The sun was just starting to peek into Zion as we drove past the sign leading into this magnificent canyon treasure. The name “Zion” is Hebrew for Jerusalem or Holy Sanctuary. The Mormon leader, Brigham Young sent a settler into the canyon. The setter, Isaac Behunin, named it “Zion” because he saw it as “the natural temple of God” and it gave him a great feeling of peace.
The Paiute’s called it “Mukuntuweap” which meant “Straight Canyon” in their language. It became Zion National Park, our 19th national park on November 19, 1919! (That’s an amazing coincidence!)
As we were driving into the park, we were thrilled with the sight of three mule deer. We stopped and watched them as they searched for tender shoots and brambles to eat. It wasn’t long before they became nervous and decided to go farther up the hill away from us.
The sheer cliffs of Navajo Sandstone are almost 8000 feet above sea level. Like the Grand Canyon, water and wind shaped Zion by eroding away at the sandstone. We entered a short man-made tunnel – the first of two in Zion.
Once we emerged from the far side of the tunnel, a beautiful sight unfolded before our eyes!
This is called Checkerboard Mesa. You can see the checkered board inlay that Mother Nature has carved into the side of this sandstone hill.
Even though the sun was gradually caressing the tops of the mountains, down in the canyon it was still cloaked in shadows. The sun would need to be high in the sky to reach into all the crevices. Even then, some would never feel the sun’s warming touch.
Can you see the etched arch recessed backwards into the sandstone wall?
I wonder if there is any wildlife living in this cave sculpted into the sheer, steep canyon wall.
We entered into the black hole of another man-made tunnel piercing through the Pine Creek Canyon wall. Called Mount Carmel Tunnel, it was started in the late 1920’s and was completed in 1930. It is 1.1 miles long. Open windows were chizled into the tunnel to provide light and fresh air through the canyon wall into the tunnel. At the time it was dedicated in 1930, it was the longest non-urban tunnel in the U.S.
After going through the tunnel, the road switches back and forth 1000 feet down the side of Pine Creek Canyon. Each switchback turn brought a stunning view!
One of the things that I really liked about this canyon was that you could drive through it and experience it from the canyon floor looking up as well as being at the top looking down. Most of our viewing of the Grand Canyon was spent on the rim, looking out and down over the expansive beauty.
The vegetation changed as we reached the Virgin River at the bottom of the canyon. The Utah juniper and the pinyon pines, with roots clinging and reaching precariously along sheer, high canyon walls, have given way to large cottonwoods and box elders stretching branches across the narrow river.
In the summer, a shuttle service takes people into parts of the park in an effort to reduce traffic congestion, air pollution and parking issues. We were one of very few people in the park, so we were able to drive along the tranquil, meandering river.
We couldn’t wait to get out and hike. We crossed over the bridge and enjoyed an easy hike, Emerald Pools Trail. The trail hugged the base of the towering monoliths that formed this beautiful, serene canyon.
The signature Prickly Pear Cacti are scattered along the Emerald Pool Trail. They remind us how arid this desert country is with temperatures that soar over 100 degrees in the summer and receive precipitation of less than ten inches a year.
We weren’t able to get to the Weeping Rock, but this is an amazing geological feature. Water that fell as rain 1000-4000 years ago, has just now seeped and percolated through the sandstone showering down into the alcove. Another amazing hike I want to go on is where the North Fork river goes through The Narrows. Here, in spots, the canyon’s 2000 foot walls are only a narrow 18 feet apart. Care has to be taken though as flash floods are a huge danger in this area. I’m definitely coming back sometime when it’s warmer so that I can do these two hikes. We did have time however, to go to the Visitor Center. It was enveloped in such natural beauty.
When the Visitor’s Center, as well as the guide-rail along the canyon road were built, great care was made to make it blend in with the natural sandstone coloring of the area. Inside the center was information and great pictures about the park as well as wonderful books. I’m such a sucker for books. I spent way too much money! Every direction we looked when leaving, the reddish iron oxide layer, then pale tan, and finally white Navaho sandstone-topped peaks told their story of the massive upheaval and erosion that had occurred over thousands of years.
It was time for the Gram-per Camper to continue it’s cross country pilgrimage and exploration of more of our national parks.
