I’ve visited Zion National Park several times, but most trips ended up being quick stops where we’d hike Angels Landing (three times now!) and maybe one other short trail. When the team at Outdoor Vitals invited me to join their West Rim Trail backpacking trip (top to bottom), I jumped at the chance – even if it meant a nine-hour drive to get there.

The 16-mile West Rim Trail runs north-south through Zion, usually done as a one-way trek. Most hikers drop their packs to detour to Angels Landing before descending into the valley. But recent flash floods had closed that route, turning our trip into an 18-mile out-and-back journey to backcountry site #4.

Coming from Denver while the Outdoor Vitals team drove from their Cedar City HQ, we planned a rough meetup time at the trailhead – knowing cell service would be spotty. If either group ran late, we’d just meet on the trail.

Kolob Terrace Road and Lava Point Road revealed parts of Zion I’d never seen before. The small trailhead parking (max 10 cars) was empty when I arrived. Prepping my gear, I wondered if any vehicles belonged to my hiking companions.

I hit the trail quickly, hoping to catch up if they’d started already. The surprisingly flat terrain let me set a fast “Randy Pace” – covering the first five miles in just 1 hour 24 minutes. Honestly? Those flat miles were pretty forgettable.

Then at mile five, Zion’s magic appeared. A perfect shade tree and stunning westward view into Potato Hollow made the perfect rest stop.

After the viewpoint, the trail stayed flat before a gradual descent. Then came surreal hiking through fine desert sand surrounded by wildflowers – bizarre yet beautiful. That’s when things got interesting…

Right after the sand-and-flowers wonderland, the trail shot steeply upward into forest. My legs suddenly rebelled – that blistering desert pace, combined with dehydration and low energy, hit me hard when real climbing began.

I’d packed 3L of water, counting on at least one of four potential water sources being available. Wrong. With zero water access, I had to ration carefully for the entire desert 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 dawned on me—this pristine wilderness has no roads or maintained trails. Only those who’ve trekked the West Rim Trail have witnessed these spectacular vistas. How incredible that so few have experienced Potato Hollow’s raw beauty!

This is exactly why I live for outdoor adventures. 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.

The West Rim Trail led us upward past more stunning overlooks of Potato Hollow before reaching the backcountry sites. Arriving at campsite #4 first, I realized I’d outpaced the Outdoor Vitals team—they’d detoured to West Zion for permits. After pitching my tent and documenting the scene, I grabbed some shut-eye while waiting for the crew.

The guys rolled in about an hour later with an impressive variety of setups. Dave tested a prototype one-person tent (just footprint and rainfly), while Derek went ultra-minimalist with just a sleeping pad and bag under an A-frame tarp. Shawn—another invited content creator—opted for an Outdoor Vitals hammock setup beneath a rainfly.

We instantly clicked—a group of like-minded adventurers on what felt like a blind backpacking meetup (hey, I’ll try anything twice!). As we swapped outdoor 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 display of heat lightning as darkness fell. During cloud breaks, we spotted satellites and identified planets—Mars and Jupiter shone particularly bright. An early bedtime ensured we’d beat the desert heat on tomorrow’s 9-mile return hike.

After a restful night and quick breakfast, we broke camp ahead of schedule. Crushing those nine miles before noon (with icy Gatorade waiting at the trailhead) felt amazing! A quick change into flip-flops, and we were off to our next basecamp—the developed Zion Canyon Campground near Springdale.

Post-camp setup, we grabbed some celebratory drinks before Dave revealed Zion’s best-kept secret: a hidden swimming hole. Launching off a sun-warmed boulder into the cool water was pure bliss—the perfect remedy for two days of desert trekking!

I initially planned to stay overnight and return to Denver the next morning, but once again chose to escape the heat by leaving just before sunset to tackle the nine-hour drive. I reached Colorado National Monument around midnight and decided to capture some night shots before sleeping in my truck and finishing the journey home at dawn.

A massive thanks to the crew at Outdoor Vitals for inviting me on this adventure. Grateful for the chance to backpack through Zion and discover more of the park. They consistently deliver top-notch gear—definitely give them a look. Huge shoutout to Shaun for documenting the trip and giving me a mention in the video. With his massive YouTube following, be sure to watch his travel videos and hit that subscribe button!