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Day
Five: East Side of Zion – Walks /
Hikes / Rappelling
 The
east side of Zion National Park offers
some excellent short walks, ½ day
or full day hikes and several excellent
technical hikes that include rappelling
in slot canyon areas.
Walks to the Blind Arch Overlook and
around Checkerboard Mesa are easily accessible
and there are many pull-outs throughout
Zion National Park where you can easily
venture off for a short walk in a side
canyon. In all areas use good judgement
and caution about where you walk or hike.
The Blind Arch Overlook walk begins on
the east side of the road at the top of
the main tunnel. This walk offers views
into the Pine Creek area which is adjacent
to the tunnel and then takes you out to
an overlook into the main Zion basin.
The view is spectacular and the walk will
take between 1 and 1.5 hours depending
on how much time you spend shooting photos,
viewing foliage and enjoying the scenic
overlook.
The Checkerboard walk goes around to
the back of the mesa and begins and ends
at the parking lot just to the North of
the mesa. This walk is slightly strenuous
and will take approximately 1 ½
hours depending on your ability.
Technical Hikes with Rappels:
This includes hikes to places such as
the Zion Narrows, Orderville Canyon, Englestead
Canyon, Mystery Canyon, Spry Canyon, Keyhole
Canyon, Pine Creek, and Fat Man’s
Misery. These are all spectacular but
should be attempted only with the right
equipment and experience. For more details
on these locations – click
here!
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Drive
the winding scenic roads of the park and
enjoy taking photos or shooting video
at many of the pullouts. You are near
the top of Zion National Park and this
upper end has a very different terrain
than the lower areas. Stop at such view
areas as Checkerboard Mesa and then park
near the entrance of the Zion Tunnel and
take a leisurely walk to the Blind Arch
overlook. The mile-long tunnel in Zion
goes right through the side of the mountain.
You’ll enjoy driving slowly through
the tunnel because there are windows in
several intervals that look out onto Zion
National Park. Once you exit the tunnel
you will follow a very scenic drive down
into the valley of Zion National Park
where your elevation will be approximately
4,000 feet. From April to October a shuttle
runs from the town of Springdale and takes
you into the main canyon. This shuttle
is your only access into the canyon during
these months, so park your car in Springdale
and jump on the shuttle. This will take
you to any number of scenic stops.
trail that begins at the Temple of Sinewava.
Also stop at the turnout to shoot photos
of the park’s most famous formation
"The Great White Throne." For
more adventurous there's "Angel’s
Landing" and other backcountry adventures.
If you’d like to make a loop out
of your trip, you can venture off the
road at the town of Rockville and venture
to the old ghost town of Grafton. Here
you’ll see an old school house and
other buildings from the early settlers
of this community. It is also the location
of a famous movie scene from Butch
Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. From
here you’ll follow the well-graded
dirt road up the hill and around toward
the community of Apple Valley. You’ll
pass the Smith’s Mesa and circle
onto Highway 59 and drive through Hildale
on to Pipe Spring National Monument, a
fort constructed for protection from the
Indians along the Arizona Strip. You’ll
circle through Kanab and return to in
the afternoon or evening for a relaxing
evening.
The
North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park
is just two hours drive to the south.
The drive is spectacular as you pass by
Coral Pink Sand Dunes, the western town
of Kanab and then make your way up onto
the Kaibab Plateau and through the dense
forest of Ponderosa Pines. Keep an eye
out for wildlife along the way. Coral
Pink Sand Dunes is just a short drive
off Highway 89 (7 miles) and offers beautiful
views of reddish colored sand dunes.
Bryce
is just an hour to the north. At the gate
you will be given a map of the park. Just
past the main gate you can stop at the
visitor center and view the various displays
on the geology and other information about
the park. Drive to some of the overlooks.
The main road in Bryce Canyon goes from
the Gate on the North for 20 miles to
the South end of the park. There are many
places to stop and take photos in Bryce
Canyon National Park. If you enjoy walking
then there are many trails that lead from
the top of the park down in and among
the formations. Use the map given to you
at the gate. As you stop at the overlooks
you will be looking to the East into the
Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument
and across the Bryce Valley toward Powell
Point which rises to over 10,000 feet.
Depending on the season you can enjoy
many activities near the park – such
as rodeos, chuck wagon rides and entertainment,
horseback riding, helicopter rides, etc.
If you have time you can go further and
venture past Bryce Canyon to Kodachrome
Basin State Park for the afternoon. This
is a magical place with unique formations.
There are also opportunities to see wildlife
at the 
Circle
north again to the quaint town of Panguitch
and then go south and climb the mountain
on a beautifully paved road to Panguitch
Lake (the word Panguitch means –
"Big Fish"). Here you can rent
boats and gear for fishing or bring your
own. There are stores and restaurants
for lunch or dinner and supplies. When
you're finished viewing this sparkling
large lake in the mountains, continue
south and West to Cedar Breaks National
Monument. You'll be close to Brian Head
Resort if you want to drop down into the
town. Here you can rent mountain bikes
and ride a large network of trails. In
summer you can even put your bike on a
ski lift to the top of a mountain and
ride downhill through the forest.
Maps
