...more Zion

As I said in my previous blog, I'm not sure how it gets better than this. Well it does. With every new trail we explore the scenery changes but then again it doesn't. Does that makes sense. Anyone that has explored Zion probably knows what I mean. It's a continuous series of "wows" and "look at that". That being said we decided to stay in Zion to hike as many trails we could. Yes, we could have ventured to Bryce Canyon or The Arches but decided to save that for another time. At this time of the year we didn't have to wait for a shuttle, vehicles are allowed into the canyon until beginning of April. We are taking advantage of that.

I was going to do the Angels Landing but some well laid plans did not work out. I woke to a light snow on the mountains and generally a nasty day in the higher elevations.

Fog and snow in the hills...not an Angel's Landing Day

It wasn't raining or snowing in the canyon so we decided to venture out. What ever trail sparked our interest that is the one we would do. People were driving so fast to get to their hiking trail they missed this wonderful mule deer feeding on the side of the road.

Breakfast

At the end of the road lies The Riverwalk which is a 2 mile paved trail out and back. As the name indicates it follows the river on a paved path that ends at the start of the narrows. It's upstream where the Virgin River narrows and is confined within the Navajo sandstone creating a tight perpendicular gorge. Downstream the softer Kayenta Formation rock is undercut by the fast flowing river.

That water was sooooooooooo cold

After lunch we decided to also hike Canyon Lookout since it turned out to be such a wonderful day. Hopefully we might get lucky enough and see bighorn sheep. The trail lies just beyond the Zion-Mt Carmel Tunnel. Did someone say tunnel I didn't tell Susan until we were almost there, she does better not knowing. Prior to the tunnel we were rewarded with a view of The Great Arch.

The Great Arch

Getting to the arch and tunnel is a 3.6 miles long road consisting of many switchbacks with drop offs on one side and a mountain wall on the other.

Looking back at Zion-Mt Carmel Highway

Construction on the highway and tunnel began in 1927 and was completed in 1930. Because the tunnel was built in the early years when vehicles were not as big as the ones today, there is a height restriction.

Waiting at the tunnel for a large bus to come through

Parking at this trail head is at a premium and there appears to be a few people taking advantage of the day like us. Walking along the trail you couldn't help but notice the beauty of your surroundings.

Spring has sprung

A plank bridge with nothing below

We continued along keeping a sharp lookout for big horn sheep but I have the feeling they didn't like all the yelling and crying kids on the trail either. Getting to the end was wonderful as we sat on top of the Great Arch looking down on the canyon below.

No big horn sheep here

The return trip was a little easier since it was down hill most of the way. I always told Susan that it doesn't have to look pretty just as long as your enjoying yourself.

It ain't pretty but we had a good laugh