11/11/02:
Would you believe 3 national parks in one day? Continued high winds and a dusting of snow at 5000 feet moved me out of Capitol Reef National Park. Drove up to 9000 feet in Dixie National Forest.
Bryce Canyon National Park is at 8000-9000 feet and was worse. More snow, more wind and more cold. It was winter time there. I made the scenic tour in record time and it still took over two hours. I'd stop at a turnout or overlook, spend 30 seconds deciding and taking picture and then dash back to the truck and the heat.
Left Bryce around noon and got to Zion National Park about 2pm coming in from the east entrance. Stopped at the Canyon Overlook Trail (1 mile round trip) for some nice scenery. Getting out of the truck was a pleasure. Pretty strong winds but temperature in the 60's. Did all of the scenic drives and took about 30 pictures.
11/12/02 Hiking Observation Point Trail (8 miles round trip):
Ice on the windshield but water not crunchy. Observation Point Trail is probably the most strenuous trail at Zion, rising 2000 feet in 4 miles. Everything in shadows at 8:30am making things cold. A steep set of switchbacks the first mile or so took me 45 minutes. The second mile is easier and brings you to the mid-way point of the trail. The next mile is another set of steep switchbacks and there went another 45 minutes. The last mile to the point is level most of the way.
Great scenery all the way. Canyon walls above and below, wide, sweeping slick rock with pines scattered here and there. And the main attraction, views from different angles of the canyon walls of the scenic drive. I completed the trail in 4.5 miles including lunch and breaks.
11/14/02 Hiking Watchman Trail (2 miles round trip):
Staggered around looking for the trailhead. Finally found a trail next to the bridge by the visitor center that ran into Watchman Trail. The trailhead is, of course, off a service road that says no entrance...
This is a nice trail that rises 500-600 feet or so and provides great views of the walls and peaks on the other side of the valley.
Hiking Riverside Walk (2 miles round trip):
This is another nice trail along the Virgin River. The river has dug deeply into the Navajo Sandstone forming a canyon more than 1000 feet deep.
11/15/02 Hiking Sand Bench Trail (3.6 miles round trip):
Ice on the windshield but not in my water jugs. Picked up the Sand Bench Trail across from the Zion Lodge. Crossed the bridge over the Virgin River and followed a packed sand trail back along the river for close to a mile. Saw 7 wild turkeys and then the trail turned to loose sand and started upward for about a mile as I entered the trail loop. Nice views of cliffs and peaks on both sides of the valley. Pretty cold in the shade though.