When we set out to hike Observation Point in Zion National Park, I’d already had Angels Landing under my belt. I’d already crossed the threshold of the “I can do anything” mindset and was ready to show up not just for myself that day but for my life in general. I think hiking is one of those activities that forces you to reflect in the middle of the wilderness, surrounded by beautiful things, none of which is man made. This is when I find my inner peace. This is when I find what my soul actually desires.

When the Journey Gives You More Than the Destination

I usually never know much about the hikes that the hubs and I do ahead of time, because he is the planner of our adventures (when it comes to hiking and backpacking), and I am the organizer, prepper, and booker. (As in, booking all the things and such). So therefore, I am typically surprised by what adventures lie ahead, and sometimes I can get a little snippy if it turns out to be way longer than “just a short hike.” 🤨

Psst, if you’re interested in snagging a permit for Angels Landing or something similar, check out Recreation.gov to apply online. 🥳🥾

BUT! Observation Point was not that. Don’t get me wrong, it did have it’s parts where I caught myself thinking “how much longer?” But then I’d refocus and allow gratitude to creep in when I looked at all of nature’s beauty surrounding me. So often we take moments like this for granted because in the moment we’re frustrated with ourselves, with each other, or with something or someone that isn’t even present. Here’s to being more in tune with our outdoor side and letting the trees do the talking instead. 🍻🪾

I’m glad we didn’t take the shuttle, (I’ll talk a bit more about that later). 👇 Because by doing so, we were able to start when we were ready, go at our own pace, and not worry about it leaving without us when we were on our way back. It also allowed us to talk to each other and discuss our days prior to that, which in turn allowed us to discuss the future when we’d be back to the park with kids someday.

As we made our way down the trail, I had space to think. (I had a lot of space to think on this trip). We did so much hiking. We usually average 50-60 miles during one of these kinds of vacations, and although my body is aching on the plane ride home, I am so grateful for every minute of it.

When we finally got to the edge where the trail turned around (which felt like an eternity, probably because I was beginning to burn out toward the end of our days here), I was elated to see that you’re able to view Angels Landing perfectly from above. What a full circle moment it was. 💜

Once we started to head back, I thought about how much I enjoy this life and my life with my husband, and how I’d do all I could when I returned to make it more prevalent in our lives.

And that’s when the thought occurred to me…“I never even wanted this job to begin with.”

Stepping Off the Path I Never Wanted to Be On

You see, at the time, I was working from home with an online gig, and it was cool for a while. It allowed me to become *slightly* more disciplined, and have a little bit more flexibility with my schedule. But it had is cons, too.

The longer I sat there working online…from the couch…for days at a time…I put on weight, (that I’m still trying to get off years later), I went backwards with my business goals, and I put my health as a last priority because “I had work to do.” Ugh, eye roll. 🙄

Related: Overcoming Negativity on the Scale

As I think about that now, I realize how ridiculous that was, and how many things are so much more important than that to-do list for someone else. I could have spent those 2 years working on myself, working on growing my business, working on my relationship. But instead, I was just wasting time receiving a paycheck from a job that I didn’t even ask for in the first place.

Life’s a mystery sometimes, isn’t it?

So, as I continued down the path, I made a clear goal that things would change moving forward. I would pick myself up off of that couch and make the most of my days, plain and simple. I’d create new goals and work toward them, instead of falling further and further away.

Hiking just tends to have that thing about it, it provides real clarity and shows you who you really want to be.

And guess what, within 6 months of that trip, I was done with that job, had started making more on side hustles, and began working full time on what really moves me.

Breaking Through The Pressure Of Society’s Expectations

I think a lot of times we have to conquer something big to realize that we have more potential than we ever thought we did. Angels Landing did that for me. And seeing it from above just clarified it even further. Have you had one of those “aha” moments in life? Where you knew deep down that you were destined for something more than just punching a clock? Tell me about it in the comment section. Let’s see how we can move the needle for you as well. 💜

Observation Point in Zion: Route Info, Shuttle Options, and Essentials

So, let’s get to the nitty gritty of this hike and say sayonara to the life lessons for a bit, shall we?

The hike to Observation Point is about 7 miles, out and back. For most people, it’ll take around 2.5-3 hours to complete. (Also depending on if you wanna hang out and have some snacks checking out the views of Zion, of course). The elevation gain is around 700ft, so it’s not too bad if you keep a comfortable pace. 🤷‍♀️

As always in the desert, be sure to bring enough water to stay hydrated the entire time. Recently, we’ve not run out of drinking water…but we have in the past and it is seriously no fun. I’d recommend packing a few snacks for the 7 miles, and some electrolytes as well in case you get crampy. (These are currently my faves). The path is shaded is some parts along the way, but you’re still likely going to be hot and dehydrated unless you’re doing this hike in winter.

If you’re not up for driving to the trailhead yourself, or if you’re not renting a vehicle for this trip, check out the handy-dandy shuttle service that the park offers to get up to this point. To take the shuttle, it’ll cost about $7 per person, but if you decide to drive yourself, just make sure you have a national park pass or pay the entrance fee at the park office beforehand.

(You can grab one of those National Park Passes here! You’re welcome). 😌🫶

Although this wasn’t one of the hardest hikes we’ve completed, it definitely was one that stuck out in providing some mental clarity with how I wanted to move forward in my personal goals and career. Oftentimes we get so caught up in the daily activities of life that we forget to create time and space to just think.

That’s something I’ve tried to do more of these days. Since that hike several years ago, I’ve discovered more and more about myself that makes me realize self-growth takes time. Like, a LOT of time. It doesn’t happen overnight, and although there’s a benefit to having an accountability partner to help you through these phases, it isn’t necessary.

You alone can conquer what your path has ahead, and getting into nature just a little more when you’re able to may just be the breath of fresh air you needed to figure out exactly where that path leads.

Safe travels, friend. 💜🌱