Zions National Park

This picture was taken right off the road in Zion's Park

 

 

If you want to go to a National Park that is awe inspiring, go to Zion’s National Park in Southern Utah.  If you’re a hiker you can hike, if you’re a climber you can climb, if you’re a rappelled you can rappel, if your one to go on a long hike then I recommend the Zion Narrows.  You will hike through towering walls of sandstone in water.  Just be aware if you are going through the Zion Narrows you need a permit and you might need it for some of the other rappels but you can get them on line before you go on your trip.  If you are none of the above and just want to ride through Zion’s Park in your car you can do that too, you just don’t go off the beaten path.

            The day I went was overcast, on most days it is sunny and blue skies, you might even see one of the long horn sheep or deer as you drive through the Park.  One year my daughter got her truck butted by a long horn sheep who didn’t like the idea of her being in the road (didn’t hurt the truck.)  Just make sure you take lots of water in your water reusable bottle if you go hiking, they prohibit disposable water bottles in Zion's (you can have what you want in your car.)

            You may drive through Zion's Park year round, highway 9 ends at highway 89 and you can go North to Bryce Canyon or South to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.  The east entrance of Zion's Park is about ten to fifteen minutes from highway 89.  The winding road in Zion's Park is only around eleven miles long.  There is a road that breaks off the main road in the park that takes you up to Zion's Lodge that you need to take the shuttle in the summer to get to it unless you are staying at the lodge, then you may drive  your car there.   They shuttle you off the main road to Zion's Lodge where you can eat at the restaurant and walk in the Virgin River that  is the ending point of the Zion's Narrow hike. 
           
            There are many things to do in this beautiful park, it is South of Bryce Canyon that is a couple of hours away or Zion’s Park is North of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon (much prettier than the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and not so commercialized but they do have a motel and restaurant.
   
             There is a tunnel in Zion's Park that is a little over a mile long built using horse and wagons built in the early 1900's.  My husband's father and Grandfather helped build the tunnel, it took about a year.  The men started building from both sides and met in the middle.  His father and Grandfather each got paid a wage and their horse and wagon got paid a wage.  They would dynamite the tunnel and then send the men in with there horses and wagon to pick up the rocks and throw them out the windows that were dynamited in for ventilation and light.  It is a beautiful sight going through the tunnel and looking out the windows at the top of the mountain.  My Grandkids always have me honk in the tunnel, to scare away the giant gofer their Grandfather says is in there - although it is just for fun. 

            Zion’s National Park is about four hours away from Las Vegas so plan a trip there next time you go to Las Vegas Nevada, it is well worth it, then head on up to Bryce or the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.