Stunning Sensational Southern Utah

We have spent the last week visiting Zion and Bryce National Parks and what show stoppers they are. We had perfect weather and did a lot of walking and riding in both parks.  Zion NP has several different aspects to it and we started by walking up to the Narrows, the start of the famous walk up the Virgin River that flows through the canyon. You have to wade, swim and clamber for miles until the canyon is so narrow you can touch both sides with your hands. Unfortunately it is a two day hike so we just walked the mile to its start. The walls of Zion NP are reputed to be highest sandstone structures in the world.

Another part of the park is by the Eastern Entrance high up on the plateau above the canyon. The rock formations are fantastic.

Some 30 miles away by car is the Kolob Canyon area of the park with views for 100 miles in every direction. It was a lovely walk up to the lookout point where we could see the North Rim of the Grand Canyon over 100 miles away.

Then it was off to Bryce Canyon where we arrived in the middle of Memorial Weekend, the start of the school holidays and the start of summer. What a sight greeted us. The eroded rocks have been formed into columns of rock called Hoodoos. In an amphitheatre below they stood in the finery appearing as all sort of shapes.

There was a trail down into the canyon but a difficult one and not for people with dodgy knees. We had a better plan....

We saddled up Keystone and Red, two mules and let their legs take the strain  and headed down to the bottom of the canyon. On the way we heard a rattling noise and our guide shouted out 'Rattlesnake, kick your mules'. So we gunned the mules up and dashed past before the mules could spot them and get spooked with us on top. We passed Bristlecone pines as well, the oldest living things on the planet that can live for over 5000 years.

This week we are in Moab after a fantastic drive through the middle of Utah. Moab is the base to visit the Arches NP and Canyonlands NP which we will be doing this week before driving to Salt Lake City.