2 Feb 07 Cedar City, UT to Zion National Park, UT

 On the way south from Cedar City we saw many rifts and the land became increasingly broken. The road into Zion National Park is far tamer than we’ve experienced at places like Yellowstone and Yosemite, but the scenery is spectacular. Once inside the park gates, we stopped at the visitors’ centre for maps and advice. We walked one of the trails that led uphill from there and enjoyed more terrific views. We walked one more short trail before arriving at the Lodge. There we checked in, selecting a cabin with a fireplace. 

 We decided this was a golden opportunity to do some organizing, so made several trips to the car to bring stuff inside. We made lunch and enjoyed it in the cabin, then headed to the far end of the canyon to a trail we’d been advised was best in the early afternoon. There are no huge crowds here, but the weather is just about perfect for walking or hiking, so there were people every where we went. I wore my new winter hiking boots for the first time and have declared them a success. We went to the end of the Temple of Sinawara trail and were astonished by the towering red and white cliffs.

The trail was paved the whole way and most slopes were very gentle. Easy route to wonderful views. We then worked our way back to the Lodge, walking parts of two or three other trails. This park is a really unique place in our experience and, although we didn’t see any wildlife except squirrels, well worth the visit.  After dinner we walked across the road to a very dark parking lot to view the stars and the moonlight on the cliffs. Priceless!

All Photos 1/2 February