Zion National Park, Part II — What We Saw, What We Read

We made it back to Zion after a break from the weekend crowds (and the Rampage campers). After a morning spent volunteering at the Best Friends Animal Society sanctuary we packed up our tent and drove to Zion's eastern entrance. The view of the park coming from the east was breathtaking and entirely new from our visit the previous week. We were coming in, not from the base of the canyon but over the rim. The road weaved by sandstone cliffs with checkered patterns and colorful ripples. After spotting a few big horned sheep on the roadside, we parked our car and hiked the quick mile long Canyon Overlook trail. From the top, we looked into the canyon and could see the road snake along the sandstone peaks making its way to the Virgin River.

The next morning we tackled Angel's Landing, one of the more strenuous hikes in the Park. The trail takes hikers up a steep set of switchbacks called Walters Wiggles before a narrow ridge with thousand-foot drop-offs on either side. Bolted chains along the ridge provide little comfort if you are afraid of heights. We made it to the top in time to appreciate an incredible view of the canyon floor and the Virgin River. We sat at the peak for a while, observing the surroundings and appreciating the work it took to experience the view. As we carefully made our way back down along the cable lined ridge, we paused for the traffic of new hikers braving the trail in the late afternoon.

The next day, after checking flash flood warnings and renting waterproof protective gear, we set off on our next adventure into The Narrows. The trail through the gorge places hikers directly in the cool waters (~50 deg F) of the Virgin River to observe the caverns, crevices, and thousand foot canyon walls. A short trail along the river stopped abruptly forcing us to step right in, water right at our knees. We slowly and carefully waded through the river, after each bend around the walls of the gorge we would think "maybe just one more". The experience felt surreal. We were engulfed by the sound of the rushing river and immersed in the subdued colors of the cavern walls just barely illuminated by light in some places. Eventually, we had to turn back to give us time to leave The Narrows safely, this time walking with the current and not against it. Somehow the time slipped away from us in the canyon. It was late afternoon by the time we emerged, hungry and tired but grateful for the adventure that day.

Just a couple big-horned sheep having an afternoon snack.

A view from the Canyon Overlook Trail on the eastern side of the park.

We spent several more days exploring Zion, leaving the central park area to explore Kolob Canyon. On a cold morning we hiked 14 miles out and back to see Kolob Arch, one of the largest free standing arches in the world. Our final day in the area, we came into the park one more time to hike the East Rim Trail to Observation Point. Climbing more than 2,000 feet over 4 miles, Observation Point looks over the canyon, far above Angels Landing. The trail weaves and climbs over slot canyons, exposing checkerboard and wavy patterns in the rock. Eventually you hit the mesa above and walk along the canyon's edge to witness an enchanting view of the canyon floor. It was a perfect finale to our visit to Zion.

The view of Zion canyon including Angels Landing and the Virgin River far below.