This is the sixth and last part of our first RV trip to Utah Mighty five National parks loop. Here is the link to the previous post(Bryce Canyon National Park)
April 8, 2022:
We entered the park at the East Entrance and paid a $15 fee for the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel escort ahead. Since our RV was an oversized vehicle, the oncoming traffic had to be stopped by the rangers so we may drive down the center of the road in the tunnel (check tunnel hours). As we drove through the tunnel, we enjoyed the glimpses of the spectacular Zion canyon through the windows and soon we were at the last campground of our trip- Watchman. Its next to the Zion Canyon visitor center, ¼ mile away from the (Pedestrian/bike only) South entrance in Springdale, UT. It was so beautiful right by the north fork of the Virgin River with covered sandy beach and a trail along and just a footbridge away from Springdale town with shopping area and restaurants on the other side.
This place definitely has vibes never seen before, felt like we saved the best for the last. We went to bed early excited for the much-awaited Angels landing hike next day, as the permit we applied for yesterday got approved this morning.
April 9, 2022:
We took the first bus into the canyon from the Zion Canyon visitor center to Stop# 6: The Grotto for the Angels Landing via West Rim Trail. Zion Canyon Scenic drive is open ONLY to these articulated/tandem shuttle buses Spring through Fall and these are very effective in controlling the traffic. We crossed the Virgin River on a bridge and the elevation gained quickly on the West Rim trail to “Refrigerator Canyon”.
After walking through the flat, cool inner recesses of the cleft, it was a strenuous ascent on 21 switchbacks to a sandy pad called “Scout Lookout”. We had rangers checking the permit here again to take on the last part of 500-vertical-foot push to the top of Angels Landing. As I pulled myself using heavy chains attached to rocks serving as the handrails and reached the first knob, the sight of the angels landing ahead got me scared and I decided to stay back. It didn’t feel like a long wait sitting at the edge watching the climbing duo (and the many brave souls, some very young kids) as they vanished onto the hill as ants and joined me back in 2 hours. It was very hot on our way back and felt relieved to be done early and proud of my hiking pals.
Meanwhile, the kids had a relaxing day at the covered beach by the campsite.
Evening, we ran errands using the Springdale shuttle and enjoyed yet another dessert by my niece without which our dinners were never complete.
April 10, 2022:
We took the shuttle bus back into the canyon, this time to its final stop #9: Temple of Sinawava. We did the 2.2-mile Riverside walk along Virgin River to the Narrows but it was closed.
While the rest took the shuttle to Zion lodge for Emerald pools hike, I returned to Watchman with my DD2.
Later, we spent time at the Visitor center and walked to a Thai restaurant for the last night’s dinner celebration of our successful trip.
April 11, 2022:
We exited the park from South entrance and skipped Kolob
Canyons in order to reach home early. Thankfully we checked the weather the
night before and started driving back early to SLC to avoid high winds starting
afternoon. We were able to return RV ontime and kids experienced their first
snow storm that night.
April 12, 2022:
It was a beautiful morning in SLC as the snow cleared up and we took the flight home. On the trip, days rolled by so fast with no signal mostly and the occasional WhatsApp messages would be gentle reminders of time and the parallel life. It was like a peaceful retreat into the nature, came back so reset that life still felt like a holiday. Those soaring Arches, vast Canyonlands, acres of Capital Reef orchards, tall hoodoos of Bryce and the oasis of Zion would replay for several days afterwards. My 2-year-old thoroughly enjoyed our RV trip as she nicknamed it “the beautiful bus” and I really hope these impressions remain with her and may continue to inspire the generations to come.
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