Day 247: Zion National Park

I hear birds chirping and faint voices in the distance. Weary, I open my eyes. Sabrina is still sleeping, and the windows of our rental car are slightly fogged up. My phone shows 7:15 am. We are in the large parking lot at 'Zion National Park' in Utah. Yesterday, we started our road trip from Las Vegas. We drove for hours through the incredible expanses of the Nevada desert until we made our first stop in a small ghost town in Utah, 'Grafton Ghost Town'. Getting here was anything but easy, and this small village, abandoned since 1944, has nothing to do with tourism. We found a few vacant houses, an old school, and a cemetery. The dusty buildings, the landscape, and the charm of the place remind me of an old Wild Western movie. Perfect for a break. We reached 'Zion National Park' around 3:30 pm. The entrance fee per vehicle is about $30. Since we want to visit several other national parks on this road trip, we decided to get an $80 annual pass. The park is incredibly beautiful. Its main artery is the road in the valley where the shuttle bus operates. From the 9 different stops, you can hike on numerous trails, climb the red cliffs, or observe the deer by the river. Since it was already late and we were quite tired, we decided to skip longer hikes and let the shuttle bus take us through the park. Back at the visitor center, it's getting dark. More and more cars are leaving the park, and the large parking lot is getting emptier. We decided to take the risk of being chased away by a ranger in the middle of the night and slept here in the car. The windows slightly open, fresh air, the sounds of the forest, distant lightning, and a pleasant temperature.

The large parking lot is filling up again. We sit next to our car and have breakfast. Today, we want to see more of the park. We take the shuttle bus to the interior and choose a short hiking trail. Motivated but hindered by the weather, we stay in a souvenir shop, watching the pouring rain and listening to the thunderstorm. After an hour, the first rays of sun break through the dark clouds. We set off. For the next few hours, we hike through the park, seeing deer, squirrels, and wild turkeys. A small oasis in the forest, a waterfall, red mountains, gray clouds, and a crystal-clear river flowing through the green valley. It's 4 pm, and we leave behind this beautiful little piece of nature and continue driving. Higher up into the mountains towards 'Bryce Canyon National Park'. We stop at a rest area nearby and decide to spend the night here. In the car, of course. The sun disappears behind a hill, and it surprisingly gets cold. Last night was pleasantly warm, but tonight will be different. We put on almost all the clothes we have and huddle shivering in our sleeping bags. It's now about 8:30 pm, 8°C.