A few weeks ago, we spent several days in Zion with a few friends and a big group of kids. Wanted to share a few things that would have saved us a lot of headaches. Zion IS beautiful, but one of the more challenging parks to visit with kids...

Parking is brutal. Both visitor center lots were full by 7:30 a.m. We only got parking if we arrived before then or after 2:00 p.m. when people start leaving. We showed up around noon on day one and ended up parking in Springdale and shuttling in because there was nothing available in the park. Bring cash for the Springdale lots since cell reception is spotty.

Build 90 minutes into any permit hike. Shuttle lines in the morning are no joke. We nearly missed our Angel's Landing window because of it.

Don't try to bike into the canyon with kids. We attempted this. The Pa'rus Trail to Canyon Junction is fine, but after that you have to ride on the narrow two lane road with shuttles flying up and down. We tried leaving our bikes at Canyon Junction, but then learned shuttles don't stop there going up canyon. We had to backtrack to the visitor center and start over.

Afternoon starts worked pretty well. For shaded hikes like Emerald Pools or water hikes like the Narrows, starting after 2:00 p.m. worked well for our group. Crowds were lighter and shuttle lines were short. The Narrows is actually great in the afternoon heat.

Emerald Pools is underrated for families. Most people go straight for Angel's Landing or the Narrows, but Emerald Pools was our favorite hike with the younger kids. Flexible distance, mostly shaded, no permit required. The Narrows was also awesome, but the kids got cold quickly. Wouldn't do Angels Landing with most kids under 8 years old.

The wilderness areas are worth the extra effort. We did an overnight on the West Rim and had the place almost entirely to ourselves. Completely different experience from the canyon. Cool air and no crowds at all.

I put together a more detailed guide with everything we learned including kid age recommendations for each hike in this post.

Hope this helps someone avoid the rough patches we had. It really is a great place... just... complicated.

I love that my kids perpetually ride their bikes and scooters, but it really gets frustrating that the garage floor is always a wrecked disaster of wheels and aluminum. That is, it was until I ran across one of these DIY bike and scooter racks at a friend's house. We built our own, and it has been awesome. If you're looking for a good weekend project, here's what you'll need:

Materials

• 3x 2x4x8
• 3x 2x2x8
• Robe hooks (one per slot you want for helmets, skateboards, etc.)
• 2-1/2" deck screws
• 2-1/2" pocket hole screws / drivers
• Wood glue
• Paint

Directions

From your 2x4 stock, cut the following:

• Four pieces at 40 inches (the long horizontal rails “A”)
• Two pieces at 30 inches (the vertical back supports “B”)
• Two pieces at 17 inches (the bottom front feet “C”)

From your 2x2 stock, cut the following:

• Eleven pieces at 22 inches with 45-degree angles cut on both ends (These become the slats that the wheels roll into)

Screw it all together and you're good to go!

If you'd like more details, I put a step by step guide here.