Planning is the worst part of the outdoors. We killed it.

Do it bottom-up from Temple of Sinawava if you don't want a permit. Top-down sells out. Rent canyoneering shoes and a walking stick at Zion Outfitter, your sneakers will betray you. Water was waist-deep in a few spots in spring, knee-deep by July. Go at 7am. By 11 it's a parade of people in rented gear. Wall Street is the payoff, the canyon closes in to a slot. Everyone stops here for photos.

Lower Yosemite Falls is the easy one everyone does, but Mist Trail to Vernal Fall is the one worth the sweat. You will get soaked on the Mist Trail in spring. That's the whole point. Bring a rain shell. Camping books out 5 months ahead. If you miss it, Camp 4 is first-come and fills by 8am. Drive in before sunrise. Tunnel View with morning light beats any postcard. The valley shuttle is free and you should use it, parking is a nightmare by 10am.

Everyone underestimates the hike back up. Going down is the easy lie. Bright Angel has water stations and shade, South Kaibab has neither but better views. If you do rim-to-river-to-rim in a day the rangers will tell you not to. They're right. Phantom Ranch at the bottom needs a lottery reservation a year out, or camp at Bright Angel Campground. Sunset at Hopi Point is the classic for a reason. Get there early, the shuttle line is long.

Cadillac Mountain at sunrise is the first place in the US to see daylight part of the year. Needs a vehicle reservation in season. The Beehive Trail has iron rungs and ladders bolted into the cliff, not for anyone scared of heights. Jordan Pond House and the popovers are a tourist thing but the popovers are actually good. Bike the carriage roads, no cars, smooth gravel, easy with kids. October leaf season is gorgeous and absolutely mobbed. September is the sweet spot.