We had a slightly later start this morning and headed back up the SR-9 to Hurricane, Leeds and eventually Springdale. During the months of May to October it is not possible to drive in the park due to the sheer numbers of visitors. Instead there is a free shuttle-bus service to enable people to visit the park. All the carparks near the entrance of the park were full, so we parked in Springdale and caught a free bus up the park entrance. Having waved our annual pass at the rangers once again, we entered the park and joined another shuttle bus. The shuttle buses stop at all the points of interest in the park and passengers can hop on and off the buses as often as they like. The road through the park follows the canyon floor with the canyon walls rising left and right.
We stayed on the shuttle bus right to the far end of the park at the Temple of Sinawava. Most of the rock formations were named by the original settlers, most of whom were send to the area by Brigham Young, leader of the Mormon sect. The names often reflect there religious beliefs. Once off the bus, Lynn stopped to bird-watch and three of us walked up the Riverside Path, a very crowded path (it was a Saturday), as far as the narrows. Here the canyon is only the width of the river,which at this time of year is quite shallow. It is possible with the right footwear to continue up the narrows, walking in the river, until the canyon gets narrow enough to be able to touch both sides!
Lots of people were walking upstream and paddling in the river and as it was quite crowded, I didn't stay long and walked the mile back to the road.. Here I got back on the next bus and continued to Big Bend where I took a few photographs. I then hopped back onto the bus and got off at the next stop, Weeping Rock. Quite a few people were heading toward the Weeping Rock, a feature on the canyon wall where water is seeping out of the rock face and vegetation is growing, I decided to head along the trail called 'Hidden Canyon'.
The trail started climbing almost immediately and it was rather warm, but I had plenty of water with me, so it was onwards and upwards! As the trail climbed up the bottom of the canyon wall, the views started getting better and better. Eventually, the trail continued on ledges along the wall of the canyon with chains to hang onto, not a place for those with a fear of heights. The side canyon that the trail/ledges lead into got narrower and narrower until it was just a few feet wide and became a scramble to get up. From here, the view back down to the canyon floor some 850 feet below was spectacular. I couldn't continue to the top of Hidden Canyon as I had arranged to meet the others in Springdale village, so I headed back down. Needless to say, the journey down was quicker and easier than the journey up.
Once back at the road, I walked the mile or so back to Zion Lodge where there is a shop, restaurant and hotel. I grabbed a snack from the shop and then discovered they were selling locally brewed draft beer outside. Needless to say, I stopped to slake my thirst!
From The Lodge, I caught the shuttle bus back down to the park entrance where, by coincidence, I met Lynn on the other bus going down to Springdale. Once back in Springdale we found the car and headed back to St George and the hotel.
Back at the hotel, we had a quick freshen up and then headed to Outback for an Ozzie-themed dinner.
Hotel - Days Inn, St George
Weather - Partly cloudy, but very warm. Temperatures in the mid 90s in St George
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