I’ve visited Zion National Park several times, but most trips involved quick stops with different groups—usually hiking Angels Landing (three times now!) and maybe one other short trail. When the team at Outdoor Vitals secured permits for the West Rim Trail (top-to-bottom) and invited me, I couldn’t resist the nine-hour drive to join their expedition.

The 16-mile West Rim Trail traverses Zion north-to-south, typically done as a one-way descent with a side trip to Angels Landing. But recent flash floods had closed the valley return route, turning our trek into an 18-mile out-and-back to backcountry site #4.

Coming from Denver while the Outdoor Vitals team drove from their Cedar City HQ, we planned a loose meetup at the trailhead—knowing cell service would be spotty. If either party ran late, we’d simply connect on the trail.

Driving up Kolob Terrace and Lava Point Roads revealed a new side of Zion I’d never seen. The trailhead parking—space for maybe ten vehicles—stood empty as I prepped my gear, wondering if any parked cars belonged to my crew.

I hit the trail quickly, hoping to catch the group if they’d started early. The path remained suspiciously flat—apparently I’d skimmed the elevation chart. This ‘Randy Pace’ cruising let me knock out the first five miles in 1:24. Unspectacular? Absolutely. Impressive? Not at all.

Then at mile five—Zion’s magic revealed itself. A perfect shade tree and panoramic westward view into Potato Hollow appeared like a desert mirage.

Beyond the viewpoint, gentle descends gave way to surreal landscapes—fine desert sand paths winding through wildflower fields. Beautifully bizarre. Then… the trail turned traitor.

After the sand-and-blossom wonderland, the path lunged steeply into pine forests. My legs staged a mutiny. That blistering desert pace? Turns out dehydration and empty calories make poor fuel for actual climbing.

I’d packed 3L water, banking on at least one of four reported sources being active. Wrong. Bone-dry conditions forced strict rationing for the remaining trek.

After conquering the first major climb of the hike, I was rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views of Potato Hollow. Pausing frequently to snap photos and catch my breath, it struck me that this pristine wilderness has no roads or maintained trails—only those who’ve trekked the West Rim Trail have witnessed these spectacular vistas. It’s humbling to realize how few have been privileged to experience Potato Hollow’s raw beauty.

This is why I live for adventure. In that moment, I felt immense gratitude—both for my body’s ability to carry me here and for the opportunity, courtesy of Outdoor Vitals’ invitation. These are the experiences that make all the effort worthwhile.

The West Rim Trail led us upward past more stunning overlooks of Potato Hollow before reaching the backcountry sites. Surprisingly, I arrived at campsite #4 before the Outdoor Vitals crew—they’d detoured to West Zion for permits. After pitching my tent and documenting the scene, I grabbed a quick nap while waiting for the team.

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), while Derek opted for a simple A-frame tarp shelter. We were joined by Shawn—another content creator like myself—who rocked an Outdoor Vitals hammock setup.

We instantly clicked—a group of like-minded outdoor enthusiasts (basically a blind backpacking meetup, and why not try everything twice!). As we swapped adventure stories and rested our legs, a curious deer wandered through camp. At sunset, we hauled dinner and cameras to a nearby viewpoint, though California’s wildfire smoke obscured what should have been a spectacular show.

Nature compensated with an incredible heat lightning display as darkness fell. During cloud breaks, we spotted satellites and identified planets—Mars and Jupiter shone particularly bright. We turned in early to prepare for tomorrow’s 9-mile desert trek before the afternoon heat.

After a restful night and quick breakfast, we broke camp ahead of schedule. The morning hike went smoothly—we crushed those nine miles before noon! Icy Gatorades at the trailhead tasted like liquid gold. After switching to flip-flops, we headed for our next basecamp at Zion Canyon Campground near Springdale.

Once settled at the campground, we grabbed some celebratory drinks before Dave revealed a secret: Zion’s hidden swimming hole. Launching off a massive boulder into the cool water was absolute paradise—the perfect reward after two grueling desert hikes.

I 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, tackling the nine-hour drive in stages. I reached Colorado National Monument around 12:30 AM, snapped some night shots, then crashed in my truck to finish 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. Shoutout to Shaun for capturing the adventure and giving me a nod in his video. With his massive YouTube following, you’ll want to binge his trip videos and hit subscribe!