24.8.10

Zion- Utah



Zion National Park is located about 45 minutes away from St. George, UT at the gateway of a cute town called Springdale. It is a beautiful majestic and spiritual place. I strongly recommend putting it on your list of places to visit if you have not done so already.

Springdale- and where we ate dinner one night at the Pizza and Noodle Co.
Originally inhabited by the Paiute and Anasazi Indians, their cliff houses and rock art can be seen throughout the park. Eventually the area was settled by a group of Mormon Pioneers, led by Nephi Johnson. He named the area Zion for the Hebrew word meaning ‘a place of peace and refuge’. The Indian name is Mukuntuweap.
Zion National Park is home to a diverse collection of geological wonders, including formations such as the towering 2,200-foot Great White Throne, the park's most famous landmark; the Court of the Patriarchs; the Watchman; Kolob Arch, a 310 ft. long arch and the world's largest known natural span; and the Narrows of the Virgin River, where a person can walk upstream to places so narrow that both sides of the canyon walls can be reached with outstretched hands.
When we first visited Zion three years ago the monkeys were not old enough to hike the Narrows in the Virgin River. Dr. J and I were eager to get back to Zion and do this incredible all day hike.
The town of Springdale has a handful of restaurants, motels and B and B’s. Most importantly it has several rock and crystal shops. Dr. J and the monkeys love these kind of shops. I love the glass rocks- I have some from our previous trip in our back yard- at three dollars a pound it can be sadly deceiving. I imagine that if I get a few every time we visit, in ten years I might have the glass garden I envision.
After a LONG day of hiking:
A cool Dragonfly photo Dr. J took:
I can really go on forever with info and photos- There are two visitor centers, a lodge and museums- we also did the Watchman hike but I'll leave you with 'extra' info if you are interested in The Narrows Hike:

The Narrows is one of the most unusual hikes on the Colorado Plateau. Hiking is done largely in the river, as for a third of the route, the river runs canyon wall to canyon wall. The walls are vertical and sheer, and often red in color. While water levels change from season to season, most hikers will wade at least waist-deep, and many will swim a few short sections. The hike is 16 miles (26 km) long and is very tiring because it is in the river itself. Permits are required before hiking the Narrows from the top and can be obtained at the Zion National Park Backcountry Desk. Hiking in the river is strenuous. The water is often murky and the bottom of the river is covered with round, basalt rocks about the size of bowling balls. This makes foot protection and use of trekking poles or a walking stick essential. In the spring, The Narrows might be closed due to flooding while the snow melts off the upland areas to the north if the flow rate is higher than 120 cubic feet per second.

Have you ever been to Zion?
Where is your favorite place to hike?

19 comments:

Mama Gone Green said...

I LOVE Zion, and unfortunately, I haven't been back there in about 12 years! I hope to go back once Finn is a bit older and able to enjoy it!
As far as my fav place to hike.... that is a hard one as I have had so many different, wonderful experiences over the years. I think my very favorite are the ones in your own backyard... that you get to see in all seasons and know them so well. In those places, you have a chance to notice the changes happening from week to week and month to month.

AmyK said...

I've heard good things about Zion National Park, but I've never been. I like hiking in the area around Mt St Helens--it's a little closer than Zion! ;)

Jude said...

What amazing beauty! I love this & can't wait to visit (I don't go out as much as I should! Though when I do, I've loved hiking in Hawaiian rainforests, or long English moor rambles) - thank you for this breathing space today :) P.S. Thank you so much for your lovely comments also on my more "personal" post - I appreciate it!

Unknown said...

Oh, gorgeous! I have been to Park City, that's the only part of Utah I have visited, and it's gorgeous! This is so lovely, glad you had a great trip!

Unknown said...

Wow, it looks beautiful! My family was just in Arches and said it was one of the most breathtaking parks they've ever seen (and we've been to quite a few). Utah seems gorgeous, I've never been.

Shari said...

Ray said that we should have gone with YOU last weekend. I absolutely LOVE Zion. I hope we can go for a visit this fall. I remember the water being very cold last August, I'm so glad you braved it.

Unknown said...

wow!!! place looks amazing! thank you for sharing your trip. I am going to follow u :)

Anonymous said...

This looks seriously amazing! I'd love to visit when my son is a bit older (he's only four now), he'd love it, I'm sure! Thanks for your funny comment today, Octopussy = single guy... hadn't thought of that! Anyway, I'm your newest follower, I look forward to more!

Gabbi said...

Gives new meaning to picturesque! Gorgeous... would love to visit one day.

Pat Tillett said...

Oh yeah! You already know I love it. I've been waiting for this post. We didn't take the hike the last May, but I've done it in the distant past. Great photos and man does that beer look good!!!
great post...

Anonymous said...

Looks like a beautiful place... and those crystal rocks are amazing! Would love to have a collection of that!

Thanks for the lovely pictures!

xo

msihua said...

And you say seeing pics of food you can't eat is terrible!

I saw seeing pictures of places that I can't visit is worst!

mermaid gallery said...

I have never been because we can rarely get away to travel in the summer months. It looks fascinating. Where do they get the glass rocks from! I would love a big turquoise one!It's now on the list.....

Unknown said...

Its on our list..and after reading this, thinking we need to move Zion to the tippy top of the list...wow!

Stacey said...

First, i love the story behind this place and of course, i'm partial to the name Zion, since that's the name of my baby boy. I would sure love to
visit there and your pictures are beautiful. Happy Wednesday!

LenoreNeverM♡re said...

such a magical place, FUN~
luv the dragon fly shot too!

ilovemyhouse said...

I so, so, sooo miss the USA when i see these beautiful pictures. You sure had a wonderful time, and i luv those the monkees! That glass looks amazing ( so does that beer pitcher). It's good to be back and read your comment.
Remember the glass lamp from my house and you wanted to know more about it?

It's from a Dutch designer called Albert Geertjes. Check him out on
www.geertjes.nl

XX

Punctuation Mark said...

never been there but i agree it should be on the must go list... what a beautiful place and i can't believe the size of those crystals...

shopgirl said...

Wow! What an awesome place to hike! I never heard of it before. I love places like this.

Thanks for sharing.

Rambles with Reese

Maybe You'll Enjoy These Too...

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...