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Southwest National Parks - 2018
Bryce Canyon
to Zion
Day 18 - May 7
Leaving Bryce Canyon. Back on Scenic Byway 12 - there's about 20 miles left of it. This is Red Canyon
Two tunnels - unfortunately, we had to bypass them
Scenic Byway 12 is about to end. And the landscape is about to change dramatically
We are now on US Highway 89 heading south. It is also a scenic byway, but not an "All American" one like Highway 12. One level down. Still gorgeous
Now on Utah Highway 9, heading west toward Zion. A herd of lazy bison
Ascending, and the landscape changes again
We have arrived at our final national park!
Checkerboard Mesa
Such an odd design!
All of the roads within the park use local dirt to make the red pavement
These were right near each other
The first Zion tunnel
The lineup to travel the 2nd Zion tunnel. It is now a one-way tunnel, primarily to allow longer vehicles to enter
We decided to park prior to entering the tunnel and Ric took the 1 mile (roundtrip) hike on the Canyon Overlook Trail
From the trail
The trail travels under this huge overhang
The trail narrows a bit
The overlook, an amazing view into Zion Canyon
Highway 9 emerges from the tunnel and switchbacks down into the canyon
Through the tunnel
Grand Arch
Zoomed into the Canyon Overlook, above Grand Arch
Heading down into Zion Canyon
Tunnel portals
It's early afternoon, and we are at the Visitor Center. The only way to visit the canyon is via a shuttle bus system. We will leave our car at the Visitor Center and stop at most of the shuttle stops to familiarize ourselves with the canyon.
This is the Virgin River.
From Zion Lodge
From the Kayenta and Angels Landing Trailheads
Angels Landing on the left
Angels Landing summit. We hiked this 35 years ago. Not this time - at its end, the trail traverses a narrow hogback using chains (down 1,000 feet on both sides). Those days have passed us by...
Great White Throne
The entrance to Riverside Walk and The Narrows. We will hike The Narrows tomorrow.
The Virgin River along Riverside Walk
Zion
The Narrows
Day 19 - May 8
Woke up early to catch the first Zion shuttle bus for The Narrows. The sun is peeking
We start our hike. The first mile is the Riverwalk Walk, a paved trail
Maidenhair Fern
At the end of Riverside Walk, The Narrows Trail begins.
We will hike another 2.5 miles up The Narrows, crossing the river 15 times. There will be times when we will hike the river itself, where the canyon walls meet the river on both sides.
We think we were in the water more often than not
The end of Riverside Trail is in the background. Our first crossing
With Kathy's bum knee, we took it very slowly. She was a trooper!
This was a long stretch of water hiking
Hi Ric!
Hi Kathy!
Tiny waterfall
We met a couple in Capitol Reef who had just hiked The Narrows. They recommended that we rent river hiking gear from a local adventure company.
Yesterday, we rented hiking shoes, neoprene sox and dry pants. Also, rigid hiking sticks - normal hiking poles can easily get caught in the rocks and snap.
They were great! The water was 46 degrees, so not terribly cold. But we were really comfortable. Wet feet, but never cold!!
It's not that some parts of the canyon were darker than others. As you might imagine, the cameras were struggling to get the right exposure
You can see, you really have to watch your step!
Our last crossing. We'll turn around just up ahead, about 3.5 miles total one way.
Looking up at the narrow canyon walls
Ric going up just a bit further, but not much. What's around the bend?
Begininng our way back. This was the easiest crossing - all sand.
Sometmes walking on the rocks in the water is easier than the rocks on land
Maybe the toughest stretch. Very loose rocks
It's why we get started early in the morning
The final crossing - that's a smile of accomplishment!!
Back on Riverside Walk
View from Zion Lodge, where we will spend a restful afternoon eating ice cream and reading a good book. Our 7-mile hike up The Narrows was the longest hike of our trip
Zion
Day 20 - May 9
Deer on the front lawn across the street from our motel
The Towers of the Virgins
West Temple
Sentinel
Altar of Sacrifice
Beehives
Weeping Rock Trail
Weeping Rock
Weeping Rock "balcony"
View from the balcony
The Zion Museum is located at the base of the Towers of the Virgins. We were a little hiked out, and asked the ranger there for ideas. We had heard that Kolob Canyon was very pretty; he informed us that was closed for road repairs.
He suggested that we visit Kolob Terrace, a shorter distance away than Kolob Canyon, and sparsely visited. Sounded good to us!
Kolob Terrace Road wanders in and out of Zion's park borders on its way to Lava Point
In the far distance is the back side of the Towers of the Virgins
This has the makings of an arch!
This farm is near the northern end of Kolob Terrace Road
Lava Point - looking east toward Virgin River Canyon
Lava Point - looking south toward Zion Visitor Center
Near Hop Valley Trailhead
Back in Springdale for Bumbleberry Pie and Bumbleberry Ice Cream! By the way, there is no such thing as a bumbleberry - it's just mixed berry.
Zion
Day 21 - May 10
We arrived early in the morning to catch the shuttle. We're not the only ones
Kayenta Trailhead, which leads to the Emerald Pool Trail
A few overhangs narrow the trail here and there
The Kayenta Trail offers beautiful views of the Virgin River and Zion Canyon before turning right into a side canyon
Cactus - this is desert
Upper and Lower Emerald Pools from a distance. Middle Emerald Pool is in there too. That's where we are headed
Zoom in to Lower Emerald Pool
Seeping out the rock. The Maidenhair fern love it
Up, up, up. This would be the hardest trail we would hike. Not long, but steep and very rocky
MIddle Emerald Pool
Upper Emerald Pool
The trail leading to Lower Emerald Pool
Lower Emerald Pool. Of the three pools, this is the prettiest. And as is hardly never the case, this was the easiest to get to
The Lower Emerald Pool "balcony," which runs behind the little waterfalls
The Lower Emerald Pools
The bridge at the Emerald Pool Trailhead, near Zion Lodge
The Virgin River
The view from Zion Lodge. Once again, a relaxing afternoon
Zion's Watchman - just behind our motel in Springdale
Zion to
Yorba Linda, CA
Day 22 - May 11
The Virgin River Gorge, on Interstate 15 between St. George and Mesquite
The Virgin River flows into the Colorado and Lake Mead at the Overton Arm
Incredibly, the Virgin River is only 162 miles long. But what a 162 miles!!
We were welcomed back to Southern California by this fogbank, which ran the entire length of the Cajon Pass. About an hour delay
We returned home midday on Friday, May 11. What a trip! We decided along the way that we would not pick a favorite place; each had its own unique personality and landscape architecture. At each turn in the road we were shown something different: deep-cut canyons, mountains reaching to the sky, rushing rivers, hoodoos, gorges, weeping rocks. Red rock, green rock, white rock.
We are so blessed to be able to see God's creative hand on our planet, and we can't wait to start on our next adventure!
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