Map of Nevada, Utah and Arizona 
Here is a map of the area I will discuss in this page. In 2015, we visited several other of the parks on this map (Arches, Canyonlands, Monument Valley, Red Rock Canyon). Read about that trip here.
Because Zion is so widely documented as to the things to do and see and how to plan your trip, I will limit myself to commenting on what we did, and what I thought about what we did! I know most of you just look at the pictures anyway!
You Might Die
This trip happened because we had a time share situation that was expiring, and we had to use it by October 2023. We found an acceptable place in St. George, Utah – a place I had never heard of before. I love Utah and have been anxious to return. This seemed the opportunity.
As I said, I knew nothing about St. George, but when I finally looked it up, I realized it would allow us to see Zion National Park – so we were all in!
We left WI which was just starting to cool off, and found this sign at the Ring of Fire State Park entrance. It is blunt – but necessary. many of the trails were closed to hikers because of the danger of the heat.
We flew into Las Vegas. We spent the first night in the Moapa Valley. Our motel was called “The North Shore Inn at Lake Mead.” We were not “at” Lake Mead at all, much less on the north shore! However, the hotel was perfectly good and was near enough to the Ring of Fire State Park (we are still in Nevada) that we were able to visit it on Saturday afternoon and again on Sunday. We also got a chance to visit Lake Mead on Sunday before we drove to St George in the later afternoon.
Our accommodations in St. George were a two-bedroom condo at the WorldMark St. George. The condo is great – very comfortable. The property is just a so-so “resort,” but we were merely using it for a base from which to explore, so the resort amenities were not important to us.
St George is a good destination. There are so many places to visit in the area, Zion among them, that we never lacked for a place to go and see magnificent rocks.
Monday, our first full day in St George, we opted to go to a local park, Pioneer Park, and its adjacent botanical garden. What a gem! And right there in St. George! The park is on the edge of the Red Cliffs Conservation Area and served as a wonderful introduction to the geology of the area. It was over 100 degrees, so we couldn’t revel in rocks, or desert plants, but we did enjoy both visits. The garden is all about sustainability in the desert (translate that to “water conservation”) and the plants on display are a mix of natives and cultivars, suitable for southern Utah home gardens.
That afternoon we checked out the historic downtown and had a fantastic dinner at a restaurant called “Wood Ash & Rye” in the Aventire Hotel. New, and apparently the “hot” place to stay, the hotel seemed really nice, and the restaurant was exceptional. The historic center of town was quiet, it being after 5 pm and well over 100 degrees, so we didn’t spend as much time as we might have liked checking out the shops and landmarks.
Tuesday, we got up and out “early” for an hour’s drive to Zion National Park. September is a shoulder season month, so though there were lines, we easily found parking near the pedestrian entrance to the park and boarded the in-park shuttle. We rode it all the way to the last stop, the Temple of Sinawava, where the Narrows are. Everyone else was doing the same thing so it wasn’t the best strategy, but fortunately, as I said, it wasn’t so crowded as to make it unpleasant. Make a note thought: You can just as easily and with far fewer people access the Narrows in the afternoon.
We did not do the Narrows, but it is obviously a very popular activity. Saving it for next time we go!
We lunched at the Zion Lodge, rested on the big green outside and then went to see the Emerald Pools. But didn’t get to see them. The nearest trail access was closed, and the long trail access was just too long and steep. We went back to St George exhausted! (16K steps!)
The following day (Wednesday) we visited the Kolob Canyon, a part of Zion National Park, with a separate entrance. Here, the trail followed a stream at the bottom of the canyon. We criss-crossed the water by jumping from rock to rock. Very fun. A delightful day of somewhat cooler weather and a beautiful walk through the river’s ecosystem. We didn’t make it to the end. Again, the trail seemed much longer than it was supposed to be, but we got well over 10K steps and basked in the beautiful scenery.
Here’s a special Slideshow I made for you – hoping to show the scale of the rocks here. Watch it through to the end.
On Thursday, we went back to the main part of Zion. Today, we were a little later getting started and so had almost no lines anywhere. We went to see The Patriarchs first, and then the Weeping Rock. I was quite taken by the Patriarchs! So immense. And very photogenic.
Zion Nat’l Park (UT) – Weeping Rock
Both sites gave me the impression of being some of the original sites of the canyon, because of the paved paths lined with stones. I imagined myself in little black boots, with an ankle length skirt, a hat and a parasol!
Zion is truly magnificent – I hardly need to say that. It boggles my mind to think that there are people in our country who would like to see the national parks raped for their natural resources and private profit.
Snow Canyon State Park (UT)
Friday, we checked out of our resort in St. George and went to visit nearby Snow Canyon State Park. More rocks, different rocks, and different ecosystem, too. Just beautiful. What a wealth of natural beauty there is in Utah!
There was, of course, the sense of awe because of size. These places are amazingly big. We learned that the lowest part of Bryce Canyon is at the same level as the top of Zion, and that the lowest part of Zion is the top of the Grand Canyon. Even the forces of nature that shaped and sculpted these canyons happened over millions of years, belying the feeling we get that this is a finished product! Evidence that the canyons are evolving still is evident everywhere, sometimes dramatically in the fall of great slabs of rock, earthquakes and landslides, as well as the quiet canyon cutting of the streams and rivers. This is a place to feel humbled.
It is also a place that should gender a huge sense of pride in the citizens of the United States. The parks are visited by people from all over the world – and they find them just as amazing as we do.
After a day exploring, we returned to Las Vegas and took a red-eye to Philly, on our way to Puerto Rico.
jetsytravels 
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