Episode 10Travel & Outdoors

Zion National Park: Memories & Mistakes While Hiking in the Parks

IN the Parks·Allison Martin·Aug 10, 2026·23 min
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Show Notes

Join me and my family in Zion National Park! We hike the trail to The Narrows, Emerald Pools, and Court of the Patriarchs on our day in the park. I’ll give you our park strategy, tips, mistakes, regrets, and memories while sharing some info about the park. There are thousands of resources online about Zion from people who have spent considerable time there. Don’t get lost in all the options; just go and enjoy this truly stunning park!

You are going to learn about:

  • An Overview of Zion National Park
  • The Hike to the Narrows and Emerald Pools
  • The Court of the Patriarchs
  • What We Wish We’d Done Differently
  • How to Hike Zion With Kids

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Want to join my IN the Parks journey? Check out the podcast, follow along on Instagram and Facebook, and be sure to share with a friend. Now, go make some of your own memories, and I hope to see you in the parks!

Episode Details
Show
IN the Parks
Category
Travel & Outdoors
Topic
IN the Parks
Duration
00:22:46
Published
Aug 10, 2026
About the Host
Allison Martin
Allison Martin
Host · IN the Parks

Allison Martin tells the stories behind Indiana's state parks: the best trails, the campgrounds, the history and the corners worth the drive.

View show

Chapters

  1. 00:00Intro
  2. 01:45Planning the Trip
  3. 02:16Zion Overview & First Impressions
  4. 03:00Big Horn Sheep & a Very Rare Animal at Zion
  5. 03:40Where We Stayed
  6. 04:20The Plan for the Day
  7. 06:05Riverside Walk to the Narrows
  8. 11:25Emerald Pools Hike
  9. 14:00Court of the Patriarchs
  10. 14:54Driving Out Through the Tunnels & Checkerboard Mesa
  11. 16:59Keeping Indiana on My Mind
  12. 17:53What We Would Do Differently & Mistakes Made
  13. 20:12The Right Perspective When Hiking With Kids
  14. 20:30The Drive to Bryce Canyon
  15. 21:30My Biggest Regret
  16. 21:47Preview the Next Episode

Frequently asked

Quick answers.

The useful details, answered clearly and without the digging.

01

What trails does IN the Parks hike at Zion National Park?

Three: the Riverside Walk out to The Narrows, the Emerald Pools hike, and the Court of the Patriarchs. Allison Martin and her family did all three in a single day in the park. The episode walks through each one in the order they hiked it, starting at the 6:05 mark.

02

How long is the Zion National Park episode of IN the Parks?

22 minutes and 46 seconds. It's chaptered, so you can jump straight to the Narrows at 6:05, Emerald Pools at 11:25, or the Court of the Patriarchs at 14:00.

03

Can you hike Zion National Park with kids?

Yes, and this episode is largely about how. Allison hiked it with her extended family, and the section starting at 20:12, "The Right Perspective When Hiking With Kids," covers how they set expectations across a wide range of ages. The Season 2 crew includes kids from 18 months to 10 years old.

04

Did they see wildlife at Zion National Park?

Yes. Early in the day they spotted bighorn sheep, plus one very rare animal. That story is at the 3:00 mark of the episode.

05

What did the family wish they had done differently at Zion?

The episode gives it a full section starting at 17:53, covering the mistakes they made on their park day, followed by Allison's biggest regret at 21:30. It's the honest version of a national park visit rather than a highlight reel.

06

Which park comes after Zion on the IN the Parks Utah trip?

Bryce Canyon. The drive there closes out this episode at 20:30, and the next episode gets previewed at 21:47. Season 2 covers Utah's Mighty 5 — Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Arches — plus a finish at the Grand Canyon.

07

Why is an Indiana podcast covering a Utah national park?

IN the Parks spent Season 1 visiting all 37 Indiana state park properties, and Season 2 follows host Allison Martin's family on a Utah road trip. Indiana stays in the picture throughout — there's a segment at 16:59 called "Keeping Indiana on My Mind."

08

Where can I listen to the Zion National Park episode?

On Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or straight from the player on this page. You can also follow IN the Parks on Instagram and Facebook for photos from the trip.

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