We spent the night in Glendale, Utah at a KOA campground. After visiting 2 National Parks yesterday we didn't spend much time looking for a campground. This one was near the highway and convenient.
This morning we woke up to 40 degrees. We went to bed with the AC running and I turn the heat pump on when I woke up this morning. It will be 40 degrees higher in 2 hours and will be in the 100s this afternoon. Getting used to it is a hard thing to do.
We are traveling from Bryce Canyon on UT12 and then south on US89 to UT9 which will takes us to Zion NP. This will let us enter the park from the northeast. The Visitor Center is on the southwest side.
When we entered the Park they informed us that there was a charge for an escort to get us thru the tunnel in Mt. Carmel. It is one mile long and only 13.1' high in the center. The tunnel was finished in 1930 and the top is oval shaped topping out at 13.1'. Our MH is over 12' and is not oval. We are concerned because it is many miles, if we have to go around, to get to the other side. We paid the $15. for the escort who were Park Rangers, one on each side of the tunnel. They stopped the traffic so we could go thru the tunnel down the center line of the 2 lane road.
I never heard anything hit the top but was really worried about it.
When we arrrived at the Visitors Center, parking was very limited, due to many visitors already there. We parked in the car & truck parking area since everything was full and they gladly gave me a warning ticket for doing this.
We opted for the tour bus so we could get to best places without driving the MH. This is the best way to tour Zion NP. We really enjoyed it. Zion NP elevations range from 3600 to 8700' and provide vastly different environments. Fir, aspen, & pine flourish in the high country while pinon, cliffrose and mesquite love the desert heat. This is a beautiful park but not a pristine park. Adding the free tour bus service gets a lot of visitors to places that they normally couldn't see. They do a wonderful job of moving the people from place to place at your leisure. The Virgin River runs thru this area and continues on to the southwest.
Enjoy the pictures below!
Check out the new hat. We both got one. Race car drivers wear helmets to protect their heads. Cowboys wear them to protect their head and neck. After getting sun burned on the ears, nose, and neck we decided to invest in head protection. They worked well.
Check out the rock formation. It is a checkered board pattern.
I couldn't resist taking a picture of the MH with the big rocks in the background.
Sharon enjoying the view. We both are in awe with the outstanding works of Mother Nature.
If you look at the center of the picture you will see one of the side openings to the tunnel. We believe this is for ventilation. Looking at the size of the mountain, I can't believe we drove 1 mile thru this thing.
Here's a closeup of the 2nd opening in the side of the tunnel.
Here's a closeup of the 1st opening in the tunnel.
This is a view of the terrain after we left the tunnel.
Looking down, you can see the road we will be traveling, to get down off Mt. Carmel.
Whew!! we are at the bottom of the mountain.
This is a picture of the Patriarchs. Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob.
Most of the rock formations have religious names compliments of the Mormons.
Tour bus in background
Bus stop with a view.
Here's the tour bus coming into Zion Lodge area.
Weeping rock is where the springs are continually dripping.
Sharon saw this sign and said "Let's go back!"
Instead, we took a different trail. We are glad we did! Look at the deer that was on the trail that we would have missed going the other way.
Sharon and other tourists enjoying the cool damp air under the weeping rock in Echo Canyon.
Weepin Rock water runs down the hill along with other drains forming the creek below the bridge. Several people had pulled off their shoes and were enjoying the water.
This rock formation is known as "The temple of Sinawava"
Over 100 degrees, Sharon is thinking about wading in the Virgin River. I encouraged her to get in the water.
Ther she goes. I guess I will take her shoes to her when she gets cooled down.
This is a park well worth visiting. Park your vehicle at the Visitor Center or a nearby town. Get on the tour bus and enjoy what Mother Nature has provided. We did and we are glad we did!
As we leave here we will be traveling thru the very nothwest corner of Arizona on Interstate 15. It will takes us thru downtown Las Vegas and into California.
Enjoy the pictures and until the next update......Happy Trails!
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