course, alpine slide, two ziplines and a bobsled on wheels.  The xtreme zipline is the longest and steepest zipline in the world!  You can purchase a day pass for unlimited activities for $60. 

Tips and Tricks

• If you can go to the park on a early weekday morning.  Mondays & Tuesdays are the least busy. 
• Weekends and evenings are busy.  You can wait in line for over an hour for each ride.
• The freestyle zipline is the smaller of the two ziplines.  To riding the ziplines you are put in a chair and your body is placed up against a door. The ziplines can be very intimidating, and feel scary, especially for kids.  Let the kids know it is SO EASY, especially the smaller zipline!  Let kids know BEFORE you get up the lift what will happen, and how easy it will be.  There is ZERO drop, just the doors swing open and you sail easily down to the bottom. 
• If your kids are nervous, try not to let them stand in line waiting.  It can make them more scared.  Let them be the last one to be put in the chair.  Once they do it, they will LOVE IT and want to do it again and again!!! 
• Parking is in the upper parking lot, and the activities are in a lower area.  There is a lot of walking.  Make sure everyone is wearing good shoes.  You might want to take a stroller for younger kids. 
• The alpine slide is so fun!!!  It can be extremely fast for adults!  Be warned not to follow young children if you want to go fast.  The kids are really slow! 
• The alpine slide will close if there is rain!
• You can buy each activity separately or you can purchase a day pass for unlimited activities for $60.   We got three activities for around $20
• The ultra zipinle minimum weight is 55lbs.  If you have kids lighter than that, the only ride they can do is the alpine slide. 
• The xtreme zipline is the longest and steepest zipline in the world!  You must be a minimum of 100lbs to ride it.  It is a fun zipline!  You do NOT feel any tingles like you would feel with a drop, it is a easy down slope.  It is fast, but not too fast.
• If you can remember, let go of the chair harness as you come to a stop at the bottom.  The rope can pull through your hands.
• Ski jumpers the Flying Aces practice every Saturday at 5:00 PM.  Cost is $10 a person
• The museum is interesting and fast-paced.  It has lots of exhibits from the 2002 Olympics.  FREE
• The zip line is $20  for one ride and last maybe 30secs. The ropes course ranges from $15-20 and last 30-45 mins.

More zipline information:

Zipline Rides

Take an exhilarating ride on the WORLD'S STEEPEST ZIPLINE! There are two ziplines to choose from, the Xtreme Zip and the Ultra Zip.
Xtreme Zipline
• Length – 1,454 feet
• Max. Speed – 55 mph
• Ride Time – 55 seconds
• 4 lines
• Minimum weight – 100 lbs
• Maximum weight – 275 lbs
• Located at the top of the K120 ski jump hill
• Sensation of what it is like to be a ski jumper or freestyle aerialist
Ultra Zipline • Length – 754 feet
• Max. Speed – 42 mph
• Ride Time – 30 seconds
• 4 lines
• Minimum weight – 55 lbs
• Maximum weight – 275 lbs
• Located at the top of the winter freestyle aerial hill

Cost: Xtreme Zip: $20, Ultra Zip: $15
When: Open May 19th-September 3rd. Please call 435-658-4200 for times.

Hill Air Force Base Warriors Over Wasatch

If you like air planes and speed, you will love the Hill Air Force Base Warriors Over Wasatch air show.  The show is usually every other year, over Memorial weekend.  Attending the show is one of the coolest visual adventures our family has done.  You can park on base and take a shuttle to the entrance.  There many different air planes displayed near the runway.   We had considered watching the air show in a near by neighborhood, but decided to go face the crowds and go on base. There are many reasons to attend the show at Hill.  The show is situated just for the people on base, with fly buys, aerials and dog fights all choreographed to music.  On base you will feel the pride and honor for the many service people that protect our freedom.   If you dare to go on base, you will not be disappointed. 

• You don't have to be early to the start of the show, you can attend anytime.  The different air performances are linked closely together, and are through out the day. 
• Follow your GPS for parking on base.  Some signs were false, and wanted to get you to park and pay.  Exit the freeway on Hill Field Rd, that will access the base entrance directly.
  The base offers FREE parking and shuttle to the entrance of the show.  UTA has an off base parking lot, and it costs $3 per person to ride the shuttle bus.
• Expect that parking will be crazy. 
• Don't rush to get on a bus, there are many buses and they come and go often.
• Take a lunch (not in a cooler) and eat while watching the show.
• We were allowed a back pack, even though  it was one of the "restricted items."
• Take ear plus, it can get extremely loud!
• Don't forget sun screen. 
• Take cash for treats, or bring your own.
• The blue angels flew about 30 minutes.  If you watch the show 15 minutes and then leave you will miss the majority of the crowd at the end. 
• If you parked on base, and leave at the end of the show plan on about 45 minutes to get out of the gates. 
• The last three years Hill Base has not had a show because of budget cuts. 

Hope you enjoy the show!

Teaching Kids the Fun of Rappelling

WARNING: Do not attempt any rock climbing or rappelling with out a rappelling and climbing safety class!  You need to know your gear to keep you safe!

What kid doesn't love rocks? All kids love rocks, and kids love adventure.  Nothing goes better together than rocks and kids! (Except dirt and mud maybe!)  Kids thrive when there is structure, activity and fun.  Rappelling is the perfect thing to do to get kids outdoors!  Teaching kids to Rappel off a cliff or rock face can be a challenge!  Don't start the learning process on the mountain top.  It can really scare and frighten little adventure, so start someplace safer.  

Beginner Kids Rappelling

• Start your adventure at a local park, or someplace that has a big hill that has a really good slope to it.  
• Get in your gear, harness and all. 
• Attach your rope to a tree or a stable starting point.
• Show the kids how to back off the hill.  Show them how a person on the lower rope can STOP you from coming down the hill. 

• 

  10 year old

  Clip them in and let them feel how the rope feels, how it holds their weight. 
• 
  Teach them to keep their right hand behind their bottom to control their speed.  Show them how you have to pull it tight to slow them down.  Hold the rope loosely to let the rope go through.
•  Have them hold the rope tight, and see how far they can lean back towards the ground.
• Have someone hold the bottom part of the rope and show them how the person below can stop them from decending.
• Practice until they are completely comfortable with rappelling(going) and stopping the rope.

Medium Kids Rappel:

• Find a rock face that is short, and is 60-50% of vertical. Something you could almost walk down.
• Tie off your ropes securely at the top.
• Have the kids

7 year old

St George Mountain Biking Dino Cliffs/ Grapevine

Church Rocks is just North of St. George Utah.  It is an intermediate kids trail.  Although this trail could be rated a much more difficult trail, There are several reasons why it is a great trail for kids with some experience.   While riding on the trail it is very easy to see difficulty sections approaching and it is very easy to get off and walk.  Kids do not have any element of surprise along this trail, you can see it all.   Anything my kids (7 Yrs & 10 Yrs) didn't think they could ride, they got off their bikes and walked.   Both our kids love this trail.  It is full of huge lizards, great views, and slick rock. The trails is a 1.8 mile loop. 

Tips and Tricks

• Take a treat to eat on the slick rock.
• The trail is crazy in the first section, take your time.
• Have the kids walk if they need to, don't make them ride any part of the trail.
• If you don't want to bike it, you can hike it.
• Take plenty of water.
• This trail is warm in April, I wouldn't do it with kids in the summer months.
• Stop and play on the slick rock hill 1/2 through. 
• Make a plan to go to lunch or dinner after your ride.  Someplace the kids love

 Exit on the Washington Parkway, and you will come to a round about with a Mavrick on the south side. 

 Take the third exit on the round about, the one that heads North, and looks like a dead end.  You are at the trail head.

 Just west of that parking area is the trail head.  Hikers and bikers use this trail all year round.

 You pass under TWO tunnels that go under I-15

 The trail goes under the freeway, is almost always covered in water, and a green slime that is very slippery!  Be very careful riding over this green stuff!!!

The trail then heads up a nice pavement incline, and through some steep switch back.  This is the biggest incline of the whole trail.

 You will come to several "Step Over" gate, and a map of the trail.

 Make sure you take a look at the map so you know specifically where you are going.

 The trail heads up a nice dirt road. The views from here are amazing! 

 There are several slick rock areas along the trail.  We love to get up on this one and bike around while our kids catch lizards.

 The wind is always blowing on top of this slick rock bluff, I decided to bring a kite! I had fun flying it, but the kids were more interested in stuffing rocks in their pockets and chasing lizards.  More time for me!

You can either fly a kite, or test your biking skills on the steep slick rock. 

 The next part of the trail is a quick steep up hill, and then a steep down hill. At the bottom you hit sand.

 The trail spits into a "Y" where you go right and stay in the sand and go back under the bridge and back to the cars. OR you can go left and there is more slick rock and the start of Church Rocks Trail.  You actually are at the end of the Chruch Rocks out and back trail.

 Most of Church Rocks is fun and technical slick rock.

When you get to the bottom of the canyon there is a tunnel that goes under the freeway.

The tunnel is so fun, and the highlight of the trip!!! It is dark, and can be scary.  Just go slow and take your time.  Keep your eyes focused on the light at the end.

Once you get through, make your way south on the dirt road back to your car!

Enjoy!!!