Zion

Morning breaking over the Valley, just across the street from the Zion Lodge.


Just spent 3 days in Zion National Park - one of the prettiest places we've seen on our travels. The weather was glorious. I don't think we saw a cloud during the entire time we were there, and the temps were in the 80's. The elevation on the valley floor is about 4000 ft, so it still gets pretty cool in the evenings after the sun disappears behind the vertical sandstone walls above.


One of several slot canyons on the East Rim Trail to Observation Rock.


We typically started out about 8 AM, when it was still pretty cool and gradually peeled off layers of clothing as it warmed up. Did the West Rim trail beyond Angel's Rest on the first day and the East Rim trail to Observation Rock on the second day. Both were pretty steep uphills, but the reward at the end was solitude and quiet like you couldn't believe and views that went on forever.

The view down the valley from Observation Rock - had two pairs of peregrine falcons circling overhead while we ate lunch

Another view along one of the slot canyons


And Another


Some of the back country on the West Rim Trail



The Red Sandstone reminded both of us the the Uluru/Ayers Rock area in Australia



Usually we have the back country hikes pretty much to ourselves once we get about 15 minutes from the trail head parking areas, even in Yellowstone & Yosemite where it can get quite crowded. Zion is the first place we've been where just about everyone seemed to be making an effort to get out on the trails. Our early start times meant we didn't have too much company on the way up, but boy was it crowded (both days) on the way back down. Thankfully, most of the crowd stayed on the shorter hikes, but we still saw a lot more foot traffic than usual 4 or 5 miles in.

Part of the charm of the place, aside from the manicured nature of the trails, was the shuttle system they started several years ago to reduce traffic. There used to be about 4000 cars a day on the 6 mile valley corridor (looking for one of the 400 parking spaces). Made for some pretty heavy congestion I guess, because now the only way to access any of the trail heads or view points is via the free shuttles that run every 10 minutes or so and which run all day from 6 AM to 10 PM. Was actually a very pleasant way to get around, and being able to ride back to the Lodge was a real treat with tired legs from 5 hours of hiking up and down the hills.

Going to give our legs a rest for a day or two while we drive over to Monument Valley.