Hidden Gem: The Bowl

Exploring Greater Zion’s Lesser Known Attractions

Zion National Park is awesome. We all know that. But outside of Zion, there are some pretty spectacular things to see and do, with less crowds, that are waiting to be discovered and explored. We have created this series of gems outside of Zionto help with just that. On this second installment, we’re taking a look at a great hike called The Bowl.

To truly be a ‘Hidden Gem’, there has to be some element of a hike that makes it really special in at least one of three categories: the actual hike or trail itself, some special geographical element, or an incredible view at the end.

The Bowl achieves a higher-than-average score on its trail, but earns higher scores in the later categories. You start in a high desert terrain and quickly cross a wash into sandstone slickrock and sand. It’s a lot more stone than sand, luckily. Sand can be a real pain after a very short distance.

But what really makes The Bowl special is its geographical formation at the end of the hike. After a short mile or so in, you will loop right onto a large sandstone rise. It doesn’t seem like the right thing to do when looking for a huge hollowed-out bowl in sandstone, but it is. Make sure you don’t overshoot it by climbing to the highest point you can find in order to get a better vantage point. This is a good time to mention that more preparation and planning is always a good idea.

Once you climb up the sandstone tower, you’ll notice a shallow bowl filled with sand and grass and, depending on the recent weather and season, maybe even some water. That’s not the actual Bowl with a capital B, but it’s still a cool additional feature. As you head further up the tower, you’ll come to the real Bowl.

It’s really amazing what nature is capable of, and it’s also amazing what we would miss if we only go to the spots that are internationally known. You will really enjoyed exploring this spot, and make sure to let anyone else you know who’s headed to the area know about this hidden gem so that they can explore it themselves.