More Red Rocks

Entering the canyon

A bit further in

The sandstone really was a beach a few millenia ago!

After hiking 1 1/2 miles from the end of the canyon road, this is as far as you go .......... unless you want a "soaker"

The canyon has forest, swamp, desert and plateau landscapes

The early Mormons who settled this land named Zion Canyon because they felt that man could worship there as readily as in any man-made temple. They were introduced to the canyon by Southern Paiute Indians who also had revered the canyon for centuries. Visiting the canyon and its surrounding National Park IS almost a religious experience. We have been amazed how each geological destination in the Colorado Plateau is so vastly different from its neighbours. In almost all cases erosion and uplift have created the scenic wonders but, each has its own characteristics. In the Grand Canyon it is the shear enormity of the place; Bryce Canyon has its unique Hoodoos; Red Canyon its almost scarlet rocks and; Zion National Park has parts of all the others, creating its unique atmosphere. In addition, the Plateau hosts dozens of other National and State parks, National Monuments and wilderness areas. We haven’t visited them all but, we would like too!

More than any of the other places we have visited on the Plateau, we have been disappointed by our pictures of Zion National Park. The majesty of the place simply will not allow itself to be captured on film (or a 1 gig SD memory card). You do not view these landscapes, you are enveloped in them. In Zion, whether you look up, down or north, south, east or west, the natural beauty surrounds and amazes you. I thought we would be “in and out” in a couple of hours however, as the sun was sinking and the sky darkening with the first wisps of smoke from the California fires enhancing the sunset, we finally left. A good day; a great park.