Shabbos at our dispersed camping site North of Virgin, Utah was at times rainy and very windy.  Sunday morning brought nicer weather:

The views from this spot are amazing:

We drove 20 minutes East into Zion National Park and secured a campsite in Watchman campground.  $18 a night buys a site with electricity and even WiFi!

After piking up Junior Ranger workbooks and touring the visitor center, we drove out to the end of the park road and hiked the 2 mile round trip paved trail to the beginning of the Narrows:

Saturday’s rain created temporary waterfalls from the canyon walls towering above:

Before long we reached the beginning of the Narrows.  Continuing would require hiking in the river:

Many of the views in Zion remind me of Yosemite:

The GPS track isn’t very accurate because we were in the canyon.  Our walk there and back was in fact on the same trail.

We stopped a couple times to photograph the amazing terrain:

Next we drove South and hiked the short but steep Weeping Rock trail.  Rainwater seeps through the sandstone and is then forced out of the rock face when the water hits an impenetrable shale layer: 

The Three Patriarchs:

The Watchman over the Virgin River:

More Zion adventures tomorrow!