On the Riverside Trail

The narrows

Zion Canyon RV Resort, Springdale, UT: Sat outside this morning enjoying the cool breeze. It was pretty hazy—or smoky from yesterday’s fire. After a couple of hours the heat started building and we were forced inside. Supposed to be 104 today. When we went out for dinner it was 103. We leave here tomorrow for Bryce Canyon. Just in time since it’s supposed to be 108 this weekend. They tell us it’s 20-25 degrees cooler at Bryce.

Golden Columbine

Crossing one of the rapids

As the canyon narrows, you're totally immersed in the water

Where the hell am I?

Our ugly booties and shoes

Hanging gardens in the narrows

Zion Canyon RV Resort, Springdale, UT: This morning we headed out about 9:30 and walked across the street from our RV park to Zion Outfitters to rent some neoprene booties and shoes to go over them along with two stout poles to hike the narrows. I also rented a dry bag for my camera. Then we came back to our site and put on the booties and shoes, filled our packs and walked back to get the shuttle. The riverside trail is the last stop on the shuttle. Hiked the trail to where it ends and then you hike the rest of the way in the river. The trail was beautiful with lush vegetation, several hanging gardens, and a few springs. The river hiking was very difficult though. The current was surprisingly strong and when in up to your thighs it tries to push you down. And there are lots of rocks in the river which you can’t see so you have to feel your way with your feet. Almost fell a few times. Crossed the rapids three times and the last time Mike went on ahead to where the river gets a lot deeper and he turned around because the water was up to his pack. We would have had to remove our packs and hold them over our heads in order to keep going. Decided to turn back. I was just getting the hang of it by then so going back wasn’t too bad. The canyon keeps getting narrower and narrower and the sides are about 1200 feet high. It’s supposedly the longest slot canyon in the world. It’s five miles up to the end of the canyon and the waterfall. There were two girls on the bus with us yesterday who hiked down to the waterfall, spent the night, and then hiked out through the narrows—all with a huge pack. Hiked the river trail back and got back in the river for a little to cool off some. Then took the shuttle back. Took off our booties and shoes, changed into our bathing suits and went to the pool. Felt soooo good! Came back and changed for dinner. Planned on taking our rental booties, shoes, and poles back to the outfitters and then walking down to the Spotted Dog to see if our waiter/climber was working tonight. He won’t be back until Thursday. So we took the shuttle down the road to The Majestic steakhouse for dinner. During dinner we found out the power was out and we’d have to pay in cash. Luckily, we had enough cash to do that. Then we found out that the power was out in all of Springdale, Rockville, Virgin, and LaVerkin. Apparently there was a fire in LaVerkin which spread to the transformer, or something. All the restaurants in town were shut down except for The Majestic and a Mexican restaurant. Of course the power was also out in our RV park and when we got back it was 93 inside our RV. So, we sat outside reading. It hit a scorching 102 today. The power was supposed to be out until at least 11:00 p.m., but it was on again by 8:00 or so. What a day! The hike up the slot canyon was disappointing because it was a lot harder than I thought and there were so many people. At least we did some of it.

Grafton Ghost Town

Cemetery at Grafton Ghost Town

Virgin River

Zion Canyon RV Resort, Springdale, UT: This morning we decided to hike the emerald pool trail. Filled our fanny packs with sandwiches and drinks and headed out for the shuttle bus. Wanted to get out early because it’s been screaming hot and we wanted to be in the big bend area by noon so we can watch a couple of guys rock climbing up this cliff. While we were at the Spotted Dog restaurant for dinner the other night, I asked our waiter where we could see some climbing. He said he and a friend were going out on Monday and to be at the Big Bend stop on the shuttle by noon. So, we did our hike up to the lower emerald pool—which was a nice hike and pretty cool up there with the water fall—and then came back down and walked along the Virgin River for a while and then walked over to the Zion Lodge and sat in the shade cooling off. Then hopped on the shuttle and got off at the Big Bend stop. Our bus driver pointed out some hikers on the Angel’s Landing trail which was a ledge on the side of the cliff. Yikes! We found the guys getting ready to climb and watched them for three hours there in the shade at the shuttle stop. Could hardly see them with the naked eye. Even with binoculars it was hard. Shows you how huge that cliff face really is. We were thinking about going back for a while this evening, but it’s so screaming hot think we’ll pass. Probably over 100 today. Tomorrow we’re planning on hiking the riverside trail and into the narrows.

View from our site

We went over this old bridge on the way to Grafton ghost town.

Built in 1924, it was the only bridge across the Virgin River, and the only way to get to Zion and the Grand Canyon

A historic home in Rockville, UT...

Apparently it used to be a telegraph & post office

Zion Canyon RV Resort, Springdale, UT: Planned to just kick back today and do the laundry. Started watching a movie on TNT this morning…then another. Ended up watching three movies. Actually poured down rain for a while. What an anomaly. Finally went over to the laundry room here and did the laundry. Helped some tourists figure out how to work the machines. There are a LOT of Europeans here. Was hot today. If we’re going to do any more hiking we’re going to have to get going early. Probably upper 90s today. Our air conditioner is getting a workout. I did sit outside reading for a while. It didn’t feel that bad. Quite breezy.

Pretty impressive forests up there in those notches

Kolob Canyons

John Wood Home--Grafton Ghost Town

John Wood Barn--Grafton Ghost Town

Grafton Schoolhouse/church

Alonzo Russell home--Grafton Ghost Town

Grafton Ghost Town Cemetery

(these three were killed by Indians--in their 20s)

Zion Canyon RV Resort, Springdale, UT: I was up first this morning and sat outside for a while waiting for Mike to get up. Some clouds rolling in, but still pretty warm. Decided to drive to the western part of Zion—Kolob Canyons. The only way to get there is to backtrack to LaVerkin (about 25 miles or so), then head north to Rt. 15 heading north for about 12 miles to the exit for Kolob Canyons. Again, this area was totally different from Zion Canyon itself and the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway east of the tunnel. These Kolob Canyons are called “finger canyons. If you hold up your hand and spread out your fingers, that is what these canyons are like. They start out wide and then keep getting narrower and narrower until they end. Each one is like a mini-Zion. Pretty spectacular. It’s only a five-mile drive on the Kolob Terrace Road up to the top and there’s a picnic area up there and a short trail up to a little overlook. We sat in the picnic area for a while and then walked the trail. Think it was 95. Drove back down to the valley. It’s now 104. Went through the little town of Toquerville and there was this huge Diamond G Ranch with a beautiful tudor-style mansion. All gated. Beautiful place with beautiful, white-fenced pastures. Had to go to the little town of Virgin to find a place to eat. Then we stopped at the only grocery store around (in LaVerkin) and picked up some things. Then back to Zion. Stopped at the little ghost town of Grafton—just outside of Rockville. What a historic and interesting place. Situated on the Virgin River, it was first settled in 1862. It became a ghost town for the first time in 1866. It was resettled again but abandoned again and they resettled in Rockville. Back home and put away our groceries. It’s cooled off—somewhere in the mid-90s. Fun day.

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.

One of the trails--called Angel's Landing--goes up to the top of the canyon wall. The last .5 mile is on a 23" wide rim where on one side it's a 900 foot drop and the other side is a 1200 ft. drop. 5 miles total. Won't be doing that one.

Zion Canyon--so pretty

The pretty Weeping Rock Trail

Zion Canyon RV Resort, Springdale, UT: Up this morning and surprised at how cool it was. Cool and windy. It takes a while for the sun to come up over the canyon wall. We walked up to the shuttle stop just outside the resort and took the shuttle to the Visitor Center. Then transferred to an up-canyon bus. The shuttles stop at all trail heads and viewing area. We stopped at the weeping rock trail and walked up this pretty trail to a spring coming out of the cliff face creating this pretty garden. We were told it takes anywhere from 800 to 1200 years for the water to filter down. Sounds hard to believe. The temperature dropped considerably up there. Felt really good. Stopped at the grotto trail and hiked down to the Zion Canyon Lodge and had lunch. Then took the shuttle back to the Visitor Center and checked that out for a while. We checked at the back country desk because we want to do the river trail where it ends and the canyon gets really narrow. You can continue on for 5 miles in the river. The canyon walls are very close here. No rain in sight, so we’re going to try it. Then took the in-town shuttle back to our park. Pretty warm. Another beautiful day. Think it was probably in the upper 90s today. Going to a restaurant across the street from our RV park for dinner tonight.