Getting closer... This scene is along the road leading in to Zion National Park. I arrived early in the morning of April 8th, and spent 2 and a half days happily wandering in the park. My journal contains descriptions of my days:

Red rocks smiling, 4/8/07

Chasing lizards, hiking Angel's Landing & part of the West Rim Trail, 4/9/07

A deer surprise, from Court of the Patriarch's back to the edge of the park, 4/10/07

If you're curious about where I was hiking, take a look at this Zion Canyon map.

And for a couple of related blog entries, see Food, fabulous food, and Zion curiosities.

Ah, Sunday morning, still early, and I'm in the park. I hopped in the shuttle at the visitor center and jumped back out again at the Temple of Sinawava at end of the road. My first wandering point was the Riverside Walk, heading towards The Narrows.

Photos from this walk are at the beginning of the gallery

Walking loops, changing trails.

Amazing flowers kept jumping in front of my camera. I wish I could tell you all of their names; instead I can only point you to a park service web page that lists all of the plants found in the park.

My photos are scattered through all of my Zion photo galleries, but you can find them easily by using the keyword zion plants.

Emerald Pools... I wonder where the name came from because the pools of water weren't really emerald. I walked in the opposite direction of most people, heading out on the Middle Emerald Pool trail, and returning via the Lower Emerald Pool - which is where I captured this dropping water.

Photos from this trail are in the gallery Walking loops, changing trails starting with this picture.

Canyon Overlook trail started with a drive through the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel. I was greeted by a dog waiting for his motorcycle-driving owner as I headed out (and up!) this trail. The view at the end was of the valley floor, far off in the distance. More beauty.

Photos from this trail are in the gallery Walking loops, changing trails starting with this picture of a very friendly dog.

My first stop on Monday morning was the Court of the Patriarch's, an observation point just a short walk from the road from which I could stare at these amazing monoliths. Photos are at the beginning of the gallery A last morning's walk, Court of the Patriarch's & south.

Angel's landing - a trail I've learned to love even without experiencing the end! The end of this trail follows a steep narrow ridge; my imagination tells me that there is a very good chance that even if I made it to the end of the trail that I might not have the mind-set to return. So again, I skipped the end of the trail, but continued further along the West Rim Trail. See that narrow spot in the center of the photo? Thats not the end of the trail, and yes, I did hike there!

Photos can be seen in the gallery Up & up... Angels Landing & West Rim Trail.

After traversing the beginning of Angels Landing, climbing in direct sunlight, the trail flattens and edges along Refrigerator Canyon - brrr! And then the trail heads up once more, heading up through Walter's Wiggles (you'll see a photo of that from the top looking down towards the end of my hike).

Photos can be seen in the gallery Up & up... Angels Landing & West Rim Trail.

Before I switched trails and headed out the West Rim Trail, I took another look at the start of the end of Angel's Landing. This steep trail falling off of the edge of a very tilted rock isn't even the section that concerned me; that one is a section that is (supposedly) only 30 inches wide. Hmmm... I think I'll skip it again!

Photos can are in the gallery Up & up... Angels Landing & West Rim Trail.

Indian paintbrush, red flowers cropping out of red rocks, beautiful...

Plant photos from all of my Zion galleries can be pulled together by using the keyword zion plants