Uncertainty had now beset . The only road that takes us to the car park in Zion had been completely covered in mud and debris. The park is shut , with further warnings of flash floods in the next 24 hours . Finding information on potential reopening wasn’t easy . It’s fair to say the web page on Zion National Park needs some upgrading . Fortunately Megan Gurst knows how to make things happen . Some reservations made with Ponderosa Ranch was a godsend We are to be going on a four wheel drive Jeep tour into the back blocks in the countryside just outside the park . If that wasn’t all , there was more off road adventures atv style to follow later in the day .
Momentarily ,we are stuck just outside the park . Zion has an almost ethereal reputation . In our hometown and amongst work friends and fellow Aussie expats Zion has become a must tick travel destination. It’s a place that has majestic trails , surrounded by over hanging rock and mountainous summits . Fortunately for us , it forced us to look in the immediate and less known surrounds . We were rewarded with some hidden gems that turn out just as good as it’s more revered neighbour .
Ok , the Jeep tour of Checkerboard Mesa ( a rock formation resembling a crisscross pattern ) and the surrounding terrain had the kids yawning a bit , but the adults found it pretty interesting . It was good to get out and finally see some rugged terrain that actually had some trees and scrub to navigate . Ponderosa Ranch has a heap of activities for the kids and thankfully this kept the “ I’m bored “ complaints down for the most part .
The atv tour was a highlight . Stetson had the boys and myself wide eyed and hanging on to the Jesus handle white knuckle style . This kid ( Stetson ) barely looked 21 but geez he had his machine sideways along the narrow Sandy track that led down to the slot canyons . The four wheeling was only the beginning . The destination was a treat ; a crack in the hillside rock that opens up into a Swiss cheese like labyrinth splitting deep into the mountainside .
We missed out at Antelope Valley but fortunately we got to see the unique narrow slot canyon formations . The honeycomb red rock , the beautiful light , the narrow passageways into the centre of the earth . The canyons have a sense of mystique that have to be seen for yourself . We were stoked to get in there and explore it .
Finally ,we get notification that Zion National Park is open . We’ve got the last day to make it work . We use Ponderosa Ranch to ferry us in . We gather ( the right call ) that traffic would be intense , with everyone waiting in their accomodation for the call to open up . It was the charge of the masses . National Parks have been extremely busy during the pandemic . Internal travel destinations were the trend .With the US not locking down during the Covid crisis it’s been well documented that large queues were the norm when sightseeing America’s natural wonders . Plans of maybe walking multiple trails were put to bed ; it was the ‘Narrows ‘ that was our mission . It’s unfortunate. I was hoping to take the 5 hour hike to Angels Landing with the older boys . According to our upstairs neighbours and seasoned rock climbers Angels Landing is his favourite trail in all of America .
Zion is heaving at the seams . The drive in is slow as we snake in on the conga line of tourist busses , SUVs and Subaru Foresters . The main tourist destination is a narrow valley sandwiched between two rugged red rocked mountainsides . The first impression was slightly underwhelming. It’s probably not fair , but we’d already seen some incredible parks in Utah . Zion reminds me of the Grampians and Halls Gap but more arid . I think the Grampians are definitely it’s equal . It’s probably why I was slightly nonplussed at first sight . A bus shuttle rotates around the park in around 30 minutes , with busses every 5 minutes apart it’s pretty efficient . We stop off at the Narrows . It’s the most popular trail in Zion . It’s 100 degrees outside ( 38 Celsius ) so any walking is gonna take some sweat and a plenty of water .The Narrows trail has cold running water to fill your bottles up with . The walk is simple , only a mile or so in until you hit the Virgin River . From here on in you get your feet wet and follow the river into the narrowing gorge . Emma , Ben and myself do it with our runners on . Fortunately we are given a gnarly old walking stick that is more than helpful in traipsing over the slippery river stones . We don’t go far but we see and experience enough to return fully satisfied. We did the Narrows . Tex and Ryan go a further half mile up stream . They report back that we missed out but I’m more than happy to get back without a panic .
Utah …….I loved it .10 days packed with everything you could’ve asked for in a holiday . I’ll drink to that
aussiehowieinla 