Zion

First stop in Utah was Zion National Park. Zion is a narrow red rock canyon, Yosemite-like in some ways, carved by the Virgin River. We got to drive into the canyon but were among the last -- at the end of the season they blocked the drive to cars, and now people must use the shuttle bus or bikes. They would like to do this to Yosemite.

We arrived at Zion at sunset and stayed overnight to see the lovely sunrise as well. We did the famous walk up the narrows, where the canyon becomes as little as 40 feet wide at the bottom, in the evening. Other nice hikes included one to the dual falls at the "emerald pools."

Many have recommended the long and strenuous hike to the Angels Landing, so named because somebody thought Angels were the only creatures that could get to the top. This hike includes a section straight up a cliff face where a stairway was carved into the rock to make the trail. We didn't have time for this hike -- plus you need to be in good shape.

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Red rocks on the road to Zion

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Into Zion National Park we go

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Sunlit peaks on canyon wall

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Angel's Landing. Supposedly a very spectacular if strenuous hike to the top, named so because "only an Angel could get up there."

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At twilight we took the Riverside Walk at the end of the road into Zion Canyon. It is popular and gets very narrow. Alas the light wasn't that good.

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Into the narrows. They try to scare you because once, in rainy season, a flash flood filled the narrows and wiped out some tourists.

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Visitor center view

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A waterfall between the upper and lower emerald pools

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The scenery starts getting good on the way in

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The canyon narrows

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Sunset sends ethereal beams of light into Zion canyon

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Checkerboard butte on the way out of Zion