Day 6: Zion to Bryce

Friday, October 24, 2014

My parents wanted to sleep in, so it’s just Sandy & me for breakfast this morning. Oscar’s was one of our favorites last time so that’s where we’ll go.

It’s barely after 7am when we get there and only one other table is occupied, although other hikers soon trickle in with barely contained excitement about their plans to tackle the Narrows and Angel’s Landing. I stick to the fruit parfait with homemade granola (yum), while Sandy gets another pancake combo.

My parents head out to pick up breakfast sandwiches shortly after we get back and then it’s off to the park. Zion, is Utah's oldest and most popular National Park receiving nearly 3 million visitors per year.

From the Visitor Center we ride the shuttle all the way to the end of the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, the Temple of Sinawava.  My plan was just to stretch our legs a bit, but my parents are intrigued by the promise of narrowing canyon walls along the Riverwalk trail (and the paved trail no doubt). 

Fake arch

Random river pictures

Fall has come to Zion

Where the real fun begins at the end of the paved trail ...

Boulder hopping is a lot of fun, but I am still jealous of the people starting their Narrows adventure decked out in full gear. Sigh. One day ... 

The bus feels nice and toasty on the way back! We lucked out and got an amazing bus driver who slowed down to point out cool things like mountain climbers scaling a sheer cliff face, mule deer and a blue heron fishing in the stream along the way.

We exit at Zion Lodge and cross the river to the Emerald Pools trail head. 

Looking out across the Virgin River from the bridge

Looking back

An easy 0.6 mi paved trail leads to the Lower Pool. The pool itself isn't very interesting (or emerald), but I love the rock overhang with the streaks of color.

Little break before we continue.

On the way back we switch to the slightly longer Kayenta trail to the Grotto.

School trip! Can you spot the kids walking single file down the trail?

Juniper tree

The Kayenta trail meanders alongside the Virgin River for beautiful views of the valley below.

Somehow my mother found a tarantula! I wish I had seen it, but we were straggling behind due to my excessive picture taking.

We get back on the shuttle at the Grotto and ride it all the way to the Museum of Human History, where we relax for a while and watch the introductory movie (yes, on our way out, but it was still worth it).

View from the museum

After picking up the car, we drive to Canyon Junction and turn onto the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway. Built in the 1920s, this National Historic Civic Engineering Landmark was created to reduce traveling time between Zion, Bryce and beyond. The highlight is the 1.1 mi Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel with its "picture windows" blasted in the cliff face ... my parents love it.

We stop for a picture before entering Zion's short tunnel.

Amazing how different everything looks in this section of the park!

The famous Checkerboard Mesa.

My Dad spots some desert bighorn sheep near Checkerboard Mesa and after running backwards along the road I get there just in time to watch them run across to the other side. After some sheep like mountain climbing I manage to get some cool sheep pictures.

After I’ve trudged all the way back to the car I find out there’s one hanging out near the parking lot too. Haha. All that effort for no reason!

Picture of the Zion sign on our way out.

Until next time!

The last picture of our rental car in one piece ...

There’s a herd of bison (with one out-of-place black and white bull) grazing just outside the park.

We had barely managed to tear ourselves away from the bison when just a few miles down the road a flock of wild turkeys popped out of the shrubbery. We really have hit the wildlife lottery today!

I also spotted this brilliant blue Steller's jay at one of the rest stops.

Short on time (aren’t we always?!) we only snap some quick pictures of Red Canyon before continuing on – my parents somewhat reluctantly, because Red Canyon is pretty awesome and it’s hard to imagine something else surpassing it.

We make it to Bryce just in time for the last introductory movie, before going to Inspiration Point to catch the sunset.

The sun is so bright it washes everything out.

The park ranger working the fee station had recommended Inspiration Point, but while struggling to balance the bright orange hoodoos lit by the setting sun with those in the shade I realize Sunset Point would probably be a better location to take pictures from so we head over there.

  

Bryce Canyon moments before the last rays of sun disappeared. 

We spot more mule deer on the way out.

It’s dark by the time we drive down Tropic’s Main – and seemingly only – street. I knew this place was quiet, but I’d forgotten just how quiet (and dark) it gets after sunset! It takes three or four tries AND asking three different people for directions, before we finally locate the Bryce Country Cabins office and check in for the night.

Dinner options are limited to pizza, burgers, or Clarke’s restaurant where we ate last time. My parents vote for burgers at the Cowboy Grill. It has outdoor seating, but the temperature has dropped down into the 30's so we order take out and bring it back to the cabin. 

After last night's disaster the cabin feels even better than the Trump … the value of a nice clean bed cannot be overstated. Yawn! Can't stay awake any longer ...

♥

Breakfast: Oscar’s

Lunch: assorted snacks
Dinner: Cowboy Grill
Hotel: Bryce Country Cabins (#16)