Let’s cut to the chase, today is all about our accommodation! The location, the suite, the food, the scenery, in no particular order.
Breathtaking!
It’s by far the most expensive nights accommodation on the trip, but as I said, in the main, you get what you pay for.
We’re at Zion Lodge. There are two ways to be here. Be a guest at the Lodge, or be a tourist, and be at the behest of the tourist buses, which finish bringing in people by now and only remove folk.
So at this time of the evening it’s very tranquil. I’m writing this sat on our balcony watching a wild deer feed on the lawn. Sorry, make that three wild deer.
Unlike the rest of the park earlier. It’s Sunday, and the weather has been great again, so it’s been exceptionally busy here. Almost to the detriment of our day, but not quite.
We drove the relatively short distance (42 miles) from Kanab after picking up a Subway sandwich to save for lunch (a lesson learned from yesterday) and got to the park entrance at about 11am.
You enter the park from the east along Zion Park Scenic Byway. Loads of stopping places, to get out and look around.
Unlike the other parks and canyons, I think the reason I love Zion is because you get to be “in it” rather than looking at it.
Everywhere you turn, there’s a hell of a view. Particularly one of the first. A short (but stupidly hot) hike up from the roadside and you wiggle your way across gang-plank bridges, look down into Pine Creek narrows, over sheer drops, look back across at the inverted Arch of Mount Carmel (where the road tunnel runs through), and under cave-like overhangs.
You eventually end up at the Canyon View which is an incredible panorama (another one!), looking down to the west side of the Mount Carmel Tunnel and into the valley below, all the time surrounded by cathedral-like towers over 1,000ft above.
A reverse hike back to the car, where I realised I’d stupidly left my mobile phone in direct sunlight. It was too hot to even pick up, so we threw it into the cool bag! Thankfully no damage done!
We then headed through the 1.1 mile long Mt. Carmel Tunnel and down to the valley floor. A right turn down the road that was signed “Permit holders only – Zion Lodge”.
We could only check in at 4pm, so we had an hour and a half to fit in a hike. It was an easy decision, and we walked from the Lodge across to the walk to Lower Emerald Pools.
0.6 miles later and we reached the waterfalls. You should have been able to carry on up to the Middle and Upper Emerald Pools but recent floods and a massive landslide have thrown huge boulders into the gorge, and it’s now unsafe to go further in.
Back to the Lodge, an easy & stress free check-in and we were given keys to the William Wallace Wylie Suite, in the upper floor of the lodge nearest the main reception.
Wow! It’s huge. And has a wonderful balcony with rocking chairs where you can while away the afternoon and evening with the most stunning view!
We crashed out for an hour, showered and then went for tea at the Lodge.
A veg soup to start and a big chargrilled sirloin (medium rare) for me. To accompany it, I had a pint of Zion Canyon Echo IPA (4%) which was very, very good. So good it disappeared, and I ended up ordering another pint. This time Inhad the Seasonal, which turned out to be a “Pomegranate Sour” Ale. An odd one, in that it was very drinkable, but tasted as much like a sweet cider, as an Ale.
Back to the room to write this, and as said earlier, sat here watching deer mooch around the lawn below our balcony.
Think I need to try and make sunrise tomorrow. If it’s clear, it should be a cracker.
Pity it’s just one night here, but next stop is something completely different – Vegas, baby!
Love it, or hate it, it’s unique! But that’s for tomorrow!
Night all!
Looks fantastic – enjoy Vegas and don’t spend too much xxxx