We were so thrilled to wake up to another morning of beauty at Zion. This time, we made our journey to Sandbench Trail where we would mount horses for a half-day ride. The views were spectacular, and it’s such a wonder to see all of the different formations. Highlights of the ride include the rock that looks like a sliced loaf of bread, the cacti garden, the grand view of the Court of the Patriarchs, an old corral used when settlers first arrived in the area, and magnificent views. Did I say that already? Definitely worth repeating! I thought we would be doing more river crossings; it’s only in the beginning. The horses were very gentle and the cowboy let us take in all of the grand sights. I’m glad we went on this trail by horse; his is not an easy trail to hike, as it is all sand. And of course, we were led by a cowboy 😉
Shuttle Stop: Zion Lodge: walk across the street, following the signs to the horse corral.
Duration: 3 hours (on horseback)
Length: 7.6 mil round trip
Guide: Canyon Trail Rides
After our ride, we stopped by the Zion Lodge, which has some basic outdoor gear and souvenirs. There was some of that prickly pear cacti jam I was so curious about. I ended up not buying it, though if you did buy it or try it, let me know how it tastes.
Afterwards, we took the shuttle again to The Grotto. I noticed that at nearly all shuttle stops, there is a nice pump or water station to fill up water bottles and hydration packs. We filled up the bottles and began the timer! The trail gently slopes toward the impending rock, and then before you know it, you’re not on the valley floor anymore. Continue along the trail to the first and steep set of switchbacks, which are nicely paved and offer several areas to take a break and enjoy the view.
Continue even higher into Refrigerator Canyon, often known for its cooler temperatures and respite from the heat and a nice gentle stroll before striking at another set of switchbacks. The next set is commonly known as Walter’s Wiggles, and it is the most extreme switchback scene I’ve ever seen. Brace yourself for the sun if hiking on a hot day. Continue higher to a sign post where the trail branches branches towards the (EAST RIM) trail and onwards to Angel’s Landing. Most people take a break here, enjoying some partial views of the Virgin River winding below and also a nice view of the upcoming hike.
There are four pit toilets, though to be warned, they are very full and if possible, hold it until reaching the bathrooms at the trailhead.
Continue westward towards a sign that speaks of looming doom and danger. Be warned! This trail is not for the feint of heart, nor is it for those afraid of heights. Grab the chains for security and it doesn’t matter which ‘trail’ you take. They all lead to the top of the landing. Of course, it’s easy to see where most hikers have tread the most, with the worn stone and slight depressions where people have placed their feet. Sometimes there will be congestion and bottlenecks. Be patient, catch your breath, take in the view, and continue onwards. Generally, the hiker going uphill should be given the right of way, though not everybody follows that. Somehow everything will work itself out and both parties will continue on their merry way. There are several flat areas to take a break, though I would wait to find a very flat area instead of sort of stopping in the middle of the trail.
To some, the end is a view of Virgin River winding down through the Virgin River.
To others, there is a little bit more of a walk to the edge of the stone close to the turn of the Virgin River, that includes walking laterally across the stone. And some eager people will want to slip down to the cairn formations a little further down below. Congrats on making it! We also gave each other high-fives because we were so proud. I for one was proud of my friend who was afraid of heights. Funnily, on the way down, there was a girl screeching at her boyfriend as to why he would take her on such a nerve-wrecking height. I glanced over at my friend and felt so proud that she didn’t complain. I told the girl, obviously afraid of heights, that the view was completely worth it.
We scrambled our way down the rock a lot faster than climbing uphill and soaked in all the views of the Zion Canyon before making our way back to the trailhead in record time! The trail guide mentioned that the average was 4 hours. We completed it in 3 hours.
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Shuttle Stop: The Grotto
Duration: 3-4 hours
Difficulty: Strenuous
Length: 5.4 miles round trip
Sadly, we knew that our Zion experiences were coming to an end, for we had to make our way to Bryce Canyon by night fall. We loaded up the car and took highway 9 out of the park. There are some nice turnouts to take in the views of the park. A really neat part are the windows in the tunnel area. Before, people could stop in the tunnel and take in the views of the canyon. No more :(. There is no stopping in the tunnel. Sometimes, a very wide trailer will have to pass through the tunnel, so the rangers close off the tunnel both directions to let the RV pass through. Coming out of the tunnel, we were rewarded with grand views of Checkerboard Mesa. I also wish we had some time to clamber up some more rocks to take in the views.
At the highway 89 junction, we made our way northward (Take 89 south to reach the Grand Canyon), passing through vast landscapes and tiny towns. When I say tiny, I mean, maybe a population of 100 maximum. It’s nice to be able to drive and just see the landscape extend as far as the eye can see, without a manmade building in sight. We were hoping to find something a little bigger in Panguitch. There is not much there, and everything closes early on Sundays anyways. My friend picked up a Subway sandwich and we filled up the gas before back-tracking to Bryce Canyon. We stopped by Ruby’s Inn to see what they had to offer. They offer a lot! A full-on tourist gift store, a mini grocery store, and an outdoor gear area. We picked up some items, including firewood. Then, we set about our main task of why we stopped about the inn: the showers. Then, on a spur of the moment, we decided not to camp out in Bryce Canyon. 1.) It was dark. 2.) We didn’t want to start a fire so late and 3.) A bed sounded very alluring.
We checked in (AAA members get a small discount!) and unloaded our items. Well, well, some comfort in our camping experience!
