This is a back road through Zion National Park in Utah, that wound in and out of the park. At the top we were supposed to see over Kolob Canyon, where Terry hoped to spot condors.
These trees remind me of our (former) back yard.
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| 7,900 ft in elevation! |
Finally we gave up, even in four-wheel drive. It didn't make sense to get stuck in the middle of nowhere. Later, as we looked at the map again, we realized it wasn't even the official road to Kolob Canyon!
Inside the main entrance to the park, we parked our car and from that point rode a shuttle bus. That was a first in a national park! You could get off at any of the eight stops, and get on anywhere; another bus would be by a few minutes later.
This is the Court of the Patriarchs:
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
We got off at the last stop to walk in a narrow canyon. The shallow Virgin River was accessible at several points.
This little fellow was hoping for a handout.
You weren't supposed to feed the wildlife, but the squirrels appeared to be already trained, and fearlessly approached hikers along the trail.
We did get to drive our own vehicle for a few miles, then parked again for a hike to the Canyon Overlook. At one point, looking at the sky through my binoculars, I spotted a large bird. Was it the condor? Terry isn't sure, because it was so far away. But I like to think that we actually saw this elusive bird.
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| a tunnel is a novelty for some |
Terry wasn't aware that he was so close to a drop-off! At the end of the day, we were glad we decided to stay
one more day in southern Utah. The weather was great,
comfortable enough for walking, and not too hot.
We'll be in a snowy landscape soon enough!
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