Zion

Last year, when we went to Yellowstone, instead of paying $50 for a week long pass for entrance into the park, we paid $80 for an annual pass for entrance into all the National Parks. Mostly in an effort to get us to go out and do something!

This past weekend, we put the pass to good use and traveled down to Zion National Park in southern Utah. Even though it's only a mere five hours away, neither of us had been before. We headed down Friday night after work so that we could have an early start on Saturday.

We started Saturday morning at one of the most popular hikes in Zion, The Narrows. You spend most of the time hiking up the Virgin River which rests at the bottom of a canyon. Many people we saw there had rented the fancy socks and shoes that help to keep their feet warm while Mike and I decided to go it in our Tevas. Glad to report that I don't have any regrets. The water is cold, but your body adjusts and it ended up being perfectly comfortable.

We didn't do the whole hike because we had other things we wanted to do in the park and a limited amount of time. One day I hope to be able to make it all the way up the river.

Next we headed to Weeping Rock.

Pictures don't do this place justice with the amount of water that is dripping from them.

And it provided us with a beautiful view, albeit a blurry photo of us.

Finally, we headed to see the Emerald Pools. Which aren't emerald. So that was a disappointment. Made for a good, sweaty hike though.

The upper emerald pool was located at the bottom of a beautiful canyon, so I guess that made it worth it.

The next day we got up early and checked out of our hotel and headed to do the Kanarraville Falls hike. This hike is located just outside of Cedar City and was probably my favorite part of the trip. You spend most of the hike, hiking in what feels like northern Utah, and then all of a sudden you find yourself entering into a narrow canyon. It's incredible and once again, pictures just don't do it justice. The water here was much colder than The Narrows.

We are so lucky to live so close to so many amazing places! Now if we could just get ourselves to get out and take advantage of them!