Day 6 – Zion Canyon
Apr 14
2010
This morning started off with some socializing when there were no tables left at breakfast and a British couple asked to sit with us. Very nice folks and we had a nice conversation with them. After eating we got on the road
![img_0427 red rock canyon just outside bryce](http://reflectionsofme.com/travel/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/img_0427.jpg)
red rock canyon just outside bryce
![img_0429 part of red canyon just outside of bryce](http://reflectionsofme.com/travel/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/img_0429.jpg)
part of red canyon just outside of bryce
and headed back south toward Zion Canyon. As we turned off the main road and started heading into Zion, we started seeing these great big melting rocks.
![img_0434 melty white rock](http://reflectionsofme.com/travel/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/img_0434.jpg)
melty white rock
![img_0435 melty pink and white rock](http://reflectionsofme.com/travel/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/img_0435.jpg)
melty pink and white rock
It was like a scene out of a Dali painting the way that the monoliths appeared to be folding down on themselves.
![img_0436 sadly, the photos just don't show just how cool and melty these were](http://reflectionsofme.com/travel/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/img_0436.jpg)
sadly, the photos just don't show just how cool and melty these were
![img_0438 so pretty though](http://reflectionsofme.com/travel/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/img_0438.jpg)
so pretty though
Unfortunately, there were no pullovers to really appreciate these very cool rocks and we figured there would be a visitor center any minute now so that we could get the full low-down of what to do and see if there were better places for seeing such rocks. Ten miles later, we finally made it to the park gate and the melty rocks were well behind us. I guess they really weren’t a part of Zion after all. Oh well. We got our little map and started down into the canyon which was a long, steep, switchbacked road. When we finally arrived to the bottom and the visitor center, I begrudgingly put my boots back on and we grabbed a pack and left. To save the roads and air, they make you leave your car at the visitor center and take the shuttle buses around the park. We went in and got advice about the best short/easy hikes and hopped on a shuttle. Our first hike was the Emerald Pools with a stop at all three, none of which were emerald and barely pools this time of year.
![img_0439 crossing the virgin river](http://reflectionsofme.com/travel/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/img_0439.jpg)
crossing the virgin river
![img_0440 looking the other way](http://reflectionsofme.com/travel/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/img_0440.jpg)
looking the other way
![img_0441 plenty of ravenous squirrels around](http://reflectionsofme.com/travel/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/img_0441.jpg)
plenty of ravenous squirrels around
Lower Emerald Pools was a nice rock overhang with a little waterfall coming off it.
![img_0447 nice overhang](http://reflectionsofme.com/travel/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/img_0447.jpg)
nice overhang
Middle Emerald Pools was nothing at all, really a joke if that was your intended hike destination. Upper Emerald Pools had a nice high waterfall which probably been very pretty with more abundant water.
![pan8 upper emerald pool falls](http://reflectionsofme.com/travel/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/pan8.jpg)
upper emerald pool falls
![img_0455 us at upper falls](http://reflectionsofme.com/travel/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/img_0455.jpg)
us at upper falls
The hike was a good stretch for the legs after our day of rest yesterday and my downhill muscles were doing much better but my toes were immediately angry about being back in the boots. I think this might be my last hiking trip in these boots.
![img_0457 hubby on the trail](http://reflectionsofme.com/travel/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/img_0457.jpg)
hubby on the trail
![img_0458 me - yes they are the same background but they are good pix of us and this is my blog](http://reflectionsofme.com/travel/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/img_0458.jpg)
me - yes they are the same background but they are good pix of us and this is my blog
Our next shuttle stop was at Big Bend where there was literally nothing to do but get a picture of Angel’s Landing and the Great White Throne
![img_0461 angel's landing is the real hike here but we just weren't up for that after the grand canyon](http://reflectionsofme.com/travel/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/img_0461.jpg)
angel's landing is the real hike here but we just weren't up for that after the grand canyon
![img_0462 the great white throne](http://reflectionsofme.com/travel/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/img_0462.jpg)
the great white throne
so we hopped back on the next bus to the Temple of Sinawava where we did the Riverside Walk back to the Narrows. At the end of the trail, hubby got in the water… and kept going.
![img_0467 off he goes](http://reflectionsofme.com/travel/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/img_0467.jpg)
off he goes
![img_0468 swimming, hiking - what's the difference?](http://reflectionsofme.com/travel/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/img_0468.jpg)
swimming, hiking - what's the difference?
I chose to remain dry and waved to him when he got to the bend.
![img_0472 thought he was saying "goodbye" and was just going to keep going and never come back](http://reflectionsofme.com/travel/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/img_0472.jpg)
thought he was saying "goodbye" and was just going to keep going and never come back
He must not have gone much further than that before heading back toward me with wet shoes and legs.
![img_0473 better shot of the river and hills](http://reflectionsofme.com/travel/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/img_0473.jpg)
better shot of the river and hills
I think he was a bit disappointed because he thought it was going to be a slot canyon trail and, as far as I could tell, there are none in this park. I think he got bad info somewhere. He was told that Zion was a must see and way nicer than the other area canyons. The melting rocks we saw outside the park were cool but I really didn’t see anything great down inside the park. Not that it wasn’t worth spending a day at, but I was just way more impressed with the scenery at Bryce than here.
![img_0477 the tiny dot is a rock climber](http://reflectionsofme.com/travel/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/img_0477.jpg)
the tiny dot is a rock climber
![img_0478 there he is](http://reflectionsofme.com/travel/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/img_0478.jpg)
there he is
The only other stop we wanted to make was at the Weeping Rock which is a super short but very steep trail. Not a big deal going up to it to see the small waterfall coming out of the rock face
![img_0484 rockface weeping](http://reflectionsofme.com/travel/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/img_0484.jpg)
rockface weeping
![img_0490 behind the water](http://reflectionsofme.com/travel/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/img_0490.jpg)
behind the water
![img_0492 the pool below](http://reflectionsofme.com/travel/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/img_0492.jpg)
the pool below
but going back down had my poor big toes throbbing and screaming. And that was it.
![img_0494 cool looking tree in front of the great white throne](http://reflectionsofme.com/travel/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/img_0494.jpg)
cool looking tree in front of the great white throne
![img_0498 court of the patriarchs](http://reflectionsofme.com/travel/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/img_0498.jpg)
court of the patriarchs
We rode the shuttle all the way back to the visitor center where I immediately re-shod myself in flip-flops. Not a moment too soon either… my two big toes were swollen to more than twice their size and the nails seem to be lifting up off of them. I assume I’ll be losing those nails. The throbbing is terrible. Anyhow, we left the canyon and made our way west to Las Vegas where we will rest up for the next couple of days.
![img_0500 viva!](http://reflectionsofme.com/travel/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/img_0500.jpg)
viva!
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