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Thursday 4th August 2005 - Zion National Park

After a decent(ish) night's sleep in real beds, we checked out of the motel and drove into Zion NP. We camped at the South Camp Site which is not far from the park entrance. Having camped, we went to the visitor's centre as usual and started to decide what we would do.

We decided to jump on the shuttle bus and head further north into the park to the Zion Lodge where the Emerald Pool trail has its start. Before embarking on the trail though, we bought sandwiches and salad for lunch from the cafe at the Lodge and ate them outside in the sunshine.

The trail we had selected was rated a fairly easy one and measured about three miles in length with a climb of just under 500 feet. The pools themselves, of which there are three (lower, middle, upper) were fed by a creek and occassionally by waterfalls. They got the "Emerald" name because of the bright green algae that grows in them. The walk started off quite easy on a paved path but got steeper and rougher the further we went. The view was good as we climbed higher. It was quite a hot day and the enjoyment was lessened slightly by this being a very popular trail in a very popular park. It was quite crowded.

After the trail, we had cold drinks and a long rest back at the Zion Lodge. After this we headed right back to the camp site where we arrived at about 2:30. Marina, Bekky and Jack decided to stay there for the afternoon resting and playing games. Martin decided he wanted to do some more walking and so headed off on foot to do the Watchman Trail.

The Watchman Trail could be reached on foot from the camp site. It's 3.5 miles in length and climbs around 400 feet. It was really pleasant walking, much nicer than the Emerald Pools trail. If nothing else it was very quiet with hardly any people. In fact during the three hours that Martin spent walking or sitting admiring the view, he saw only three individual walkers and one group of three. At the end/top of the Watchman Trail there was an extension called the Loop Trail which Martin also walked.

When Martin got back to the camp site he arrived just in time to eat the pasta with pesto that Marina had prepared.

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Out site at the camp ground in Zion NP

Zion has some enormous sandstone cliffs. These stood behind the campground

Zion Lodge from where we started the Emerald Pool Trail

The girls trying hard not to be photographed. No publicity!

View from the lodge

Start of the trail

The surface was paved to start with

We passed under a waterfall which was just trickling, it being the height of summer

Tadpoles in the middle pool

The sandstone walls are really enormous

The view improved as we got higher

The upper pool

Heading back down...

Squirrel!

End of the Emerald Pool Trail

Martin's walk along the Watchman Trail