Zion NP, UT

After a morning bike ride in Red Canyon and a hike among the pines and red sandstone cliffs we completed scenic byway 12 and traveled all of 73 miles to Zion which became a National Park in 1919. The first white settlers to live in Zion were Mormons who were sent from Salt Lake City in the 1850s and in the 1860s to grow cotton, which was not available due to the Civil War, hence the area has been referred to as Utah's Dixie.


We entered down the steep incline and through the narrow tunnels on the east side of the park. The road was an engineering marvel in the 1930s but hardly accomodates today's rvs. They have to stop traffic and lead large rvs through the tunnel so that they can drive in the middle. We knew it would be hot and the 100 degree temperatures proved that. We also knew we wouldn't stay long. We got the last electric spot available and made use of the a/c until late afternoon at which time we boarded the shuttle at the visitor's center and marveled at the sheer cliffs that arise 2,000 to 3,000 feet in the canyon alongside the Virgin River. After dinner on the patio at the lodge we shuttled up to the Temple of Shinawa stop and took the delightful 2 mile riverside walk to the Narrows. This path follows along the Virgin River through a narrow canyon past hanging gardens. Some Evening Grosbeaks entertained us along the way as they were feeding in our path. A large buck with velvet still on his antlers also surprised us and didn't seem bothered by tourists walking by. More photos.