Zion is our next planned stop but it is just over an hour drive in the car from here so we decide to spend our MH maintenance extension day there.  Our goal is to check out the visitor center and do planning for our stay later this week.  Maybe we’ll get in a couple easy hikes.

Tuesday morning around 9 there is a que at the entry gate probably 15 minutes long.  The only lot in the park is at the visitor center and it is packed.  We cruise the entire lot once but luck out as we begin lap 2, someone’s pulling out.  Yeah!  First thing we learned for later in the week, come early.  The Narrows and Angel’s Landing are two signature trails here and we are entertaining hiking them both.  The information desk confirms online reports, no hiking the narrows up the Virgin River this week.  The trail opens at any flowrate below 150 cfs through the canyon.   That won’t be happening any time soon.  The current river flow rate is 1360 cfs through the trail canyon and there is still a lot of snow melt to come from atop the surrounding mountains.  As for Angel’s Landing, sounds like we can try for a next day permit online.  We might.

We have some trepidation about having to ride a shuttle to access the main canyon.  It is no sweat today.  We never wait more than 5 minutes, it is nice not to have to fret about parking, and Kent and I both can enjoy the fantastic view.  We walk the riverwalk at the end of the canyon.  It ends at the step-off for The Narrows hike into a torrent of churning, chocolate milk colored water.  Indeed, 1360 cfs is WAY too much water.

This is California Condor country and we were advised to check at Big Bend along the shuttle route for a possible sighting.  Good advice.  We spot a pair roosting on a cliff ledge then effortlessly riding the thermals to high above the canyon walls.  Hooray!

At weeping rock, a graceful, windblown waterfall cascades off the high pour-off adding to the usual dripping spring in the alcove.  It is a spectacular addition.

That is it for today.