Zion National Park

May 15, 2013
As Anne and Lee had warned, it takes a long time to get out of the Vegas metropolis (about an hour).  The landscape between Las Vegas and the Virgin River Gorge was barron.  Leaving Nevada we passed into Arizona for a short while before entering Utah.  The Virgin River Gorge was very interesting with its peculiar rock formations throughout the steep and curvy drive.  We were surprised to find that St. George, Utah is a huge city along the route including a massive white Mormon Temple.

It seemed that each drive was 4 hours and so it was to Springdale, Utah near the entrance of Zion National Park.  All along the way the barren mountains grew out of flat lands and so many striations, interesting peaks, and mesas appeared.  There were small canyons and dry riverbeds all along the way that gave us a hint of what was to come.

Bird notes:  Common Ravens appeared along the roadside as well as a number of raptors that couldn't be IDed from a traveling car.

Beauty was all around.  This view across the street from the motel
was spectacular.

We arrived at the Montclair Quality Inn in Springdale, Utah early in the afternoon, and could not even get the car door open before birds began to appear.  We loved the motel.  It is on the outskirts of town so the birds were good and the scenery in back and front of the motel was great!  It was our desire to get rooms with doors to the outside on the first floor.  Except for the Casino Hotel in Las Vegas and one other we succeeded in doing this.  Wifi, and complimentary breakfast were offered here.

View from rear of motel

Bird Notes:  Phainopeplas, Western Kingbirds, Robins, Lesser Gold Finches, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Eurasian-colored Doves, Ringed Turtle Dove, Bullock’s Orioles, House Finches, Western Gnatcatchers, and plenty of House Sparrows were right in the parking lot.

Phainopeplas were active around the motel.  

The shuttle bus system was fabulous.  We had a stop right by the motel so we hopped on and headed to the entrance to Zion.  A Na. Park Pass for senior (62+) at $10 was a huge savings.  We crossed over the Virgin River on a footbridge and took a shuttle bus inside.  They run every 7 min. so it is easy to  get off and on at all the stops.  We rode the entire bus loop before starting a hike.

Danny at entrance to Zion National Park

Our main stop was the 5 mile round trip hike to Angel’s Landing.  The  path winds its way up steep switchbacks.  We chose not to walk the extra half mile to the top where hanging on the chain ropes was required and signs told that fatalities had occurred there.   Most of the path was paved, but it was a lot of uphill climbing.  The view to the canyon floor made it worth the trek.

A view between canyon walls on the climb to
Angel's Landing

Looking down on the Angel's Landing trail

Along the Angel's Landing path

Looking down from Angel's Landing to the Virgin River

Bird Notes:  Black-throated Gray Warblers, Yellow Warblers, Say’s Phoebe, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, Common Raven, Turkey Vultures, Song Sparrows, Lesser Gold Finches, Black-chinned Hummingbirds, and White-throated Swifts made appearances.

This Gopher Snake was about knee high above the trail.

A beautiful butterfly called California Sister is common in the high desert.

The first of many Black-throated Gray Warblers,
seen in all the Parks & Monuments we visited. 

Other animals appeared along the trail.  A large Gopher Snake and a Common Garter Snake topped the many small lizards along with Chipmunks and Gray Squirrels.  A small bat flew in the canyon beyond the path, possibly Western Small-footed Myotis, and a Mule Deer appeared near the Virgin River as we headed out of the park.

Back on the shuttle we enjoyed the narrated tour which included physical features of the park as well as its history.  The Virgin River runs through Zion and is lined with giant Cottonwoods.  The amazing rock mountains appeared at every turn.

The air was filled with cotton and it piled up on the ground
as the female Cottonwoods shed shed their flower heads.

Beauty at every turn on the shuttle ride

Danny and I took the shuttle again in the evening from our motel, about a half mile to Bit and Spur Southwest Grill.  We were seated on the porch and to my surprise there were hummingbird feeders and lots of hummingbirds.  Dozens of Black-chinned Hummers sparred at the feeders.  This was a good restaurant.  I would recommend it although it was a little pricey.

May 16, 2013
We headed out early to Zion National Park to hike the famous 9 mi. hike in the water through the Narrows.  We took the shuttle again to the beginning of the trail.  The first mile was an easy walk along the river with paved paths.  We got to the entrance to the narrows and headed into the water.  It was the most crowed walk of the two we did.  Many people rented wetsuits and special shoes to keep them warm, but we decided to go in our hiking shoes with shorts.  It was fine except for the fear of falling and getting phones and other things wet.  Danny did fall while trying to help me down a small waterfall, but a guy pulled him by his back pack and that we enough to get him up quickly and save his phone although it was in a wet pocket.  The Narrows follows the Virgin River upstream and as we hiked the canyon walls became more and more steep and narrow.  At the end you can touch the stone walls on either side.  It was a difficult walk because of the rapid flowing water and the rocky bottoms.  We forded the river time and again after walking in it for periods of time.  We could walk the edges until the rocky beach ended and it was time to get into the water again.  We won’t soon forget that trip.  It took about 6 hours to complete.

Walking over rocks or through rapids in the river

this adventure was a challenge.

Lots of folks were doing this walk in the water.

We celebrated those sandbars along the way.

Along the Narrows

Finding the path of least resistance 

We watched some mountain climbers repel down a rock cliff where a small waterfall was located.  …very interesting to watch.

In the evening we took the shuttle again into Springdale for dinner at Oscars.  It is an eclectic restaurant with interesting menu items.  We would highly recommend it.  A black bean burger the size of a dinner plate and the enormous beef burger special were our dinner.

Bird Notes: 
Cherrie's Bird List: eBird List for Zion NP and eBird List for Springdale, UT
A pair of Painted Redstarts appeared very early in the walk in the narrows.  They are rare for Utah but unmistakable.  …such pretty birds.  It was fun to ID the bird for a young man who had taken his camera and wondered what the pretty birds were.  This sighting was listed on the rare bird site for Utah.  We also encountered a turkey on the bank that was protecting her young.  One was dying on the beach as she attacked the predator Raven.  We stopped and watched for a while.  On the return trip,  we saw a raven with a chick in it’s mouth.  We hoped the turkey was able to escape with some of her young.

Phainopepla:  This was the only place we saw them on the trip.

Ash-throated Flycatcher:  One of the more common birds of the trip, but rare in the east.

Bullock's Oriole:  Such a beauty but my camera never caught one in focus

Lesser Goldfinch:  …wish he had turned around to show off his colors

Western Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Black-chinned Hummingbird:  The most common hummingbird in this part of the world

Eurasian Collared Dove:  Invading the entire country

Western Kingbird:  Common here but not in the east

Yellow Warbler:  Springdale, Utah