Zion Canyon NP

Journey map

Approximately:

• from Coral Pink Sand Dunes SP (A) to Zion NP (B): 40 miles and 1h10 drive on road
• from Zion NP (B) to Checkerboard Mesa (C): 12 miles and 20 mn drive on road

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Sunday, June 14

Wake up at 5:30 am, it's 43°F. While Isabelle puts the car in day position, I want to pick up dead wood for campfire.
At 6:50, we go to Zion and leave the Hwy 89A at Mt Carmel Junction. Shortly after, on the left, a herd of buffalo (farmed) grazes quietly.
We cross the gate of the park entrance, still empty at this early hour, and soon after, at the exit of a turn, a mountain sheep (Desert Bighorn Sheep, Ovis canadensis nelsoni) is on the road, just in front of us. After having parked our car (properly), it's gone, but nine others are in the area and let us take photos.

We stop the car at 7:50 to hike the Canyon Overlook, our first contact with Zion; as it's 52°F, our polar fleece jackets are pleasant to wear.
The hike passes first over a narrow gorge (Pine Creek Canyon) then we come to the point of view from which we see the entire east entry of the park and the road, after crossing the tunnel, winds below.

Back to the car and we wait a few minutes to go through the tunnel (alternating traffic) and we stop to admire The Great Arch (rather an alcove) located approximately under the end of Canyon Overlook.
We can also observe the ventilation openings of the tunnel, carved into the rock.

We continue the descent into the valley and arrive at the parking lot of VC at 9:30 am; it is mandatory to leave our car, traffic in the rest of the park being reserved for shuttles.
A little less than an hour later, we take one of the shuttles and get off at The Grotto at 11am. Program: Angel's Landing hike.
After a little painful beginning as a bit sandy, the rise of the first part is at the rhythm of photo stops (actually stops for a breather) ). At the top of the first climb, we are in a relatively flat area and completely in shade (Refrigerator Canyon), which is very nice.
Fairly quickly, we begin the next part, fully winding (Walter's Wiggles) with masonry walls (typical on postcards) and we arrive at Scout Lookout at 12:10 pm. A superb panorama before our eyes with the view of Big Bend (meander) and we have a snack with the curious and hungry squirrels, as usual!

We leave again near 1pm and tackle a steep but easy climb, thanks to the presence of chains to help us; sometimes you have to queue.
We come to a small area where some people wait for the braves gone for the last climb. It's 175 yards to climb, with a vacuum of 550 yards on either side of a ridge not very wide. We decided not to go further, not for lack of will, but for lack of time . The view is wonderful.

We leave again and arrive at the Virgin River around 2:20 pm and here we take off our shoes for a foot bath in fresh water: what fun!

We take the shuttle to the valley to discover, a little quickly indeed, the rest of the park.
Back to VC at 4pm and departure half an hour later.

At 5pm, we stop at Chekerboard Mesa (2,223 yards); the different views of nearby White Cliffs are also very pretty.

And we hit the road towards Bryce Canyon.