I woke up early hoping that there would be no wind, so that my 3 hour ride to Zion National Park would be a pleasant one. That didn’t happen. The wind is apparently ever present in the Plains.
The harsh conditions are reflected in the landscape, albeit that it is quite pretty in its own way. I passed a number of dead animals and tumbleweed on I-15, which made me feel like I was in a Dirty Harry movie but paved roads and ‘horse powered’ vehicles. At least my trusty stead has been doing a sterling job.
My first stop was the Kolob Canyon. All I will say is WOW! I tried to capture the canyon on the video below but it really gives you no feel for the scale. The red sand, rich in Iron, is absolutely stunning against the green vegetation.
The actual entrance to Zion National Park is another 1.5 hours away in the town called Springdale. I was thinking of staying in a campsite about an hour north of Springdale but when I got there I thought it’s time to stop. It was hot and I just felt like chilling out. I found a motel through a website called Hotwire, which ended up being really nice, so I’m glad I made that decision.
After doing some washing, I headed into the park. The park is stunning! There is a 24 mile round trip scenic route through the park. The only snag is that there is a one-way tunnel crossing which requires about a 15 min wait. In all my riding gear and 30+ degree temperatures this is slight torture. The drive along U.S. Highway 9 is magnificent though. I have included some photos for your viewing pleasure.
Following the scenic drive I caught the park bus into the park (private vehicles are not allowed on this road). The bus route takes 40 min each way and acts as a hop-on hop-off service. I decided to do the riverside hike which was a fantastic decision. Waking throughly the canyons gives you a true feeling of their scale and beauty. They are magnificent! I’ve included a photo and video for you below.
When I got back to the motel I was met by the loveliest surprise in the form of three retired couples from Indiana who are also travelling around Utah. Bill (the tall chap next to me in the photo below) was so excited about my trip that it made me even more excited about it. I didn’t think that was possible! Thus, it was a welcomed meeting on all fronts and another thing during the day that made my heart happy. It was a good day!
Mel & Trinity 