June 3: Cliffs, Chains, and Dropoffs

This morning, we hiked 2 ½ miles in Zion Park from the Weeping Rock trailhead to Hidden Canyon. The trail ascends about 850 feet in a little over a mile on an incredibly engineered trail that dates from the early 1930s. Most of the trail is blasted out the cliff wall, with multiple switchbacks and supporting stonework. A sign at the beginning of the trek warns of steep drop offs and sheer cliffs. It wasn't lying. Much of the trail is narrow, steep, and clings to nearly vertical sandstone cliffs. Safety chains are hung along the most precipitous stretches. We made full use of them! The trail ended at a narrow slot canyon with a sign that said to go further involved rock scrambling. We decided to stop right there.

The views of the canyon and the surrounding mountains were memorable as well as a bit hair raising. Footings were slippery in places, especially where fine sand was lying atop the sandstone surface. From the trail, we could look down on the zigzagging track we had just traversed. We were able to take lots of great pictures, but you really have to be here to appreciate the full magnitude of the scenery. (I think we burned all the extra calories from last night's dinner!)

Next, we hiked the paved Pa'rus trail on the valley floor to the museum. There are many breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains from this trail, which can also be accessed by bicycle. You can even take your dog on it!

Later on in the afternoon, we drove the truck on the Mt. Carmel Highway to the east entrance to Zion park. The two lane road starts on the valley floor within the park and switchbacks steeply up a canyon, then through a 1.5 mile long tunnel that climbs as well as twists and turns its way through Mt. Carmel. The tunnel is very narrow and is only 13.5 feet tall. All RVs must drive down the center of it, and this requires that all oncoming cars wait outside the tunnel until the oversized vehicle has driven through. (It costs $15 to drive an oversized vehicle in the tunnel.) There are windows carved into the tunnel wall to admit light and air. The whole highway is a remarkable engineering achievement that was completed in 1930.

Once through the tunnel, the terrain changes drastically. You are now in a land of sculpted sandstone that has eroded into a checkerboard pattern. Some of the stone has the appearance of flowing mud.

This evening, we have dinner reservations at the Zion Lodge. Tomorrow we head for Las Vegas. It should be an easy drive on I-15, and is less than 200 miles.