Zion

Zion

Located in southwestern Utah at elevations from 4,000 to 5,000 feet, Zion is a canyon cut into the white cliffs, the third step from the top of the Grand Staircase that drops down to the Grand Canyon in steps that can be seen from space.

The tour I was on stayed in Mesquite, NV (on the Nevada/Arizona state line) and the night before going to Zion we were given a BBQ and hay ride. As it turns out the Virgin River, which cut Zion out of the White Cliffs, runs down to Mesquite and our hay ride took us along the river at sunset.

Trail ride

Zion itself is at two levels. The lower level is the bed of the Virgin River and is the most-visited part of the park. A narrow road runs the length of the canyon and ends at the Temple of Sinawava, an area where the canyon narrows to the point where vehicles can no longer proceed. The Virgin River seems sedate and small much of the time, but can swell to killing proportions rapidly if upstream conditions drop water into the river. The river seen here is the same river seen above further downstream at Mesquite.

Virgin River

[Continue to Lower Zion]

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