After we left the Grand Canyon, we still had quite a ways to go to get to Zion National Park. The land changed dramatically after we left the south rim. No longer were there the beautiful evergreen trees, nor the expansive views of the canyons.
There were a few gullies here and there, but it was awhile before we were close enough to see any hint of the Grand Staircase Escalante. It was amazing how quickly the landscape changed.
We were traveling on Hwy 89 hoping to get to Zion before nightfall. If not, then we would stop at Kanab, Utah.
Soon we were seeing the colorful layered cliffs. We met very few cars so it was almost like we had the whole area to ourselves. It was a long drive, but at least we were seeing some beautiful plateaus and rock formations.
We went past Lake Powell. This is a man-made lake created from Arizona’s Glen Canyon Dam across the Colorado River. The dramatic drop in the reservoir, caused by the drought, is easily seen in the lower water line on the sides of the lake. This water management system provides water all the way to California. This lake has been controversial because of environmental problems and native cultural loss.
The road was becoming steeper as we got closer to the Grand Staircase Escalante.
The road leveled off briefly with a astonishing panoramic view of the valley below. A family of Navajos had set up a small roadside stand to sell some of their gorgeous handmade turquoise jewelry and pottery. It was so beautiful, plus they had been there all day in a fierce, cold wind sweeping up from the valley. I couldn’t go away without buying a necklace and two pottery pieces.
As we wove through this slice in the cliff, it looked like we might not fit between the towering walls!
We noticed that the shadows were getting longer, painting the landscape in different intensities of color.
If only we could have just a few more hours of sun! It was going down quickly in the western sky lengthening the shadow of darkness over the countryside.
We knew we weren’t going to get as far as hoped on our journey. We changed our destination to Kanab and slowed down to soak in as much of the area as possible. We’d like to come back in the fall or spring to do some hiking. Although we have reveled in the grandeur of everything we have seen, we’d like to spend more time up close exploring the area on foot. The distinct, colorful layers are magnificent!
With the lows to be in the single digits tonight, we decided to take a break from our Gram-per Camper and spend the night in a hotel in Kanab. Besides, the thought of a long, hot shower sounded awfully good!
Kanab is a delightful town nestled against the colorful sedimentary cliffs. It has many unique shops with interesting features throughout the town.
It is also home to the famous, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. Their goal is to make sure there are no more homeless animals in Utah. They always are in need of volunteers. Check out their website utah.bestfriends.org.
After a delightfully warm, spacious night in the hotel, we stopped to fill up with gas. The gas station had such a beautiful hillside backdrop. The sun on the side of the hill was outstanding. I couldn’t wait to get on our way to Zion National Park!
