Day 4- Bonus Parks!

When planning our trip, we knew we needed to get from Zion National Park in St. George to Arches National Park in Moab after we hiked the Narrows. What we didn't know is that we could hit up two more national parks along our way. Once we realized it, our lifelong dream ;) of visiting Utah's Big 5 on this trip was born! We routed out our journey, listened to some podcasts to help us get familar with each park, and we were off! But first we had to get out of Zion NP. Our one big regret of this trip is that we couldn't spend more time in each park. We went for quantity over quality this time around, with a promise that we will definitely be back again. 

It didn't take long for the landscape to change dramatically. It is incredible to see so many different geographical formations in Utah, and we are now thoroughly educated in the Grand Staircase that is the vast expanse from Bryce Canyon down to the Grand Canyon. Noah was disappointed to learn that it isn't an actual, easily visible staircase.

Our next park stop was Bryce National Park! I have always heard that this unassuming park is worth the visit, but wow! Pictures don't do this amazing landscape justice. 

We doubled our elevation gain in just a few hours drive!

It was chilly and windy here!

Hold on to your hats- there were dozens just over the fence edge. 

If only we had a few more hours, we would have set out on one of these trailheads to get an epic on-the-ground view of these thousands of other-worldly hoodoos. 

Next time! We had to continue on our way. Our next stop was the least familiar (to us) Utah national park- Capitol Reef! We were chasing daylight by the time we arrived, which made for some epic pictures of these brave and silly explorers.

Mostly we were all thrilled to be out of the car!

Yep, I wrapped up in a blanket. It was chilly and we spent the morning hiking through the Virgin River!

I was walking slower, blanket burrito-style back to the car while everyone else ran ahead. And then my two sweet boys came back to escort me the rest of the way. I love them! 

Somewhere back there is the US Capitol-looking formation that puts the Capitol in this park's name. We didn't make it to the reef part. Next time!

Such an incredible place! 

We saw petroglyphs!

What a happy little family. 

A white mountain. 

A striped mountain. 

Around this time we all got tired-silly. We needed to use the bathroom, but the visitors center was closed. Good thing the park was empty! We had no reception so we weren't entirely sure how to get out of the park, Emma took the wheel for half a second (not really), 

and the leftover rolls from last night's dinner that Adam insisted on keeping were manna to all of us! 

We stopped for gas and a bathroom and snacks in a literal cave. 

What is this place?!

And after a few hours in the park, we were at our hotel in Moab! This day was long and fun and safe and unexpected and ultimately, totally worth the extra stops! 

Day 4- The Narrows

Not pictured- getting stuck behind the wrong truck at the park entrance, looking for parking, finding parking, paying for parking, using our first pit toilets of the trip, waiting in line for 45 minutes to catch the shuttle, or the super hip Gen Z who told us all about his crazy adventures in the park. 

Once we hit the trailhead, none of that mattered!

On this day, Jason and I officially decided we're old. Not really, but we did agree that we have nearly 23 years of wonderful memories together to sort through anytime we try to revisit a place or recall a memory. We've definitely been here before, but when was it exactly? I can officially declare that it has been 22 years since took these pictures in September 2004.

And we had fun recreating them! 

Hoist! 

And lower.... ouch! 

Same spot, 20 years later? Not quite, but still! So cute! 

The pictures hardly do this amazing slot canyon justice. We were in heaven!

And yes, we have been to Ledges. It only compares to the Narrows in happiness while visiting. 

It got deep fast!

The weather was perfect, the water was not too cold, and the crowd was manageable. There were a LOT of people there though. This is one of the most famous hikes in Zion! 

We hiked for about three hours and would have loved to stay longer, but we had so many other adventures on our to-do list for this trip! Eventually we had to turn around. 

Noah got soaked!

This was Jason's #1 pick of things to do on this trip, and it was definitely worth it! We will definitely be back again, hopefully in less than 20 years from now!