Day 13---Zion

So the Misses is looking at the map in Salt Lake City when she says Zion is only 4 and a half hours from here.  What do you do when she says that?  You drive the 4 and a half hours, of course.

Zion is our favorite national park, and we have been to quite a few.  In our opinion it has unmatched beauty, is not as crowded as some of the other places, and has our favorite hike, the Virgin River, through the Narrows.  This would be our third trip to Zion and the river, but the first without the kids.  It did not disappoint.

When you get to Zion, you pretty much have to park and ride the shuttle bus if you're not camping or staying at the lodge.  And you'd better get there early if you want to park close. otherwise it's off site parking and another shuttle ride.  Unless you're stubborn like me, then your drive around looking for someone to leave, which only took me about 15 minutes.  Not too bad....

Then the 40 minute ride to get to the river.  You pass through beautiful scenery, but it's is sometimes had to see as the bus keeps packing more people on as you make the 6 or 7 stops before you get to the last stop, the Virgin River.  It is worth the ride.  Once you get to the stop, it's about a mile to the end of the trail where you grab a walking stick and start the trek through the Narrows.

Basically you're hiking upstream through a magnificent canyon.  You are in the river itself, or along the riverbank.  It is rocky and sandy.  The water isn't warm, but it doesn't feel particularly cold either.  The water moves at a pretty good pace, so you have to watch that.  It is a series of switchbacks through a canyon that is hundreds of feet high.

And the views are fantastic.  With the sun hitting the rocks at different angles the beauty is indescribable.  It seemed to the Misses and I that we did more waking on the sides of the river than we did in our previous visits, so I'm guessing the water level is down.  But it didn't matter.  We have been told that if you want to do the whole river you will be staying over night and it will take the better part of two days.  Of course he further in you hike the people you see, but to us the views just keep getting better.  We were more than happy with our five and a half hour hike.  Well worth the trip, and I would very highly recommend it to anyone who has a chance to visit Zion.  But read up a bit first--it is a much better experience when you are prepared.

This vacation thing can get a little rough. We are both kind of banged up and a little worn down by the Virgin River hike.  Sunday could prove interesting.  More hikes in Zion?  Phoenix isn't that far away, neither is Vegas.  We shall see......