Hidden Zion: Exploring a Secret Sandstone Wonderland in Zion National Park in UT

Earlier this fall Chyna and I took a road trip south and west to visit family in Las Vegas. Along the way we stopped in Utah to spend a few days camping and hiking in Zion National Park, a desert favorite of mine. My goal was to find a spot off the beaten path, in a park so busy was that even possible? Lots of research had me stumbling upon a spot in the park's less visited Kolob Terrace region. In order to retain its relative secrecy I will not get too specific on the details of where this place is. A bit of research and I'm sure you could find it yourself. Anyway, this spot was truly a sandstone wonderland! Spires and hoodoos were peppered among stands of ponderosa pines and blooming yucca with far reaching views of the deep remote canyons of Zion's interior wilderness. I saw nobody the entire time even when I returned to my car. The silence was so silent it was deafening yet oddly comforting. I had accomplished what I had set out to do, see Zion in all it's wild glory sans humans. Take a look at the photos from that day below.

These first few shots were taken around our campground up on the Kolob Terrace.

A juniper tree under stormy skies near our campsite in Zion.

Red Cone stands alone under a fiery sunset.

Looking south from the Terrace towards distant Canaan Mountain.

And a colorful sunset to end the day.

First light over the hidden sandstone paradise.

A close-up reveals in the rugged terrain. Truly incredible!

I may be weird, but I love the intricate subtle beauty of an old gnarly tree.

Looking north towards Pine Valley Peak.

Absolutely perfect morning in the desert.

A colorful sunrise over colorful rocks.

More of that old gnarled tree.

Just an awesome place to explore!

Looking out far behind the sandstone towards the distant desert canyons.

A closer look at the distant desert.

Wonderful wavy sandstone and a craggy ridgeline at sunrise.

Sun breaks over the interior canyons of Zion.

Looking out towards the massive peaks of Zion's Main Canyon.

A wide shot of this sandstone wonderland.

Dramatic hoodoo filled wilderness.

A few ponderosa pines cling to the stunning wind sculpted sandstone.

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