Day 5: Zion National Park and Jacob Lake

Today we want to sleep in, but unfortunately I wake up again shortly after 6 o'clock. Well, 8 hours of sleep are enough. The others sleep 30 minutes longer, then we get up. Then we start a short hike to the museum of Zion National Park to learn about the park's history. A 20-minute film also showcases the park's advantages from various perspectives. Then we walk back to the camper. Just before the parking lot, we bathe in the river and enjoy the nature. It's very warm again. Now we have to purchase a tunnel permit for $15, which is necessary for campers of our size. The 1.7 km long tunnel through Zion must be unidirectionally closed for our car, as we can only drive in the middle. The procedure is quickly done, and we pass through the tunnel quickly. Then we cross to the other side of the park. However, this side is not developed, so there are no hiking trails. There are also no parking areas. Then we drive an hour to Kanab to do our laundry at the laundromat, buy drinks at the supermarket, and have lunch. Near the town, there is a trail where you can discover dinosaur footprints. To do this, we have to climb about 80 meters high to a small plateau. The ascent is very steep, and the path is uneven and sandy. It's very tiring. Fortunately, we have good shoes. We now clearly feel the effects of yesterday's hike. At the top, we are rewarded with footprints in the sandstone. Many are marked with stone circles, which makes it easier to find them. It's impressive that these tracks have survived for so long. The descent is also challenging as the uneven, loose stones slide quickly. After 30 minutes, we are back at the car. We actually wanted to visit the sand caves, caves carved into the sandstone, but a thunderstorm is approaching, and the risk of slippery mud is too high. So, we head to the camping site at Jacob Lake. On the way, we pass through a National Forest and it is evident that there was a fire here. We learn that in 2020, a fire raged for a month, destroying 28 hectares of forest. In the evening, several fire trucks pass by the campsite with flashing lights. Hopefully, nothing serious, as there is a wildfire warning level two.