We choose the Narrows as our first Zion hike
The canyon walls get progressively narrow as we hike upstream
The water was 51 degrees and flowing briskly
In some places the water is only shin deep
The Virgin river has carved a deep narrow gorge
The Narrows is shady and cool while the valley floor is over 100 degrees
What an awesome first hike of the tour
We take a late lunch at Zion Lodge and are treated to this view
The next day we tackle Angels Landing while its still cool
A lot of work went into constructing this trail
A tourist snaps our photo just before the trail gets scary
Look carefully, you can see a hiker climbing the ridge line
I'm almost at the top ledge
Here's the view from Angel's Landing
I make it out to the very tip of Angel's Landing
Going down is easier but the temperature is a 105 degrees
Look at these switchbacks!
After three days in Zion, we head to Bryce
Along the way we stop to view Red Canyon
Here's a shot of the people we kept running into at different parks
We do an 8 mile hike in Zion the next day
The flowers are still in bloom along the trail
We hike the Fairyland Trail - the hoodoo's explain the name
The landscape is stark but the natural beauty is stunning
The trail drops from the rim down to the canyon floor
The trees are scraggly and stunted
Hoodoo ya love?
More shots along Fairyland trail
Blue skies, red sandstone and a pine tree are a landscape masterpiece
Bleached wood grain adds character along the hike
A lone pine stands against the skyline
Does this look like Charlie the tuna standing on his tail fin?
I'd swear this is a reclining cat
I notice a rainbow over the canyon that evening
The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is our third park destination
Here is the rim trail behind our camp site
A Ponderosa pine frames the canyon walls
We hike the rim trail and find the lodge built in the 30's
This shot is from one of the Lodge viewing points
I could lounge on this patio and gaze out over the canyon for hours
The lodge has this majestic hall with stunning views
Here's the canyon from the lodge view point
Have a rock and kids will climb it
Hat, sunglasses and a camel back, I'm always ready for hiking
I look back along the rim
Nature provides the best landscaping
Byron likes to live on the edge
This view point takes advantage of a natural rocky ledge
The North Rim Lodge is majestically perched on the rim for the best view
I fall asleep on this comfy leather chair after a long hike
Purple Lupine flowers cover the forest floor and perfume the air
The mules ruin the only trail down to the canyon floor
This viewing point is intimidating to some
Once again we run into Donny and Laura
We take a twilight ride out to Roosevelt Point
My Honda poses against a western sunset
Notice the chrome on Donny's bike reflecting the sunset
We're wearing our cooling vests but it's not too hot in the morning
We cross the Colorado at Lee's Ferry
We take a quick bio break before we reach Sedona
We find this New Age Sedona shopping retreat and have lunch
I find a store selling stone statues - this one is Kwan Yin
A Sedona residence in a picturesque setting
Brawley is the last photo I take
