I’ve visited Zion National Park several times, but most trips involved quick hikes like Angels Landing (three times now!) with different groups. When the team at Outdoor Vitals invited me to join their permitted West Rim Trail backpacking trip (top-to-bottom route), I jumped at the chance – even if it meant a nine-hour drive.

The 16-mile West Rim Trail runs north-south through Zion. Most hikers drop packs to detour to Angels Landing, but recent flash floods closed that route. We adapted to an 18-mile out-and-back journey to backcountry site #4 instead.

Coming from Denver while the Outdoor Vitals team drove from their Cedar City HQ, we planned a rough meetup time at the trailhead (with limited cell service) – agreeing to wait there if either group got delayed.

Kolob Terrace Road and Lava Point Road revealed stunning new perspectives of Zion I’d never seen. The small trailhead parking (max 10 vehicles) stood empty as I prepped my gear, unsure if the team had arrived.

I hit the trail quickly, hoping to catch up if they’d started. The surprisingly flat terrain let me maintain “Randy Pace” – covering the first 5 miles in just 1hr 24min. Frankly, it was disappointingly uneventful.

At the 5-mile mark, Zion’s magic finally appears: a perfect rest spot under a tree with jaw-dropping views west into Potato Hollow.

After the viewpoint, gentle descends lead through surreal landscapes – fine desert sand trails winding through wildflower fields. Beautiful, bizarre… and where my luck changed.

Just past the sand-wildflower wonderland, the trail spikes steeply into forested slopes. My legs suddenly rebelled – the flat desert pace, combined with inadequate hydration and calories, hit me hard.

I carried 3L of water, counting on at least one of four potential sources mentioned in guides. None materialized, forcing strict water rationing for the remaining trek.

After conquering the first major climb of the hike, I was rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views of Potato Hollow. I paused frequently to snap photos and catch my breath, realizing this untouched wilderness has no roads or maintained trails—only adventurers who’ve trekked the West Rim Trail witness these spectacular vistas. It’s humbling to realize how few have been privileged to see Potato Hollow’s raw beauty.

This is why I live for outdoor exploration. In that moment, I felt immense gratitude—both for my ability to reach this remote spot and for the invitation from Outdoor Vitals that made it possible. These are the experiences that fuel my passion for adventure.

The West Rim Trail led us upward past more stunning overlooks of Potato Hollow before reaching backcountry campsite #4. Beating the Outdoor Vitals team there (they’d detoured for permits), I quickly pitched my tent, documented the scene, and grabbed some rest while waiting for the crew.

The crew arrived about an hour later with an impressive variety of setups: Dave tested a prototype one-person tent (going ultra-minimalist with just footprint and rainfly), Derek opted for a simple A-frame tarp shelter, and Shawn—a fellow content creator—chose an Outdoor Vitals hammock system. The gear diversity was inspiring!

We instantly bonded over shared outdoor passions—laughing that this felt like a ‘blind backpacking buddy date.’ Trading adventure stories as a curious deer wandered through camp, we later hauled dinner to a viewpoint… only to find California’s wildfire smoke had stolen our sunset.

Nature compensated with an electrifying heat lightning show. During cloud breaks, we stargazed at prominent planets like Mars and Jupiter before turning in early—determined to beat the desert heat on tomorrow’s 9-mile return hike.

After a restful night, we crushed the return hike in 3.5 hours—nine miles before noon! Those ice-cold Gatorades at the trailhead tasted like victory. Swapping boots for flip-flops, we headed to our next basecamp at Zion Canyon’s developed campground near Springdale.

Post-camp setup, we celebrated with local brews before Dave revealed Zion’s best-kept secret: a hidden swimming hole. Cannonballing off boulders into cool water was pure bliss—the perfect rinse after two dusty desert treks.

I had initially planned to stay overnight and return to Denver in the morning, but I opted to escape the scorching heat by leaving just before sunset to tackle the nine-hour drive. I reached Colorado National Monument around midnight, snapped some night photos, then slept in my truck before completing the journey home at dawn.

Massive thanks to the crew at Outdoor Vitals for having me on this epic trip. Grateful for the chance to backpack through Zion and uncover more of the park’s wonders. Their gear is top-notch—definitely give them a look. Special shoutout to Shaun for capturing the adventure and featuring me in his video. With his massive YouTube following, don’t miss his travel content—hit subscribe!