Mighty, Majestic Zion!

The towering cliffs of Zion struck awe in our hearts as we entered the crown jewel of our country’s national parks. Stunning and spectacular sights dazzled our eyes. The sun’s rays danced across the layers of red and white rock faces that define Zion. The life-giving Virgin River twisted and turned through the canyons that comprise the park, sometimes winding beside the Zion highway. A deep blue, cloudless sky completed this artistic masterpiece.

We entered from the east entrance, crawling along with a long line of vehicles waiting to drive through Zion’s mile long tunnel. Park rangers controlled the flow of traffic, affording single lane, one-directional traffic through the narrow, dark tunnel. The absence of any parking at the visitor center forced us onward to Springdale where we parked and caught the free shuttle back into Zion. Finally, we hopped on Zion’s free shuttle bus which is the only vehicle allowed to traverse Zion’s signature scenic canyon.

We left the bus at the Zion Lodge to tackle the Emerald Pools hiking trails. First the lower pool, then the middle pool and finally the upper pool rewarded our efforts for ascending 300+ feet of elevation. We were in good company with dozens of other hikers. We were grateful for our May timing as we knew dozens would instead become hundreds along this famed trail come June. A gentle waterfall cascaded over cliffs above us offering a delightful sprinkling of cool water around the halfway point. Numerous photo opportunities greeted us along the trail. Hikers who were descending offered encouraging words to those still ascending. “You’re almost there. Slow and steady. Keep going!”

After the final push, we reached the upper pool where cooler air, a light breeze, and lots of shade from the cliffs refreshed our weary bodies. This emerald pool offered beautiful reflections of the cliffs in its still water.  Once rested, we began the descent which required many deep knee bends as we climbed down from rocks and crevices. We became the cheerleaders offering encouragement for those still ascending.

Our next post will share more of our Zion experiences with more beauty to behold! Hope you’ll come along for the ride!