Utah National Parks (November 2020)

After 9 months in 2020 of social distancing, we were ready to do some travelling. Although we had visited some of the national parks in Utah with young kids, we didn't do much hiking and exploring. We always wanted to visit them again sometime. In November we found out that the National Parks were re-opened. This presented a golden opporturnity to go. We jumped at the chance, even though Covid infections in Utah were increasing. We reckoned that it would be relative safe since we would be staying outdoors most of the time.

We were able to get accomodations in the lodges in Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks. Under normal times, we have to book more than one year ahead of time. But we got our rooms only one month in advance. There is no lodge in the Arches National Park. We planned to go camping there. Although we brought camping gears with us, it turned out it was too cold to camp. So we stayed in a hotel in Moab outside Arches NP instead.

It took us 2 days to drive all the way to Zion, staying at Twin Falls ID the first night. We stayed at the Lodge inside the park. The Lodge was opened but the lounge was closed. The restaurant was opened for takeouts. We also got takeouts in Springdale just outside the Park.

The Zion Scenic Drive in the Park is closed to private vehicles. Visitors have to use the shuttles to go to different points of interest in the park. We had to buy shuttle tickets in advance. It was convenient staying in the Lodge which was inside the park. We can get to the shuttles easier. Even though

Utah National Parks Slide Show   (Click Info icon in slides for captions)