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TR - A Snowy trip to Grand Canyon, Bryce, and Zion

TR - A Snowy trip to Grand Canyon, Bryce, and Zion

Old May 8th, 2016, 02:44 AM
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TR - A Snowy trip to Grand Canyon, Bryce, and Zion

The timing: late April/early May
Before leaving, we read/watched several videos on geology which greatly helped (details to follow)

The weather: varied from hot to snow, and I do mean, snow. Those who planned a very short trip to GC would find disappointment as for several hours on the day we visited, visibility was near zero (more on this to follow.)

Clothing: At the coldest times, we layered up with pretty much everything we brought: a tee shirt, long sleeve shirt, light zip-up microfleece jacket, light Goretex shell jacket, sun hat with separate 'sleeve' layer underneath (what cyclists wear under helmets, to add warmth); jeans; 'special' sneakers with light wool socks, and cotton fleece mitts or light gloves. Dressing for the hot times was simple - just peeled off as required. The 'special' sneakers were running shoes with Goretex liner and a light but hard sole with fairly aggressive tread - good choice for light hiking/walking without weight.

Special gear: To help with steep descents in Bryce and GC (knees have a lot of mileage on them), we packed a folding cane apiece: Although a bit of a compromise, a folding cane fit better into carryon-only luggage than collapsible hiking poles.

Special thanks to posters Myer, Utah_tea, MikeP in Tucson, and - rats, I hope to think of their name soon. And everyone else in the great Fodor community who helped. Myer's tip to stay the night(s) in National Park lodges was especially appreciated, even though these lodges are not cheap.

The itinerary: This was a self-drive itinerary totalling 9 nights, Vegas to Vegas via Page, Arizona. Total mileage driven in the States: 1200 miles.

Arrival in LAS in early afternoon from the east for 2 nights in Vegas, mainly to rest up after flight.
Sedona, via the 'long way round' i.e. Wickenburg - and omitting Hoover dam - 1 night.
Grand Canyon South Rim - 2 nights
Page - 1 night
Bryce - 1 night
Zion - 1 night
late p.m arrival in Vegas, for a 22:00 flight out - we shall count this as 1 night.

Total: 9 nights. Detailed notes to follow

General Comment: For a first trip, our timing wasn't bad, but a second night in Sedona would have given us time to see Crescent Moon park area (we did not have time our first night) and would also have allowed a visit to the museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff en route to GC South Rim. Note that for various reasons, we ruled out doing Antelope canyon in Page. As it was, even had we planned it, there was a short drizzle the day we visited Page. Be aware that rain in the forecast might mean your slot canyon tour is cancelled, or at the very least, your hopes for interesting light conditions for photography might be dashed. More details to follow.
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Old May 9th, 2016, 03:59 AM
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This sounds like the kind of first trip that we have taken and gave us the bug to explore more of this beautiful part of the country.

Good that you opted not to visit Antelope given the weather conditions. If it isn't sunny the effect is lost and with rain, even miles away, it can be dangerous.

Looking for the rest of the report!
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Old May 18th, 2016, 03:27 AM
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emalloy, I am fighting off a terrible cold, but it is on my to-do list to finish. I thank you for the encouragement because (ah-choo!) I need it.
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Old Jul 17th, 2016, 03:41 AM
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That was a longer 'intermission' than I planned!

************

I had indicated I would link to some documentaries worth watching as prep for the Grand Canyon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdKecWIREuE

...is a National Geographic "Wild documentary and discovery" feature of just under an hour that will give those who haven't studied geology (Sue raises her hand) an introduction to the geology of the canyon, of theories of why the canyon is as deep as it is. (Water over the milennia has acted as the vehicle for small rocks and boulders that have 'scoured' the layers of rock.) One also gets an appreciation for why, when one stands on the rim several thousand feet above current sea level, one is standing on the floor of an ancient sea.

***********

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2X4U1mQzoE

The above is just a nice 'teaser' - a National Geographic national park doc of maybe 6 minutes duration, showing a flyover of the GC, and showing it from altitudes well below the rim, i.e. it pans the Colorado river.

*************

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dn-ZuF-eirw

...is a homemade, i.e. filmed by phone camera, video of the WEST canyon and the glass skywalk. For me, it shows why the South rim has it all over the west rim, even though the latter is closer to Las Vegas.

****************

It also helps to look up a few terms before the trip. This is a very brief explanation of the difference between (in order of decreasing size) - a plateau, a mesa, and a butte

http://seethesouthwest.com/903/the-d...a-and-plateau/

Note that a 'pinnacle' is essentially an eroded butte.

Monument Valley offers perhaps the most famous examples of buttes and pinnacles, but that's just it, they are examples, not unique formations (although the particular combination at MV is particularly scenic.) So if you lack the time to go to MV as we did, you can see a great butte, for example, in Page; there are pinnacles to be found in Sedona, and so on. You will of course drive up the surface of the Colorado Plateau as you drive from Flagstaff to Grand canyon village in the park.

Note: It is worthwhile to stop off at Navajo Bridge, even if it means a slightly longer trip between Page and Bryce Canyon, just to see how shallow the canyon is at this point.
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Old Jul 17th, 2016, 04:05 AM
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A few more notes, mainly on timing since other trip reports cover very well the sights to be seen:

On such a short trip, timing is critical.

Day 1 - Las Vegas. Having landed at 13:30ish, I was glad to have been forewarned that picking up the rental car can take longer than expected. In our case it was egregiously long - from the time we got out of arrivals at the airport, to arriving at our hotel, it was 2 hours! This was in part because we turned down the first two cars offered to us as the treads on the tires didn't match - 3 of one type and 1 of another didn't strike us as being all that safe. (Given that we encountered black ice in Bryce Canyon, I was glad we made a fuss about this.) However, having the car rental formalities out of the way was essential, even if it meant 'garaging' the car for the next day and a half, as when we do leave Las Vegas, it will be very early, well before the downtown rental depots open.

Given our need to pick up essential supplies and to rest, etc., the day's sightseeing is limited to a brief after-dark walk of the strip to see the fountain show at Bellagio (worth it!)

Day 2 (Monday 25 April) - Las Vegas. It's windy, and so dry I'm putting in eye drops every couple of hours. We head back over to Bellagio to see the internal conservatory garden - at present, it's a 'Japanese Garden' theme. Then it's a walk over to Caesar's Palace to see the pool complex there. On this pleasant but, for Las Vegas, cool day, the place is deserted but for a handful of young ladies who were crouched inside a poolside cabana; the lifeguards are all in sweatsuits! So, not a good day for pool lounging.

A note: we walked everywhere; I'm pretty sure that the buses would not have been any faster. They were, in any case, very crowded.

We return to our hotel (Marriott's Grand Chateau) via Bally's and Paris, which gives us our fill of sightseeing casinos. Spouse wants to try tacos, so we pick up some to go from a restaurant in the Miracle Mile shops at Planet Hollywood.

My original plan was to go to the Atomic testing museum in the afternoon, but given that we want to walk the strip again after nightfall, we opt instead to just lounge in our room for the afternoon, nap, and watch a movie.

Back out on the strip in the evening, we walk to the Mirage (lovely quiet gardens in front) and then cross the street to Venezia, from where we watch the cheesy but fun volcano show put on by Mirage. Back down the strip for a second viewing of the Bellagio fountain show, and that's it, that was our Vegas. Those of you who enjoy fine dining and shows will find lots to amuse you. But us, we turn in, knowing that a 5 am wakeup call awaits.
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Old Jul 17th, 2016, 05:43 AM
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Day 3 (Tues 26 April), - to Sedona via Wickenburg.

The rooster crowed at 5 and we were in the car by just after 6. Before leaving Vegas we remembered to drive past the point of our car rental return and note it on the GPS.

The point of taking this route to Sedona was to get far enough south to see saguaro and organ pipe cacti. I was really glad we did this long drive because it turned out to be a highlight for us.

We've never seen a desert before, well, not a 'hot' one anyway, and in fact we get a two-for-one special because this route takes us through the Mojave AND the Sonoran deserts. Many plants were in bloom.

The Mohave is closest to Las Vegas and features yucca shrubs like Joshua trees. We got a good photo of one just prior to coming into Wickenburg. Once we're into the Sonoran region further south, that's where we saw chollo (not really teddy bear like, watch out for the spines!) and organ pipe and/or saguaro cacti - I confess we may have been calling organ pipe 'saguaro'. I assumed that any cacti with side branches was a saguaro, if I'm wrong about this someone let me know.

Prickly pear in bloom were common as we approached the outskirts of Phoenix - lovely yellow and pink blossoms, amazingly on the same plant in some instances.

We also saw what we think were mesquite trees in bloom - they had yellow flowers (if I'm wrong about this, someone please correct me; I asked some locals but I'm not sure if I described the tree/bush very well, because they couldn't name it for me.)
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Old Oct 31st, 2016, 02:14 AM
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**Finishing this off for a friend who is visiting the area next spring. If you want to come along for the ride, you are welcome.**

*************

Day 3 (Tues) - Vegas to Sedona, continued.

Poster 'Myer' loves Sedona, and as we drive through the approach to this small town, I can see why. At this time of year, the sun is up for a long time, but the famous red rocks even in nearly full light are very pretty, and under the warm glow of the setting sun in a few hours, will be breathtaking.

I'd love to hear from someone who has seen both Ayres Rock/Uluru, and Sedona. I've heard the former glows red in the setting sun and this is certainly true for the 'rocks' in Sedona. The former does strike one as likely to have formed under similar geological conditions - i.e. what one sees is what is left behind after softer rock around it eroded, say by wind or a sea that retreated. Although I am told Uluru is referred to as an 'inselberg' rather than a butte/mesa.

We had a very simple supper, in order to maximize our time spent gazing at the views from up on the airport road.

Day 4 (Sedona to GC.)

This morning we are booked for a walking tour at Palatki Heritage site. A tour, if not a booking for one, is mandatory - you can't see these cliff dwellings on your own.

http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/cocon...5368&actid=119

But we took care to leave enough time beforehand, to do the Boynton Canyon Vista trail (thanks, Myer.) I cannot compare it to other trails in Sedona as this was our single hike, but I can verify that one gets maximum views for effort on this hike. Hint: after leaving the parking lot, keep to the left - we almost wound up on Boynton Canyon trail, which is a longer offshoot of the Vista trail.

A word about the vortex. After climbing up the trail to see the vista, you will return by the same route, this time going downhill. You will feel much more energized on the return route. This is of course the result of the vortex

With photos, we took an hour to do this very short trail. Note that owing to having an annual National Parks pass, we didn't need a Red Rock pass to park in the parking lot. However, there are a few places in Sedona (e.g. Crescent moon) for which the fee may not be covered, or only partly covered, by the National Parks pass.

At Palatki, parking is ample and the volunteers, enthusiastic. Our volunteer gave us a 90 minute tour - including a brief back story of the history of the Verde river valley, of which a fine view can be seen from up at the cliff dwellings.

We return for lunch at 'Tlaqupaque Village' shopping village/restaurant complex. It's just warm enough to eat 'al fresco' on this slightly cooler than average, but sunny, day. Had we another night, we could have spent the afternoon at our hotel pool, and then maybe done Crescent Moon park. But that would have meant chopping a night in GC, and we wanted at least a full day there.

By early afternoon (2 p.m) we head out along Oak Creek Canyon, via a brief gas stop at Flagstaff, to Grand Canyon - arriving late after noon (17:30 or so.) As we drive up to GC, it's clear that at some point in the earth's history, something pushed all this land - the Colorado Plateau - up, after it was deposited. Tomorrow we'll learn the acronym "DUDE" from our park ranger. It stands for Deposition (layers of various-sized grains of rock deposited by an ancient ocean); Uplift; Downcutting; Erosion. If you are interested, a super fast ranger talk is available here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPC6cGaJo_E

Except of course that geologists are still arguing as to just how the Colorado river managed to downcut quite so deeply through the plateau.

It's cloudy today, almost drizzling, and quite cool. So there's no need to roar out to the rim to see a sunset that won't be visible. We check into the first of our two hotels - Maswik Lodge North, have an indifferent meal in the cafeteria, and relax.
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Old Oct 31st, 2016, 02:28 AM
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Day 5 (Thu, 28 April)

Today we're up at 06:00 because we want a chance to see the canyon while it is relatively quiet.

So, after breakfast at Maswik cafeteria, and checking out of our hotel - we are switching hotels because space was so tight, we had to book 2 hotels over 2 nights - we head up for our first look at the canyon. Our plan is to descend as far as the 'second arch' or after roughly 45 minutes of descent. We're taking the wider of the two most popular trails, the Bright Angel trail, as yours truly is not certain she can handle the more exposed South Kaibab. As it is, Bright Angel is more convenient - we don't need to take the shuttle bus.

Just before heading out on the hike, we attempt to find the 'fossil area' that we will explore with a ranger on an 11:00 tour. We find the general area but I remark to spouse that we could be looking at fossils, or blobs of toothpaste, for all we know. The ranger as guide is going to be a must.

Back to Bright Angel hiking: I was glad we did this, even a tiny bit. The views don't change overly much, but the ambiance sure does, especially if one starts out early, as we do, leaving at just after 08:30. The sun is making what will be only a brief appearance today, so again, I'm glad we set off early. It's blessedly quiet below the rim, and we can hear the birds crying as they swoop around overhead.

The ascent wasn't as bad as feared, it took us just ten minutes longer than descending, bearing in mind that we took more photos on the way down. We're back up by just after 10 a.m. The sun has disappeared, and it's getting colder.

To kill time until our ranger 'fossil' tour, we head over to the Kolb Studio. This was an enjoyable short stop, with wonderful antique film footage of the canyon bottom on continuous display downstairs. We also snare a tee shirt (me) and a ball cap (spouse) - latter lost his cap in the canyon, having failed to use his usual alligator clip cord to anchor it to his collar. It's windy around here, bear that in mind.

I look out the gift shop window and see...snow coming down. Oi.

But there are still ten determined souls at the ranger meet-up point, and the tour proceeds as scheduled. I think however I could have sold my light cotton mitts that I brought, many times over, to various of our tour comrades. Also any of the entire set of layers that I brought.

This is my idea of a fossil hunt - easy access. The fossils are all marine (e.g. compacted sponges) and they hammer home that we are walking on what was once a sea floor.
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Old Oct 31st, 2016, 02:45 AM
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Day 5 (GC South rim, continued)

By the time the ranger finishes the tour, there is enough snow to actually accumulate, and the views are completely socked in. We're more than ready for lunch, to warm us inside and out. We pick pizza at Maswik food court, then hop the shuttle bus. We arrive at the Yavapai Geology museum just in time for the 14:00 ranger talk, this time on the formation of the canyon. For those who lacked the patience to check out my longer links above, here's the one minute time-lapse version.

https://vimeo.com/24145969

The view ought to have been spectacular, but it's still socked in. At least the museum is fun, and the ranger is young and eager. He reminds me that water alone didn't erode the canyon, rather the water brought the 'tools' of rocks and boulders that, together with the gravitational drop that the river's course took, scoured the canyon walls.

After an hour or so we head via the (orange) shuttle to the Park Visitor Centre, where we see a short film. There are a few other exhibits, but we decide to jump aboard a (blue) shuttle that takes us back to Bright Angel lodge. There, yours truly finds a parking space near Thunderbird lodge, and stands as a human marker upon same whilst spouse returns via shuttle to Maswik, where our car is, and brings it to the space. We're just in time to do this, as car parking near the rim is always tight. A heads up: the shuttles work well, but note that the blue route is 50 minutes round trip, or 25 minutes each way. Don't count on rushing around GC village.

Tonight we dine at Bright Angel's 'Arizona room.' Seating is FCFServed, which is how I like it because it means we don't have to work to a schedule. The weather is improving, thank heaven, but there's still no sunset to be seen. Very glad we saw Sedona by sunset, as compensation.

At Thunderbird, we have a rim view, which is fun. But truly, either of the rooms we had, were fine.

The evening is spent snooping around the gift shop at Bright Angel, a very atmospheric hotel, but noisier than Thunderbird.
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Old Oct 31st, 2016, 03:35 AM
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Day 6 (Fri, April 29) - GC South Rim to Page.

The weather, thank heaven, is much better. It's going to be a clear, sunny day, once the slight mist lifts.

Breakfast today is at Bright Angel. The food anywhere in GC is, as expected, expensive - this is a delicate, remote site hosting millions of visitors each year, so supply is difficult and demand is strong. I would however recommend this place for breakfast over Maswik. I'd rather eat smaller portions of higher quality food.

We head out on the 'Red' shuttle for our mini tour of the viewpoints. A heads up. Listen carefully to the announcements on the bus, or study the shuttle route beforehand.

https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvis...-red-route.htm

The return shuttle does not stop at every stop! So we plan our route accordingly. We head out just after 08:00: First stop was Hopi Point, which we reach by roughly 08:30 or so. We've got the place to ourselves! There's enough time (15 to 20 mins) until the next shuttle comes along (08:45) for a decent view of the lovely layers visible from here; next stop is Mohave, which we reach at 08:50. Again, it's us and maybe two other people. The return bus drops by Mohave just after 09:00, and we're back at the transfer point by around 09:30. By this time, the shuttles are considerably busier as are the viewpoints. Just so you know.

Our last look at the rim is to explore the History Room at Bright Angel Lodge. This is a delightful place showcasing the art and design research of Mary Colter and other early developers of GC tourism.

It's heading toward 10:30 when we get to our car and head out. We had a full day in GC, and never got to see the El Tovar, or shop at Hopi House, but overall a full day in the village enough, although I'd hate to have had less.

Today is 'Desert View' day and we time it well, since it's now fully sunny. We make two stops - Lipan Point and Desert View Watchtower. Both are fabulous viewpoints, but I do urge everyone interested in art not to rush Desert View watchtower. The level of detail to be seen on each level is quite striking.

Tipped off by the Fodorite team, we knew enough not to order more than a single Navajo taco for lunch at the Cameron trading post. The dining room here is very atmospheric - there's an artwork, featuring pressed samples of at least 50 plants employed by the Navajo in making dyes, medicines, etc. over the fireplace, and there are many other western antiques to view while you eat. A Navajo taco, by the way, is on 'fry bread' which is like a flat savoury doughnut (read: don't eat this way all the time!) and topped with ground beef, tomatoes, cheese.

There's a huge gift shop at this trading post (it lives up to its name) but we manage to escape without making any purchases. We've ninety minutes of driving to do to get to Page, and yes! that is a condor, we are almost certain of it, that we spot as we head through a place called Antelope Pass, on highway 89 about 30 to 45 minutes before arriving at our hotel (Best Western View of Lake Powell.)

We check in quickly because we're eager to do the short hike to Horseshoe Bend Scenic Overlook, which will require us to retrace our steps, or at least, tire-prints. Myer was right - this is well worth doing, but like him I crawl! the last meter or two. That is a long way down to the Colorado from here, and I am not a condor.

We also do a quick walk to the bridge, there to view what we can of Waterholes canyon. (A better view requires a permit from the Navajo; we have neither time nor inclination to bother, our interest is geological, not photographic.)

Supper tonight is found at the Walmart, and heated up in the room microwave, along with a salad. I had pre-scouted out a laundromat prior to departure, but I can't be bothered, and just do a handwash in the sink.
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Old Oct 31st, 2016, 03:52 AM
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Day 7 (Sat, April 30) Page to Bryce Canyon.

Another early start, but as we are keeping more or less to the eastern time zone, this early to bed, early to rise regimen isn't too taxing.

First stop is Glen Canyon dam - we skipped the Hoover dam, so this is a must for us. It's much easier to visit, and free to do so, although we don't bother with a tour. It opens early (08:00) which is a plus. But it's still after 09:00 by the time we leave, and almost 10 by the time we do the quick hike out to the overlook. It's cloudy today, a warning once again that if your heart is set on Antelope Canyon, forewarned: the best views of that place need sun.

We opt to do the slightly longer route to Bryce, going via Marble Canyon and Navajo bridge. Our hope is to spot the condor, or at least, a condor again. The condors, alas, stayed home to watch TV today, but it was still interesting to see the Colorado in a much, much shallower part of its valley than what we saw yesterday. All the way along I'm snapping photos through the car windows as we drive. I can't get enough of the beautiful orange-pink rock, with here and there layers of blue and yellow visible.

Our lunch in Kanab ( I think at the 'Desert Star' is a late second breakfast - quite late, as we lost an hour when we crossed the Utah border. So it's mid afternoon by the time we climb, climb the roads into Bryce Canyon park.

And it's cold! (Again.) But at least we've missed the snow that yes, they had here yesterday.

Our lodge room is comfortable and more secluded than I expected. It's also cheaper by $16 or so as they lowered the price since we booked, and yes, they refunded us the difference.

We've time to do a bit of the 'rim' walk and descend a bit into the canyon via the Navajo/Queens Garden loop, but the trail is very muddy and spouse is not happy at the state of the canyon sides - he perceives another landslide imminent. Or maybe he is just trying to talk me out of another big climb up. Whatever, we opt for pizza from the small shop for supper. It's very expensive, but quick.
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Old Oct 31st, 2016, 04:41 AM
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Good that you've come back to your TR. This makes me want to head out west again.

Thanks
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Old Oct 31st, 2016, 12:56 PM
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emalloy, I am glad you are enjoying coming along for the "ride." This friend of mine has been planning to go to GC for like, five years; my goal is to encourage her to go (and also remind myself of our trip before I forget everything.)

********************

Day 8 - Sun, 1 May

It's bright and sunny this morning, but there was a bit of snow overnight. Nothing too serious, it will melt in an hour or two.

We have breakfast in the lodge dining room. This is a very atmospheric place, very 'lodge-y' with a log cabin feel to it. And excellent food.

This morning we are off to see a bit of the park by car.

Ack, the supper is burning. Back later.
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Old Oct 31st, 2016, 02:35 PM
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Okay, where were we:

Day 8 (Sun 1 May, Bryce to Zion, continued)

I'm driving as we head up to the Bryce Canyon viewpoints. In busier months, taking the shuttle is highly recommended, but as we are early enough in the season, we're going the do-it-yourself route. Our destination is Rainbow Point. The sun is sparkling off the snow covered spires of the canyon hoodoos, and the dark green of the firs and other evergreens make a nice contrast to the coming-right-at-you orange of the canyon. But while the views are pleasant, I'm eager to get back to where I can walk through these formations, as the views from on foot are for me much more interesting.

So, back at the lodge, spouse, needing a knee rest from hiking, volunteers for laundromat duty (last night's handwash was but a stopgap.) So I set off on my own for my last quick short stroll.

I would love to trek down to see 'Wall Street' slot canyon but the trail has been blocked by a landslide for some time and I have a hunch it will be so for some time. Nature isn't done sculpting this place. So I content myself with hiking to photo a few specific spots, in the time we have left in the park.

We exit the park around noon and buy a sandwich for later consumption from the Ruby's Inn complex, as we're now headed to the Thunderbird motel in Mt. Carmel junction for lunch. The place mats in the diner explain the innocent beginnings of the slogan of this establishment: "Home of the Ho-Made pies." The menu features enormous patti melt burgers on homemade rye bread, and by each of us eating only half of our burger, we have room to share a piece of one of the aforementioned pies. This was a fun stop.

Driving into the outskirts of Zion NP, we can spot mountain goats smirking down at us. (I swear they were smirking, and they have a right to smirk, they are hikers par excellence.) As for us, we manage to find parking just before the tunnel so we can do the goat-worthy Zion Overlook trail (about an hour roundtrip). I love this trail - maximum views for effort expended - but for this mild altophobe, this is as exciting a trail as I can manage. In other words, no Angels Landing hike for me, thank you.

The tunnel is no joke of a tunnel - I am reminded of driving in Austria. When we emerge, we find ourselves going down hairpin switchbacks, down and down and down, because Zion is at the bottom, not the top of a canyon as are Bryce and GC. Thanks to our staying at Zion lodge (thank you Myer for that tip!) we can drive into the park, at least as far as the lodge.

It's a pleasant, warm evening for a change. And we have scored a room with a balcony, featuring two rocking chairs, and a view towards the canyon walls. This is easily my favourite of the National Park lodges at which we stayed.

We nibble a bit at the sandwiches (still full from lunch) and then head out for an Emerald Pools stroll in the soft light of the early evening, catching sight of deer as we go. And so endeth our day.
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Old Oct 31st, 2016, 02:51 PM
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Day 9 (Mon, 2 May) Zion to Las Vegas McCarron airport.

Another sunny day. After a light breakfast, we check out and then hop the shuttle for the trip to the Temple of Sinawawa and the Riverside Walk. Those planning to actually hike into the Narrows were not able to do so today, as the Narrows was closed. So they had to join we more time-constrained folk and content themselves with the pleasant Riverside walk.

It's after noon by the time we leave Springdale. We decide to have a late lunch at a Subway in Mesquite, which is just across the border in Nevada.

We then decide to try and stop in at Valley of Fire state park. Yo, this takes us a lot longer than we expected. By the time we arrive, we decide to forego forking out the entrance fee and just head onward to Vegas. The joke is, that having been so pleased to find Joshua trees en route from Vegas to Wickenburg, we see platoons of the things en route back to Vegas from VOF State Park.

Vegas traffic is not fun, owing to lots of construction. I'm glad we've left lots of time till our flight out.

****Extension trip to Drumheller, Alberta follows ***********
Sue_xx_yy is offline  
Old Jul 18th, 2021, 08:12 AM
  #16  
 
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I just came across your lovely trip report.

I have been to all the places you mentioned so this was a very pleasant enjoyable read for me !!

I did both rims of the Grand Canyon ( saw 4-5 Condors driving to the the North Rim Canyon).

Been to Drumheller Alberta several times as I live in Alberta.

Thank you for the detailed trip report and the links. !!
Percy is offline  
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