Zion National Park

• With the wedding over, you might say we headed home. Our route, however, was no beeline. After a three night stay in Flagstaff (described under “Family Matters”), our sights were firmly set on Zion National Park. Our ambitious one day of touring there included a round trip from Kanab UT.
  
  Reaching the valley floor by mid-morning, we were soon aboard the park shuttle bus headed up the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. (At this time of year, riding the shuttle is mandatory except for Zion Lodge residents.) This first shot taken out the shuttle window makes obvious the challenge facing any morning photographer here: brightly illuminated peaks towering above deeply shaded valleys. What’s a camera operator to do?
  

  

  Aiming high is often the best choice:
  

  

  

  The Temple of Sinawava was “end of the road” for both the shuttle and for us:
  

  

  The Riverside Walk along the Virgin River was the attraction at this stop. It is paved for one mile and is --- not surprisingly --- VERY popular.
  

  

  

  

  Shooting photos upriver and down, we reached pavement’s end all too soon. From here, only those prepared to wade across the river and use it as a footpath could proceed upstream:

  

  Like most folks gathered at this spot, we returned the way we came, boarded a shuttle and headed for the next attraction. [Disappointed readers may view Martin van Hemert’s superb, panoramic shots taken farther upriver. They are: Zion Narrows 1 and Zion Narrows 2. Martin’s homepage, containing other 360 degree, high-resolution photos, is at: http://www.utah3d.net]
  
  Our next destination was Weeping Rock. However, capturing the rock’s tears was another difficult assignment:
  

  

  Fortified by a timely lunch at Zion Lodge, we were soon tramping over this bridge toward the Emerald Pools:
  

  

  That bridge crosses the Virgin River:
  

  

  Though the hike was pleasant, the lower Emerald Pool, in full shade, was photographically disappointing. A discerning reader may note the disappointment etched in our faces:
  

  

  Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are the namesakes of three prominent peaks visible from the Court of the Patriarchs:
  

  

  After we absorbed the History Museum and Visitor Center exhibits, it was time to begin our exit. As we climbed the switchbacks on the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway, this arched cavity seemed worth a pause:
  

  

  Little did we realize that in an hour or so, we would be standing above the arch, taking a photo toward this same spot.
  
  Just past the east tunnel portal, the Canyon Overlook Trail beckoned, promising unique vistas like this one:
  

  

  The trail led past slithering roots ...
  

  

  and hoodoos hidden from the valley floor:
  

  

  The spectacle from trail’s end was truly worth the exertion. Looking out from above the arched cavity, the highway switchbacks were front and center:
  

  

  In fact, the photo of the arch had been shot from just past the leftmost curve. Even more remarkable, one of the tunnel “galleries” could be seen from the viewpoint by looking to the left:
  

  

  Without much trouble, a car driving past the opening was captured in motion, making for a very unusual photo.
  
  Lengthening shadows muted some scenery as we exited the park. Nevertheless, formations east of the tunnel are stunning and include well-known Checkerboard Mesa.