Adler, Zion and a Small Slot Canyon

Adler is with us now and we moved to Sand Hollow State Park in Hurricane, Utah. We’re at just over 3,000 feet here, instead of the 1,700 feet of Mesquite, and it’s about 8 degrees cooler, topping off today at 102 instead of 110 degrees.

Last evening Adler and I walked Matey to a bluff overlooking the reservoir here. No trees, but the blue sky and the very blue water make a striking contrast to the red rock and sand, which is everywhere.

This state park is not far from Zion National Park. Since dogs aren’t allowed on the trails in National Parks, we’ve been driving through the parks on our first day of visiting to get the lay of the land with Matey along. In Zion, the main canyon drive is closed to private vehicles, too. The only way to go there is by shuttle. I found a trail (using All Trails again) that ended in a slot canyon and was on the other side of Zion, so we could see some of Zion and do the hike.

The road had a lot of switchbacks on the map and two tunnels so I thought it would be an interesting drive. Turns out the road is famously interesting. It’s the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway and Tunnel and was built from 1928 to 1930 to allow travel from Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon to Zion. On the west end it starts going up along Pine Creek Canyon from the canyon of the Virgin River that forms the main part of Zion.

There are some beautiful views of that canyon.

It’s hard to capture the grandeur of the area, but realize that you are not seeing scrub brush in this photo, but full-sized trees. This landscape is BIG.

After seven switchbacks you arrive beneath these cliffs and near the mouth of the first (and by far the longest) tunnel.

From below, you can see this opening in the cliff above you.

There are about five of them and they provide the only light and ventilation in the 1.1 mile long tunnel.

They also provide a spectacular glimpse of the canyons as you drive past.

At the east side of Zion you drive past the giant Checkerboard Mesa.

You might think our hike would be a disappointment after that spectacular scenery, but it wasn’t. It started out up a sandy wash.

Adler got to play a bit on the red rock slopes.

It was getting hot now so a narrow side slot was a cool place to rest.

A second side slot ended in what looked like stairs, but were too slick to climb.

The main slot had a sand bottom and smooth walls.

It wasn’t that long…

but it was very pretty.

It’s hard to beat blue sky, red rock and a pinch of green.

We were the only ones in the slot and all had fun climbing in the cool shade.