Another Visit to Zion National Park

Trip Start Jan 09, 2009
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Trip End Jun 01, 2009


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Flag of United States  , Utah,
Friday, April 10, 2009

Today we revisited Zion National Park.  The approach from the south end is quite different but spectacular in its own way.  This end of the park is definitely the busiest with parking in the town of Springdale recommended.  A free shuttle runs from the town into the park so this is not a hassle.  The weather today was warm but cloudy and threatening rain so we opted to drive through the park rather than go up the canyon and hike as we had previously planned.  Last year we discovered the Buffalo Grill at Zion Mountain Resort just outside the northern entrance to the park so ultimately this was our destination for lunch.
Our pictures this year seem a little less colorful than those taken last year (March 23) thanks to the overcast conditions.  However, I hung out the car window once again - the place really makes your jaw drop!  To think that these land formations were once giant sand dunes!
On the way back to the park I was watching the rocks formations more closely and could pick out pumice, basalt and even some volcanic vents interspersed and covering some of the sedimentary land formations.  What interesting landscape.  Arizona has beautiful landscape but the rugged mountains of Utah are hard to beat.
We took a detour to the La Verkin overlook.  Talk about views from a desert meadow!  The hiking trails in the canyon behind the town look spectacular.

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We've left the desert behind! We've left the desert behind! Green fields and ... Green fields and ... Apple's in Blossom in the Valley Apple's in Blossom in the Valley View from the Springdale direction View from the Springdale direction
The Park The Park Zion National Park - words do not describe Zion National Park - words do not describe Zion National Park - words do not describe Zion National Park - words do not describe Zion National Park - words do not describe Zion National Park - words do not describe
Zion National Park - words do not describe Zion National Park - words do not describe Zion National Park - words do not describe Zion National Park - words do not describe Zion National Park - words do not describe Zion National Park - words do not describe Zion National Park - words do not describe Zion National Park - words do not describe
Zion National Park - words do not describe Zion National Park - words do not describe Zion National Park - words do not describe Zion National Park - words do not describe Zion National Park - words do not describe Zion National Park - words do not describe Zion National Park - words do not describe Zion National Park - words do not describe
Drat that aerial! Drat that aerial! Zion National Park - words do not describe Zion National Park - words do not describe Zion National Park - words do not describe Zion National Park - words do not describe Zion National Park - words do not describe Zion National Park - words do not describe
Love the texture Love the texture Zion National Park - words do not describe Zion National Park - words do not describe Zion National Park - words do not describe Zion National Park - words do not describe Zion National Park - words do not describe Zion National Park - words do not describe
Zion National Park - words do not describe Zion National Park - words do not describe Zion National Park - words do not describe Zion National Park - words do not describe Zion National Park - words do not describe Zion National Park - words do not describe Zion National Park - words do not describe Zion National Park - words do not describe
Watching the rock formations Watching the rock formations Zion National Park - words do not describe Zion National Park - words do not describe The Checkered Mountain The Checkered Mountain Zion National Park - words do not describe Zion National Park - words do not describe
Buffalo Burgers for lunch - Zion Mtn Resort Buffalo Burgers for lunch - Zion Mtn Resort On the Mesa On the Mesa Looking Back towards the park Looking Back towards the park From the Mesa From the Mesa
Hillside Colour Hillside Colour The Virgin River Canyon The Virgin River Canyon Wonderful hiking trails Wonderful hiking trails Storm Clouds Gather Storm Clouds Gather
Near Hurricane UT Near Hurricane UT The Mountains across the Valley The Mountains across the Valley The view as I write this The view as I write this
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