Go West Retired Couple, Go West!: Zion--Maybe the best park so far!

Grateful that Zion opened up! What an experience. We came in from the east entrance from Bryce and it was astonishing! It was so unusual looking that we FORGOT to take pictures on the way in but we don't think it is possible to capture this area on camera. We went through the mile long tunnel and out into another different landscape. Route 9 runs through the park and we left through the south entrance but it was not nearly as spectacular as coming in from the east... and totally different in that this is where the outfitters are and there is a lot of interesting stuff to do if you want a diversion from the park.

Zion was busy--parking lots almost full as were campgrounds--wouldn't like to be here during high season. It is very well organized. The Watchman campground is very nice and takes reservations--we didn't do but wish we had. Instead we stayed at the South Campground first come first served. They have a free Shuttle that starts at Visitor center and goes up into the beautiful canyons. We hiked a 3.7 mile (easy) River Trail at the last stop. This trail led to the "Narrows"--you start wading up the river with rented waterproof pants, shoes and walking sticks. Get all this gear at town at south entrance. Looked cold! The shuttle makes about 8 stops and you can get on and off--runs every 10 min with recorded commentary.

Trail to the Narrows

As far as we went on the Narrows trail

We saw a man climbing up a 1000 foot very vertical canyon face. Looked impossible! We stopped at the Lodge stop and hiked the Emerald trail and stopped with many others to view a very large spider---Carrie don't read this part! Turned out it was a tarantula --a small one per the ranger--bigger hairy ones are in Arizona.

Nice thing about this park was a dog friendly bike/hike trail right out of campground. It ran along the Virgin river and was lovely--no one on it. Everyone must be riding the shuttle!