Zion 2021

Ever since I visited it for the first time when I was a little girl I have been drawn to Zion National Park.  Every time I come to St. George I have a really hard time resisting the urge to drive home through the park.  It adds quite a bit of time to the drive (it doesn't cost anything because I have an America the Beautiful pass which paid for itself the first weekend I got it) but it is so worth it because the views are incredible.  I got up early yesterday morning and drove straight there.  I basically had the park to myself (which is very unusual).  Here is an overload of pictures!

I had such a great time in the park yesterday!  There is something almost mystical about the red rocks!

Bryce Canyon National Park

Since I drove through Zion National Park on the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway I decided to keep going on Highway 89 to Bryce Canyon.  I didn't really do anything in the park but drive to all of the viewpoints (you can drive right up to some of the viewpoints and some of them require a little bit of walking) but the views are spectacular!  Sometimes I would hear people audibly gasp when they would get up to the view (especially at Natural Bridge).  You can see why!

I was able to see three (Capitol Reef, Zion, and Bryce Canyon) of Utah's "Mighty Five" National Parks in two days!  Now I have made a goal to see the other two (Canyonlands and Arches) but I think I will wait until after Labor Day when it might be less crowded.

Note:  I have an America the Beautiful Pass which gets me admission to all of the national parks for a year.  It is $80.00 and it has already more than paid for itself!

Zion National Park

I've only been to six national parks (I hope to add to that list now that I am retired) but my favorite is definitely Zion!  I have been there dozens of times and the scenery never fails to take my breath away!  There is just something so otherworldly about the red rock formations and I feel an almost mystical connection.  Since Zion is only two and half hours away from my KOA in Fillmore I decided to get up early again last Wednesday and go!  I am so glad I did because the park wasn't very busy and it made me so happy to be there!

Due to Covid-19, you will need to buy a ticket in advance to ride the shuttle into Zion Canyon (to see the Emerald Pools, West Rim Trails, the Riverside Walk, and the Narrows) through December 2020.  I just drove along the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway through the park which provides lots of views and access to several hikes.