Stymied by a broken foot in Vermont, this week, I take a look back at one of my fondest hiking adventures in Zion National Park, located in the southwestern corner of Utah.
This board contains all of the places of interest featured in episode V17E2 of venture4wd, both in Utah and Vermont!
It's been a long time since I visited Cafe Soleil, but I remember it being both a refreshing and savory destination, with coffee, delicious smoothies, and zesty craft-pizza. It's fitting that there's such a restaurant so close to Zion National Park, to suit whatever your appetite might be before a strenuous hike, or after. This is not your typical tourist cafe that is all atmosphere and no substance. During my visit in 2017, there seemed to be quality and passion behind the food and drink. I'd go back in a heartbeat.
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Angels Landing
One way, it's a 2.5 mile hike from The Grotto up to the summit of Angels Landing. Two-thirds of the hike is a paved sidewalk that winds its way up the mountain. Beyond Scout Lookout, the trail turns primitive and perilous, offering a chain as a guide. As of April 2022, a permit is required to hike the technical section, available from the NPS.
Interested in doing the Angels Landing hike? It begins here. Make sure you get an early start to avoid the summer heat, and take the free shuttle to The Grotto.
While the terrain is fairly technical near the top, there aren't any notable challenges except the psychological one imposed by the height and sheer scale of the terrain. You have steep dropoffs on either side of the trail, but there isn't much to be afraid of as long as conditions are warm and dry, and you're paying attention to where you're going!
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The Narrows
At the bottoms of a one thousand foot deep gorge, The Narrows are the direct antithesis to Angels Landing. It's a long, watery slog through a mesmerizingly spectacular chasm. During peak season, it might seem extremely crowded at first, but have a little patience and keep going. The farther you wander, the more solitude you'll find! Keep a close eye on weather conditions. The Narrows can be dangerous after a rain!
Interested in hiking The Narrows from the bottom up? Your adventure begins here! Take the Zion National Park free shuttle to the Temple of Sinawava, and bring your bathing suit!
A watery adventure. For most visitors, The Narrows is an out-and-back hike that can be as long and challenging, or as short and relaxing as you'd prefer. It's mostly knee deep, but this does vary based on weather conditions. It's a great way to spend a hot summer day in Zion National Park. Just make sure you bring your camera, and that it's waterproof. The scenery is astounding from start to finish.
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Meanwhile, in Vermont…
While this week's episode was mostly a flashback to Zion National Park in 2017, it's currently 2022, and I'm still in Vermont with a broken foot. We might be stationary for the moment, but we're enjoying getting to know Brattleboro, and the surrounding area!
This campground is very nice, and extremely well run. It's clean, and well maintained with charming campsites, both with, and without RV hook-ups. Some of the spots are shady, nestled in the trees, while others are in an open field.
It's all pretty standard, except there is a food truck and an ice cream shop on-site. There is miniature golf, a pool, and live entertainment. Most notably, these attractions aren't walled-in and only available to guests. The general public is welcome.
The hot water pressure in the shower near our campsite is better than most places I've experienced; even most hotels!
The connectivity here is surprisingly poor. I do believe they campground has a modern wifi system, but throughput is extremely slow and unstable (about 5 down and 5 up) possibly due to network congestion. Also cellular signals are weak across the board. Your best bet would be Starlink out in one of the spacious RV sites.
Overall, the place has a great vibe, and we'd stay here again in a heartbeat!
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We were en route to Canada when I broke my foot in Vermont, and I was looking forward to having poutine A LOT. It's a Canadian delicacy consisting of french fries smothered in gravy and cheese curds. To our delight, Whetstone Beer Company, in Brattleboro, Vermont, serves up some amazing poutine, and they have a food truck at our camp! You have to try it out...
I have to be honest. I haven't tried their beer yet, but Whetstone has a delicious comfort food. Not only did we enjoy their beautiful location in downtown Brattleboro, which is located along the river, our campground, Kampfires, has a Whetstone food truck parked at the entrance. Score!
Since 2017, I've traveled full-time throughout the United States and Canada. Today, I'm based in Tucson, Arizona, United States, and specialize in vehicle-supported adventure, remote camping experiences in Arizona, and delicious places to eat and drink around Tucson.
