The Great Western Trip 2018: Zion National Park

After our hike in Bryce in the morning, we packed up and headed to Zion, coming in along the scenic Mt. Carmel drive:

Checkerboard mesa

Lots of tunnels carved into rocks

We stayed in Zion Lodge, which is right in the canyon:

For scale

When we arrived, it was hot and our room was not ready, so we decided to spend some time in the Virgin River (as recommended by the park ranger at the visitor's center):

In the middle of the river

View from the river

Another view from the river

 In the evening, we took the shuttle bus to the various scenic points and took a couple of short hikes:

Weeping Rock

Temple of Sinawava

The Three Patriarchs

View from the start of the shuttle line

We got up early the next morning to hike Emerald Pools, the trailhead for which was right across from the lodge:

The hike started on the bridge over the Virgin River

Early morning deer

Made it to the lower pool

Moon was still up when we got there

The lower pool had a VERY small waterfall

But the sun was starting to come up, making pretty colors in the canyon

The middle emerald pool was prettier

More fun light in the canyon

And more deer

Back to the bridge

We got back to the trailhead just as the sun was fully up

The Great Western Trip 2018: Bryce Canyon (Day 2)

On Monday morning, we got up before sunrise (5:30am) and walked out to Sunrise Point to take it in, then immediately onto Queen's Garden Trail to hike down to the bottom of the canyon:

 

 

 

 

Starting down the canyon

 

The morning light was really pretty on the walls

Everything looks different close up

At the bottom of the canyon

Walking back up Navajo Trail -- lots of switchbacks

Looking down on the switchbacks

Thor's hammer