... take 5: .... Zion Magic

We try and visit Zion National Park up in Springdale, Utah at least several times each year. You cannot help being in awe and love Zion... it's just one of those very special places in the world....

Zion Canyon

Located at the junction of the Colorado Plateau, Great Basin, and Mojave Desert regions, the park's unique geography and variety of life zones allow for unusual plant and animal diversity.
The Virgin River has gnawed through native sandstone to create the incredible scenery found in Zion Canyon. The river itself now serves as a natural corridor for exploring the park.

A prominent feature of the 229 square miles park is Zion Canyon, which is 15 miles long and up to half a mile deep, cut through the reddish and tan-colored Navajo Sandstone by the North Fork of the Virgin River. The lowest elevation is 3,666 ft at Coalpits Wash, and the highest elevation is 8,726 ft at Horse Ranch Mountain. These unique sandstone cliffs of Zion range in color from cream, to pink, to red. They have been described as sand castles crowning desert canyons.

Massive canyon walls ascend toward a brilliant blue sky. To experience Zion, you need to walk among the towering cliffs, or challenge your courage one one of the numerous small narrow canyon pathways winding up on to the high cliffs... such as Angel's Landing...

...yep, that part up top is a trail out to the Point.. 1800 ft down on either side...

Angels Landing is one of the world's great hikes... perhaps the best short adventure hike in any US national park. It provides amazing views of Zion Canyon. But it is very mentally challenging because the final leg is very steep, with sheer drop-offs. Chains have been bolted to the cliff to provide secure handholds. People at all afraid of heights should not attempt the final leg, but can still have a very enjoyable 2.5 hour hike up to Scout Lookout.
For the final 1/2 mile past Scout Lookout, the trail follows the ridge across a saddle and up the hogs back. This is where things get very interesting, steep, and where you are exceptionally grateful for the chains. Can't imagine being on this trail before them.. had a difficult enough time even using them, and still did not make it all the way out to the point... several hikers through recent years have fatally fallen from this trail.

Designated in 1919, Zion is Utah's oldest national park. The park is known for its incredible canyons, including The Narrows, which attract canyoneers from around the world.

... the 'Narrows' river walk

We spent a great day hiking the 'Narrows' several years back.. started off with a reasonable number of hikers along with us... and by the time we reached an area called 'the Boulders' after four hours of river hiking, we were all by ourselves... a wonderful experience.. (round trip on the river,  complete hike took us 7.5 hours.. not bad for a couple of 'seniors').

The hiking possibilities are endless at Zion. And with nearly three million visitors per year, Zion is Utah's most heavily used parks.... know it's our favorite... whatya say, wanna come visit!

.... ZION MAGIC ....