A new day means new adventures, and today's adventure was HOT. The drive back into Utah from northern Arizona was intense. The North Rim of the Grand Canyon had been relatively cool, compared to the firey temperatures overtaking us as we drove into Hurricane on 59. When we reached La Verkin, we turned on 9, leading directly into the park. On the way, we enjoyed some awesome views, including some groovy clouds.






We decided to set up our campsite before going into the park, so we turned on Kolob Terrace Road just outside of Virgin and headed down to the campsite, about 3.2 miles after the turn. We love our free campsites, and this one was especially nice.











We found a shaded spot right next to North Creek and set up our tent and hammock. The shade was a nice escape from the brutal sun. Although we didn't use them, there were several fire rings scattered around the campsites. Unable to resist the temptation of checking out the area, we set off down a nearby path, following the creek until we came to a swimming hole. Yaz enjoyed a nice swim while Leo and I cooled our feet in the shallow water.










The heat of the sun put me in a dreamy state, and I walked slowly on the path back to our tent, admiring all the plants along the way. Leo dared to walk barefoot, burning his feet on the baked dirt.








After a bit more exploring around the campsite we decided to finally head over to the park. We passed all the tourist shops of Springdale and waited in line for our turn to enter. Once we did, we found ourselves surrounded by impressive views as the mountains cast their shadows in the sunset. We drove the steep and winding Zion-Mount Caramel Highway up the canyon, stopping to watch a few deer along the way.

















 Feeling pretty cool in our shades and hats, we checked out a few shops in Springdale before heading in for a new day of hiking.







Yep, there's me, looking extremely fly heading back from the loo.

While in Zion we hiked Angel's Landing, Canyon Overlook Trail, Riverwalk, Weeping Rock, and the Emerald Pools Trails, all deserving their own posts. It was nice to do a variety of hikes within different difficulty levels, especially because it meant we were able to see so much of the park in such a short amount of time.

After sweating our bums off, we took a dip in the Virgin River to clean off and cool down. It was blissful. Zion is definitely on my list of "to visit again."








 In total, we spent 2 two full days in Zion and did 5 hikes while there (counting the Pools trails as one). It was amazing, even in the heat. If you decide to visit Zion in the summer, remember to bring protection from the sun and plenty of water. Also, expect long lines to get into the park. It's incredibly busy in the summer months, so don't expect quietness on the trails. Evening hikes were our favorites, to escape the crowd and see some wildlife - including a tarantula, which I will write about on my Canyon Overlook Trail post. ;)


STATS:
Date: August 1, 2017
Location: Zion National Park
Length of Stay: 2
Time from last stop: 2.5 hours
Miles from last stop: 140


Accumulated # of Days: 16
Accumulated Miles: 2,576 miles


Highlights: Impressive free camping options, river-bathing to cool off, and plenty of options for hiking, no matter what your skill level or preference. Campsite and park itself are perfect places to picnic and relax, or sweat and explore.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (1 star docked because of the crowds)

After having only a day to explore Bryce, we headed back to our campsite for the night, ate some dinner, and headed to bed.

The next morning was spectacular. Leo and I had slept with the rain guard off of our tent so we could keep an eye out for any shooting stars. When we woke up, the sun shone through the mesh of our tent and painted everything golden. The temperature was just chilly enough to be comfortable in a sweater and cold weather sleeping bag, without sending shivers down my legs and arms when I got up.


As much as we enjoyed this little home, we had a full day ahead of ourselves. We made a quick breakfast, took down our tents, and piled back in the car for a 3 1/2 hour drive to the North Rim.

To get there, we headed west on UT-12 until we reached US-89 S. We kept going south on 89 until we reached Kanab, where 89 splits off into two roads. From here, we took 89A across the Arizona border, passing through Fredonia, and into the wilderness. Once we reached Jacob's Lake, we turned down AZ-67 S, and from here, it's a straight shot to the Canyon. At this point, the only roads to be seen are Forest Roads, and traveling down 67 starts to feel like a never-ending tunnel into the unknown. If you find yourself headed to the North Rim, just hang in there, you'll get there eventually!


 At last, we arrived! If you've seen pictures of the Grand Canyon, and never really considered the differences between the North Rim and the South Rim, you are in for a treat! Unlike the desert-vibes you get from most images of the Canyon, the North Rim feels like another world.



The North Rim has denser vegetation than the South Rim.Trees make me happy, so this was a pleasant surprise!






Still, the thicker vegetation doesn't get in the way of some incredible views of the Canyon below the rim. We went to Bright Angel Point to take in the views, ate some lunch, and then headed off for more hiking.




Our original plan was to take the North Kaibab Trail to Cottonwood Campground. The clouds were taunting us for a while, threatening rain, but only a few drops here and there. With permits in hand, we headed out on the trail. And then....it poured. At first, we were able to watch the storm from a distance. The thunder roared, lightning flashed, and we watched it funnel into the crevices of rock ahead of us.







After enjoying a little time taking pictures of the rain, we headed off again, further down the Canyon. Eventually, the storm pushed forward, cold wind whipped against our skin, carrying with it icy rain. We found a rock ledge to hide under and decided we'd wait out the heavier part of the storm before hiking down farther. We waited, and waited, and waited...and then realized how much time we had left to go before we'd be at our campsite for the night.

Deciding we wanted to enjoy our one day at the North Rim by seeing more than just the views from our little rock, we dashed back up the trail to the car.


Once back to the car, we headed off again, taking Cape Royal Road, to the "Y" 5.4 miles down, and traveling down another 2.6 miles before finding ourselves at Point Imperial. We had wanted to go to Cape Royal, but the road was closed because of the weather. There were trees and rocks and water all over the roads, but we got to the Point in one piece, and right around sunset!



Point Imperial is the highest point on either of the rims, at an elevation of approximately 8,000, and it offers the northernmost view of the Canyon within the park. The views are dramatic, with Mount Hayden standing out as a main focal point in the landscape.

There are two hiking options from Imperial Point - Ken Patrick Trail, a 9.8 mile one-way hike leading back towards the North Kaibab parking area, and the Point Imperial Trail - a 5.4 mile roundtrip trail that heads to the north.








 In better spirits, we enjoyed the quietness of Point Imperial with minimal interruption. In fact, despite being one of the most popular viewpoints in the park, we only saw 3 or 4 other people.

We also found ourselves in the company of this beauty. Ravens joined us in the majority of places we visited this summer.







 With the daylight quickly slipping away, we got in the car and headed back to the North Kaibab parking area. Since we had permits to be on the trail overnight, we decided our best bet was to just sleep in the car, and then head back out on the trail in the morning.

We made ourselves some dinner, arranged our sleeping area, and settled in to do our nightly journals. That's when things got messy. A few moments into writing our journals, bright lights blinded us through the windows, and someone knocked on the door. Being alarmed, it took a moment to process what was happening. Leo got out and was spoken to by two rangers. They informed us that despite having permits to park there overnight, we were not allowed to sleep there. Frustrated, Leo explained that we didn't understand what it mattered whether we slept in the car or on the trail, as many hikers sleep in their cars before heading out on an early hike. The nearest option for sleeping outside of the park was over 30 minutes away, and as we were planning on hiking again in the morning, it seemed pointless to drive out, and then back in again a few hours later.

The argument was wasted, however, and soon Yaz and I rushed to get the driver's seat cleared so we could go. Leo jumped into the driver's seat, and we drove off towards the nearest Forest Road, where, after some searching, we gave up and parked on the side of the road to sleep.

We decided to skip revisiting the park the next morning, and headed to our next destination, Zion.