26.07.17 - 27.07.17 Zion National Park

A perfect day also includes good food. We ended the evening at the Stage Coach Grille, right in La Verkin. Great restaurant in western style with rustic decor and cozy atmosphere. Small menu, good food, and very fair prices. Absolutely recommended!

New day, new energy. Let's go to Zion, for real this time! The entrance to the park alone is worth the trip. An incredibly amazing scenery, with houses, ranches, and lodges all beautifully designed and in total harmony with the surroundings. The organization in the park was also excellent, the shuttle buses take you to different starting points of the trails and run until 10 PM. Perfect for sunset lovers like us :-)

Since we had to drive further in the evening and the park is very diverse, we decided to go for 2 shorter hikes. The first hike was the Upper Emmerald Pool Trail, which leads past various natural 'water pools'.

Unfortunately, the many tourists spoiled the beautiful trail a bit. We now know why we always consciously chose the more difficult and not very famous trails. We love having nature 'to ourselves', too many tourists ruin any beautiful scenery and especially the tranquility. To escape this and see more of the park, we decided to take a slightly longer way back via the Kayenta Trail. Was it worth it? Definitely. Here you go:

Back at the Visitor Center. 4:30 PM.. preparing for the next adventure: The Narrows. Hiking directly in the river through the canyons of Zion. For both of us, something we had never done before. We minimized the equipment, as we had to pack everything in waterproof bags. At first, we walked safely on land along the Riverside Trail, until after about 3 kilometers we reached the Virgin River, where the only 'path' is the river itself. So into the cold water we went. We walked upstream against the current, sometimes along the rock walls, sometimes in the middle of the river. The cooling off in constant 36 degrees was already the first plus point of the route :-)

We considered the recommended ankle-high special water shoes unnecessary (our shoes worked great), but we took the advice to use a wooden stick to feel the way and maintain balance in the current. Well, it helped most people, not Rahel... she fell face-first into the river twice, she just loves to dive! :-) The Narrows allows you to discover the park from a completely different perspective. Metal shimmering walls, beautiful colors, and the feeling of standing in the middle of it all make it an unforgettable experience.

A ridiculously amazing day was coming to an end. But not enough of the good stuff yet, on the way to Panguitch, near Bryce Canyon, our next accommodation was crowned with a beautiful drive. We really haven't seen such a beautiful environment where everything is just right. In the distance, huge thunderclouds swept to the right and left of us, and we could watch the natural spectacle from a safe distance.

We'll now process impressions, see you soon!

Your Rahel & Fabiola