Springdale, UT. Gateway to Zion!

Springdale, Utah is the gateway to Zion National Park. Zion is gorgeous. Zion is what drew me here, but I was surprised how much I enjoyed Springdale. We used Springdale as a base camp for a few days to enjoy the park easily and we were not disappointed. Springdale sits at the mouth of Zion Canyon between Mount Kinesava and The Watchman. Two towering rocks that give an amazing backdrop to the town of just over 500 residents year-round. Springdale didn't feel like a tourist trap or overly crowded, it felt like a retreat. An oasis in the desert.

Tony's Top Five must do's in Springdale, Utah!

1. Stay on the Virgin River. There are a few hotels that have access to the river. We stayed at the Driftwood Lodge. Our room was clean and the service was great. The highlight of our

stay was the water! Driftwood's property allows for play in the river and we all loved splashing in the rapids and watching for wildlife. The pool and hot tub were also a highlight for me because of the views of the towering cliffs of Zion. Driftwood Lodge is also a stop the shuttle makes for easy access to the town and park. We booked our room 4 months in advance. Reserve a room well before your trip, Springdale fills up fast. https://driftwoodlodge.net/

2. Check out the rock shops! The geology of this area is amazing and our kids always love checking out rocks. Zion Rock & Gem had amazing rocks of every color at reasonable prices and we left with a few more doorstops for the house than we probably needed. Zion Prospector is also a good time and both shops offer rocks from all over the world and also from their native Utah.

3. I'm a sucker for art. Visit the David J. West Gallery for fine art photography of Zion. While we were able to enjoy Zion National Park for only a few days, this photography is taken all throughout the year. Pics of nightscapes and all the seasons were amazing to see. After the sun went down we spent a good hour here and even our kids enjoyed the amazing photos of the park they had just enjoyed that day. https://www.davidjwest.com/

4. Bumbleberry Gift Shop and Bakery is a must stop. What is a Bumbleberry? Don't look it up... go to Springdale to discover it. I can tell you one thing, it's good! Grab a pie or some jam for your PB&J picnic in the national park. We also found the gift shop to be a great place for souvenirs at reasonable prices. https://bumbleberrygifts.com/

5. Springdale/Zion Shuttle System. Zion gets busy and it is hard to find parking. The ease of slapping on sunscreen and walking a few yards from our hotel room to the shuttle stop was the best way to start a day of adventure. Take the Springdale shuttle to Zion Visitor Center and there you can switch to the Zion shuttle for access to all the stops in Zion Canyon. Shuttles are free to ride and take the stress out of parking and driving in traffic. Sit back and enjoy the views. https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/shuttle-system.htm

I knew I would love Zion National Park. Angels Landing and The Narrows have been calling my name for years. I didn't know that I would love Springdale. Springdale is worth exploring again and again. Enjoy!