Road Trip - Zion

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah to Zion National Park, Utah

It was a 2 hour drive from Bryce Canyon National Park to Zion National Park.

East Entrance to Zion National Park, Utah

One of the first attraction after the entrance was the Checkerboard Mesa as shown in the photos below.

Checkerboard Mesa, Zion National Park, Utah

Checkerboard Mesa, Zion National Park, Utah

Zion National Park, Utah

Zion National Park, Utah

After entering the east entrance to Zion National Park, it was a scenic drive along Zion - Mount Carmel Highway. I thought we would have some variety for this blog and have a video of the scenic drive instead of the usual photos :)

Zion - Mount Carmel Highway Scenic Drive, Zion National Park, Utah

Zion - Mount Carmel Highway Tunnel Entrance, Zion National Park, Utah

Halfway down, the road goes through a tunnel under Mount Carmel. This tunnel was built a long long time ago when cars were still small. As a result, vehicles like RVs will need an escort to go through the tunnel because the roads are just too narrow for two lanes of traffic to pass safely. On the day that we were there, instead of an escort, they only allowed one way of traffic at any time. The video below shows our drive through the tunnel and some commentary from Sonya :)

Zion - Mount Carmel Highway Tunnel, Zion National Park, Utah

After the tunnel, it was a winding road down to the bottom of the canyon.

Zion National Park, Utah

Zion National Park, Utah

Zion National Park, Utah

Zion National Park, Utah

Zion National Park, Utah

Zion National Park, Utah

Zion National Park, Utah

Zion National Park, Utah

Zion National Park, Utah

The Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is closed to private vehicles from spring through fall. All visitors have to take the free shuttle bus to access the different scenic spots in the park. As the driver of the park shuttle explained, the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is actually located on what was the bed of the lake. Now, the Virgin River still runs through the canyon and there were times where she overflowed the banks and brought down the road.

Riverside Walk, Zion National Park, Utah

We took the shuttle and stopped at the Temple of Sinawava stop and took a short walk along the Riverside Walk.

Riverside Walk, Zion National Park, Utah

Riverside Walk, Zion National Park, Utah

Riverside Walk, Zion National Park, Utah

Justin was having gastric pain again so we didn't venture any further. He had left the gastric tablets in the car which was in the carpark at the Visitors' Center.

Lizard along Riverside Walk, Zion National Park, Utah

Riverside Walk, Zion National Park, Utah

Temple of Sinawava Shuttle Stop, Zion National Park, Utah

Temple of Sinawava Shuttle Stop, Zion National Park, Utah

Zion National Park, Utah

Shuttle Stop, Zion National Park, Utah

We got on the shuttle bus again to head back to the Visitor Center. The remaining of the photos were mostly taken from the shuttle bus. A lot of the photos did not turn out well because the bus was moving and it was in the late afternoon and the sun was before us.

Inside Roof of Shuttle, Zion National Park, Utah

Inside Roof of Shuttle, Zion National Park, Utah

Inside Shuttle, Zion National Park, Utah

Inside Shuttle, Zion National Park, Utah

Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, Zion National Park, Utah

Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, Zion National Park, Utah

Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, Zion National Park, Utah

Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, Zion National Park, Utah

Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, Zion National Park, Utah

Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, Zion National Park, Utah

Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, Zion National Park, Utah

Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, Zion National Park, Utah

Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, Zion National Park, Utah

Visitor Center, Zion National Park, Utah

Visitor Center, Zion National Park, Utah

There is a model of the whole Zion Canyon just outside the Visitors' Center.

Visitor Center, Zion National Park, Utah

Visitor Center, Zion National Park, Utah

Just outside the park in the town called Springdale, there was an animal farm and we saw elks and cows and other animals. It got Sonya excited again :)

Elks

Elk

Cow

Cow