Zion National Park
From Jacob Lake we drove to Kanab, Utah then on to the eastern entrance to Zion National Park. We had reservations at an RV park in Springdale but you have to enter the park then exit on the south side to get here. The RV park was pretty good - although sites were close together there were trees between each site. It also had the benefit of the cliffs overlooking the park.
The whole town of Springdale seems to owe its existence to the National Park. It looks very new and there is a lot of construction going on. It also has a very mountain-town, hippy chic.
The park restricts cars during the summer months and this regimen was already in effect. You can only drive your car through the very southern end of the park (the part we had already traversed). To get to the areas up the canyon you must ride the shuttles. There is a town shuttle that will take you from your hotel or RV park tot he park entrance then you enter the park and get on a park shuttle. In the morning to wait to get on the shuttle is considerable.
We waited over 45 minutes but I still think it is a great idea. Once in the park you don't have to deal with the traffic all those cars would create. We took the shuttle to the last stop and walked to the end of the established trail to the section of the canyon called the Narrows. Along the way we saw very diverse ecosystems - towering cliffs to weeping walls and hanging gardens and the riparian environment around the Virgin River that carved the canyon.
Please bear with me, I went a little crazy this post with the photos. It is such a beautiful place and it was much more intimate an experience that the Grand Canyon, even with all the other people here.
Weeping Wall
Hanging Garden - Columbine
Yes, there were selfie-taking crazies everywhere.
We also went to another part of the canyon called Emerald Pools where a waterfall creates a pool below it that, when the conditions are right, algae makes the water an emerald color. We saw the waterfall but not the emerald color.
The next morning we left the park to head for Bryce Canyon and took a few more shots on our way out.
The whole town of Springdale seems to owe its existence to the National Park. It looks very new and there is a lot of construction going on. It also has a very mountain-town, hippy chic.
The park restricts cars during the summer months and this regimen was already in effect. You can only drive your car through the very southern end of the park (the part we had already traversed). To get to the areas up the canyon you must ride the shuttles. There is a town shuttle that will take you from your hotel or RV park tot he park entrance then you enter the park and get on a park shuttle. In the morning to wait to get on the shuttle is considerable.
We waited over 45 minutes but I still think it is a great idea. Once in the park you don't have to deal with the traffic all those cars would create. We took the shuttle to the last stop and walked to the end of the established trail to the section of the canyon called the Narrows. Along the way we saw very diverse ecosystems - towering cliffs to weeping walls and hanging gardens and the riparian environment around the Virgin River that carved the canyon.
Please bear with me, I went a little crazy this post with the photos. It is such a beautiful place and it was much more intimate an experience that the Grand Canyon, even with all the other people here.
Weeping Wall
Hanging Garden - Columbine
Yes, there were selfie-taking crazies everywhere.
We also went to another part of the canyon called Emerald Pools where a waterfall creates a pool below it that, when the conditions are right, algae makes the water an emerald color. We saw the waterfall but not the emerald color.
The next morning we left the park to head for Bryce Canyon and took a few more shots on our way out.
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