2025 Road Trip – Zion River Resort – Virgin, UT – 6/1 – 6/2

We departed from Demotte National Forest Service (NFS) Campground at 11:00AM MDT and headed Northwest to Zion River Resort in Virgin, UT (120 miles). We stopped for fuel on the Kaibab Indian Reservation (where there are no fuel taxes).

We arrived at Zion River Resort at 1:30PM MDT. They had a propane station right beside the area where you pull off to check-in, so we topped off our propane tank while we checked-in (we were down to 40%). We also reserved two seats ($15/each) on the 8:30AM MDT campground shuttle to the entrance at Zion National Park.

After boondocking (or dry camping) 5 out of the last 6 nights, we are both enjoying a VERY NICE RV Resort. Before I could finish connecting the camper to power, water, and sewer Beth had bolted out the door with TONS of laundry. After moving the clothes from the washer to the dryer she hit the campground showers where each private shower room includes a large bamboo bench, a large vanity with sink, a toilet, and a very large shower with incredible water pressure. Boondocking is fun and the privacy and views are spectacular, but sometimes it’s nice to relax and not deal with battery, water, and sewer anxiety.

The day after we arrived we took the 8:30AM MDT shuttle from the campground to the pedestrian entrance of Zion National Park along with a family of four. After making a quick stop at the Visitor Center we hopped on a NPS shuttle and took it out to the ninth and final stop. From there we walked the River Walk out to it’s end which is also where The Narrows hike begins. The Narrows hike requires walking through the river, which we had no intention of attempting. Unfortunately for those who did want to traverse The Narrows, they were stopped by a ranger by the time we got there. There was rain in the area and they were concerned about flash floods. The family that road the campground shuttle with us got there before they stopped hikers from going up river and had a good time going about 1.5 miles further.

We took the NPS shuttle back to the sixth stop, The Grotto, and ate our packed lunch in the picnic area. After lunch we hopped back on the NPS shuttle and got off at the fifth stop at The Lodge. We sat on a bench there and enjoyed the view and people watching. Beth went inside and bought a soda and convinced me to come inside and sit in a nice leather chair where I almost lost consciousness. Eventually we took the NPS shuttle back to the entrance and hung out around the Visitor Center until our campground shuttle picked us up.