We drove south and arrived at Springfield, just south of the park at about lunch time. We booked into the motel and had lunch next door. A really good rocket salad with pumpkin seeds, crispy bacon and butternut squash with a light maple and balsamic dressing for Mary and me (about half our 5 a day) and nachos with cheese and jalapeños for Bob and Peter.
Then aboard the free shuttle from Springfield up to the park and then through the gate and on to another free shuttle through the park.
This area is different again. A fairly narrow canyon with steep sides and a river bed in the valley. Great towering rock faces of red stone with the occasional outcrop of white rock.
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| Zion National Park, unusual rock formation with striations in both directions |
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| Zion - wide and tall |
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| Bob taking photo |
It's very popular and access is restricted so the shuttle service cuts down on the number of cars in the canyon. Very well provisioned with rest areas and the place was busy with serious walkers and photographers. We took the park shuttle up to near the top of the canyon and Bob and Mary walked back alongside the Virgin River to the next bus top and Peter and I did a 2 mile hike up into the canyon and then round along narrow sandy, stoney paths with steep 'drop offs' and past a
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| Mmm! |
couple of waterfalls. It was hot at the start and very steep and then shaded when we got into a spur of the canyon. Wonderful views down the valley and up to the towering rocks. It was a great walk.
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| The river seen from our walk |
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| Ruth trying to look intrepid, but actually clutching on to the tree on a steep narrow path! |
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| Water fall |
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| Bob and Mary |
Bob and Mary met us on our way back to the visitor centre.
After our usual drinks in the room, we went across the road to a restaurant for supper. A cut above the normal. We both had pasta with spicy meatballs - comfort food !
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