Zion National Park.

We enter Zion National Park from the west through Springdale, a resort town. The Visitors Centre is a great resource with maps, displays and information. Rangers are available to answer questions. The $25 entrance fee is waived on  production of our National Park card.
We watch a 20 minute orientation movie at the Zion Human History Museum.

From April to October, Zion Canyon, at the heart of the national park, is only accessible by National Park Service Shuttle. Private vehicles are not permitted in the canyon.. The park shuttle is free with the park entrance fee and operates from early morning until late evening. We travel the 6 mile scenic drive to the top/end of the line then remain on the shuttle for 1 stop on the return trip getting off at a trailhead. We are on our own.




We hike the Emerald Pools Loop - a 2.5 mile hike which takes us from the Grotto to Zion Lodge. It is a great hike starting on the floor of the canyon and climbing - we pass the upper, mid and lower Emerald pools on the way. It takes about one and a half hours.

Zion Canyon is spectacular! awesome! amazing! The colour of  deep crimson, it was carved by the powerful waters of the Virgin River and then widened, sculpted and reshaped by wind, rain and ice. Its walls rise up over 2000ft and are shaped into jagged peaks. The meadows along the river are quite lush with the foliage of cottonwood, oak and willow trees.





We have the odd light shower but otherwise perfect conditions for hiking!
After lunch at the Lodge we take the shuttle back to the Visitors Centre and the car.
The car park is a treasure trove of number plates from various states. Kim is planning to create a collage of photos of vehicle number plates - one from each state. She started the collection when she was here in April but is missing a few.


Zion is revered as a spiritual place - The Great White Throne, Court of Patriarchs, The West Temple - enormous cliffs with biblical names that evoke a feeling of awe.

It is also heaven on earth for those looking for outdoor adventure whether it is exploring slot canyons, rock climbing mammoth cliffs or kayaking the Virgin River, not to mention backpacking and horseback rides.
I am sure it becomes a very busy place in the height of the season.
There are a number of outfitting businesses in Springdale and Cedar City waiting to assist you in whatever you need to fully immerse yourself in this natural wonder.

We leave the park at 3.30pm, driving through the Zion-Mt Carmel tunnel - 1.1 mile long and completely dark! Quite an experience. The tunnel has 5 galleries which offer spectacular glimpses of the canyon; if you are game to look around when you are driving. I tell Trevor I am looking for him!
















We take Hwy 9 to the east, passing yellow sandstone and Checkerboard Mesa along the way.

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We then go north on Hwy 89 to 14, the same route as yesterday back to Cedar City.
An icecream at Orderville is just right. We get back to the RV about 6.30pm.