Sadie Speaks: Zion 2.0 and a Slot Canyon Reunion
Sadie shares her day-by-day hiking log from our second lap through Zion, including Kolob Canyon.
March 21 - April 1, 2026
Kolob Canyon, Zion National Park, and Kanarra Falls, Utah; Horseshoe Bend and Page, Arizona
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32
Sadie’s Trip Log
Saturday, March 21
Today we’re leaving Park City. We drove to Kolob Canyon. It’s a different part of Zion.
It looks really cool.
The campground is nice, and it has a view of the mountains. The mountains normally have snow on them until late May. There is no snow left on the mountain. Honestly kind sad.
Also today: I got a knew knee brace.
Sunday, March 22 - Double Arch
Today we hiked 6 miles! But who’s counting. We hiked to Double Arch in Kolob Canyon. We walked along a creek the entire time, and it was really nice and shaded.
The arch isn’t a real arch. It’s like a cavern thingy. :)
Monday, March 23 - Kanarra Falls
Today we hiked Kanarra Falls. It is a slot canyon that you get to by hiking though a river. It’s like the Narrows in the main part of Zion. The water was so cold.
The canyon was amazing. It was really narrow in places, but the views are insane.
Tuesday, March 24 - The Watchman
Today we’re driving back to the Watchman Campground in the main part of Zion.
I think I’m going to hike up Angel’s Landing tomorrow—alone. Eek I’m excited. I did it before but with the family.
Update: we didn’t get permits so I have to hike up to Scout’s Landing. It’s fine. You have to hike up to Scout’s Landing to get to Angel’s Landing, so not complaining. It’s only half a mile difference.
Wednesday, March 25 - Zion Canyon
Today I woke up at 7, made my lunch, packed my water. I’m hiking Scout’s Landing today. I walked to the shuttle bus and got on. I got off a few stops later and started hiking. I literally made it to the top in 40 minutes. That’s it. 40. It’s was 2.5 miles and over 1,000 feet of elevation. I didn’t stop, and I passed like everyone.
I hiked an extra half mile up to a different view point because I didn’t get permits for Angel’s Landing. The view was incredible. Like seriously, it was amazing.
I made it up and down in about an hour. One problem, I told mom and dad I’d probably be back by one. I completely underestimated my ability. It’s fineeeeee. So I got down and I hiked the Watchman. That’s another 4 miles. So yeah 9 miles total today.
Thursday, March 26
Today we got up and drove out of the park to hike the East Mesa Trail to Zion Overlook. It used to connect from Weeping Rock, but that trail was closed 6 years ago due to a rockfall, so the overlook is much harder to get to now. It’s about 3.5 miles each way but only 700 feet of elevation gain.
The trail overlooks Angel’s Landing! We saw some rock climbers. It was really beautiful from the viewpoint and definitely something not many people get to see.
Friday, March 27 - Last day in Zion
This one’s gonna be long. Today I got up at 6 a.m. I walked to the bus stop. I got on the 7 a.m. bus and I hiked up Angel’s Landing again. I made it to the top in 40 minutes (2.5 miles and 1,000 feet of elevation gain).
After that I hiked down and at the bottom of that trail there is another trail to these three pools. The emerald pools. (2 miles total.)
Then I hiked to the narrows (2.5 miles) and I ran into mom, dad and Nate! I saw them and I kept hiking.
After that I went to Weeping Rock. (1 mile.) It’s a sandstone rock that is constantly dripping water from rain 1,200 years ago!
Then I went back and refilled my water at the lodge and, instead of taking the bus like a normal person, I decided to walk on a trail to the next stop, a mile. So I did that, got on the bus, and I hiked The Watchman until I hit 15 miles.
I’m now dead, sitting at home with a tub of ice cream. So my step count was 30,000 and 15.5 miles. But at the end of the day I had walked a total of 20.6 miles, so the distance of the Grand Canyon again.
A note from Mom and Dad: In case anyone is concerned that we let our 12-year-old hike in Zion alone, this was a unique set of circumstances. First is that we had just spent five days in the park in November and were very familiar with it. Our campsite was only ¼ mile from the visitor center where the shuttles leave. The canyon’s hikes are all very established trails with plenty of people around at any time if help is needed. But most of all, it was our confidence in Sadie’s hiking ability and her wise decision making that led us to allow her to hike on her own. She is constantly challenging herself, and all the solo miles she hiked in Zion were further evidence of how much she has grown this year.
A Small (Narrow?) World
A few other fun things happened in Zion that week. On Wednesday, while Sadie hiked on her own, Nick, Nate, and I enjoyed the canyon on bike.
Our first night back in Zion we’d heard that the couple from Michigan in the campsite next to us took the solo-backpacking Aussie across from us out to dinner for his 24th birthday. Following their lead, we invited Alex to join us for a home-cooked meal, which he said was quite an upgrade from his planned tuna and beans.
Alex is on a 9-month solo trek through the U.S. and some places in Central America. It was fun to help a young visitor out and swap travel stories. We invited him to join us for dinner the next night too. He surprised us with s’mores supplies, and we helped Alex assemble his first-ever s’more.
On Thursday, the 7-mile hike to Zion Canyon Overlook was a favorite. The hike isn’t very strenuous and the payoff of a view at the end is incredible.
On the drive back, we stopped to climb around on Checkerboard Mesa.
On Friday, we decided somewhat last-minute to hike The Narrows. It was our last day in Zion, we had the necessary gear, and it was a sunny day, so why not?
The last time Nick and I hiked the Narrows was in 2009, right before his second deployment to Iraq. Nick and Nate hiked in their wetsuits and I used Nick’s fishing waders. We had a great time!
Our first Narrows reunion was, yes, with Sadie! Ran into her on the one-mile hike to the river. She hiked the Narrows with Nick in November and was quick to continue her solo journey.
While we were hiking the Narrows, we noticed another family hiking with their three older kids. I had a passing thought: They look like the kind of family we would be friends with.
Soon after, Nick said, “Hey, I think that woman’s shirt has a seal on it. See if you can ask her about it.”
Before I had a chance to I look up and see Nick is talking to the woman’s husband. Turns out he was in the Teams! And they knew each other from the San Diego days! I talked to his wife Kari and figured out we had several mutual friends in San Diego. We were all staying in the same campground and made plans to link up that evening.
Right after we parted ways, I figured out who she was. Kari and I were in the same women’s Bible study in Coronado! She joined as I was getting ready to move to Guam. I never swapped numbers with her or kept in touch online. Such a small world to run into them a mile and a half into The Narrows—a hike we almost didn’t even do that day.
That night they had us over to their campfire, and we got to catch up for real and swap stories since our lives last crossed. There was plenty to catch up on!
Two days later, our paths crossed again (this time intentionally) when we were all in Page, Arizona on the same day. We linked up for lunch and views at Horseshoe Bend.
Though our visits were short, it was soul-filling to run into friends and catch up on life in and out of the Teams. This isn’t the first time we’ve run into Team guys in the wild. And something tells me it won’t be the last.
This was our second trek through Zion, and even though we did different things from last time, we still didn’t do everything we wanted to! We left in awe of this place that delivered not only world-class views and our family’s favorite campground, but also friendships old and new. What a heavenly place.
Roberts on the Road
Kolob Canyon, Zion National Park
For those just finding us, hello! Inspired by the Year of Jubilee in Leviticus 25, our family is on a yearlong RV road trip in 2025-2026 to celebrate my husband’s retirement after 20 years in Naval Special Warfare, as well as our 24 years together during the ups and downs of it all.
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