The Ride
We left early for Zion, thinking we’d beat the rush and feel better staying on our own time zone.
It almost worked.
Right off the rip, we realized we’d forgotten the cooler — the one thing you don’t forget in the desert. A few extra stops later, we finally made it to the bike rental for training and gear.
By then, the heat was already announcing itself.
Utah summer heat is no joke. That day it hit 107°, and honestly, it felt hotter. I’m from South Carolina. I know heat. This was different. Dry. Relentless.
I drank over a hundred ounces of water that day, and it still didn’t feel like enough.
Choosing the Bikes
The destination was The Narrows — the famous slot canyon — and it didn’t disappoint.
You’re not allowed to drive there, so most people take the bus. But we weren’t most people. We rented electric bikes instead.
And as it turns out, that was the best decision we made all day.
I’d heard about the bikes a couple of years earlier when I passed through the park with my other sister and her family. This time, I finally got to experience it for myself.
For the most part, you ride alongside the buses. But then there’s a stretch of road that’s bike-and-hike only.
That part?
WOW. 🤩
Better Than the Narrows (Yeah, I Said It)
I’m not going to lie — the bike ride through the park was even better than The Narrows.
The canyon was incredible, no doubt. But the ride?
That was magic.
There was wind in my face and views everywhere. In front of you. Behind you. Up the hill. Down the hill. Left. Right.
My head was on a swivel. It didn’t matter where I looked — something incredible was there.
No bus line.
No cramped seat.
Just open road and a craving for more.
And that’s exactly what we got — more and more around every turn.
Would you like to see what it feels like to zoom down the mountain on a bike?
We didn’t rush. We stopped often. Water breaks. Rest. Pictures. Then more pictures.
The ride took nearly two hours, and it never felt long.
Entering the Narrows
When we reached the end, buses were lined up and people were pouring out. There were porta-johns and a spring-fed water fountain, which was perfect timing — I’d already gone through close to fifty ounces in the heat.
From there, it was a walk down a concrete path winding through forest and red rock before opening up into the slot canyon.
It’s massive.
So big it makes you feel small.
Tiny ants with cameras, wandering around in awe.
When my feet hit the water, it wasn’t as cold as I expected. I’d read for weeks about long sleeves and cold temperatures, but that day it felt refreshing. I know that can change depending on conditions — weather, rain upstream — but we got lucky.
The water never went above my waist, though we watched others go chin-deep around the bend.
Before we ever left home, we’d agreed on one thing:
go as far as we felt good, then turn back.
And that’s exactly what we did.
By the time I climbed back onto my bike, the fatigue was creeping in. The sun had taken its toll.
The Ride Back
The ride back was just as good — only faster and with fewer camera stops.
Exhausted doesn’t quite cover it.
After ice cream, dinner, and the two-hour drive back, all we wanted was a bed.
We wrapped the day with seafood in St. George at Rusty Crab Daddy.
So good — exactly what we needed after a long, perfect day.
Looking back, the day wasn’t even that physically demanding. The bike was easy. The hike was short.
But the experience?
That was everything.
It was a good day.
It was PERFECT.
Up next:
I Wanna Go — Episode 4
