| The background is a "water-colour" of the Virgin River near the park HQ. |
The first Mormon settlers were so impressed with the beauty of the Canyon that they named it Zion. It is undoubtedly a gorgeous oasis of greenery in the desert. One travels fittingly in and around it on quiet Propane powered Shuttle Buses. All the roads are surfaced in "tasteful" red tarmac. On our first day we walked up to the Lower and Upper Emerald Pools and then had a picnic by the Virgin River where we had a delicious swim. After lunch we caught the bus to the final stop in the Canyon for a walk up the river in the Narrows where the Canyon is sheer on both sides. The Rangers thoughtfully provided walking sticks. On our last day we visited the Mormon Ghost town of Grafton near Springdale with its poignant little cemetary full of childen's graves, and then took the Kolob Terrace road up onto the plateau above the Canyon for a picnic at Lava Point. Another swim at Canyon Junction and a walk down the Pa'rus trail to the Park HQ (where we saw a Mule Deer stag) whetted the thirst and appetite.
Click on the thumbnails for a bigger view.
