The tunnel

These funny formations on top of this rock are called hoodoos

All this swirly-looking rock

Checkerboard Mesa

All-wood wind mill

Zion Canyon RV Resort, Springdale, UT: Got a late start this morning because we were both up late last night. So we decided to just drive over to the east entrance of the park and check out that tunnel. We headed out and started climbing up out of the canyon in a series of about five switchbacks—and then the tunnel. As I said before, any high profile vehicle—like an RV—they have to stop all traffic and let you go through by yourself so you can go up the middle. We didn’t have too much of a wait though. Before this tunnel was built (in the late 1920s) the only way to get in from the east was on foot. On the other side of the tunnel it was so different. Where there were huge cliffs and monoliths before the tunnel, after the tunnel the rock is called slick rock and it seemed to be pitched at a 45 degree angle. It was almost otherworldly. There were a lot of rugged side canyons and dry washes that looked like easy hiking. And it was cooler there—of course we were up a lot higher. Drove out of the canyon onto a high plateau. Stopped for lunch at Mt. Carmel Junction and then drove back. Beautiful drive. Checked out the little town of Springdale (where we’re at) and then Rockville. Springdale has some pretty high-end homes—and in such a beautiful setting. There were a couple of really old, historical homes in Rockville that had been beautifully restored. Think it hit the high 90s today. But it does cool down at night.