| 2026 2024 2019 2018 2017 2016 2014 2013 2011 2010 2009 | parks maps trips | faq search

May 2011 Road Trip (trip index)
VLA/Pie Town: [Day 1]Tue May 10Drive day
Drive day · 7 videos
[Day 2]Wed May 11The Very Large Array and Pie Town, NM; on to Grand Canyon Village
The Very Large Array and Pie Town, NM; on to Grand Canyon Village · 38 videos
Grand Canyon N.P. (South Rim): [Day 3]Thu May 12Grand Canyon South Rim
Grand Canyon South Rim · 16 videos
[Day 4]Fri May 13South Kaibab hike
South Kaibab hike · 22 videos
[Day 5]Sat May 14Bright Angel hike to Indian Garden
Bright Angel hike to Indian Garden · 13 videos
Grand Canyon N.P. (North Rim): [Day 6]Sun May 15To the North Rim; Bright Angel Point
To the North Rim; Bright Angel Point · 27 videos
[Day 7]Mon May 16North Rim: Walhalla Plateau
North Rim: Walhalla Plateau · 27 videos
Zion N.P.: [Day 8]Tue May 17To Zion; Observation Point hike
To Zion; Observation Point hike · 19 videos
[Day 9]Wed May 18The Narrows
The Narrows · 12 videos
[Day 10]Thu May 19Angels Landing and Kolob Canyons
Angels Landing and Kolob Canyons · 21 videos
Great Basin N.P.: [Day 11]Fri May 20To Great Basin National Park; Lehman Caves
To Great Basin National Park; Lehman Caves · 14 videos
[Day 12]Sat May 21Bonneville Salt Flats and Great Basin
Bonneville Salt Flats and Great Basin · 9 videos
Zion N.P. (II): [Day 13]Sun May 22Second visit to Zion, then on toward Bryce Canyon
Second visit to Zion, then on toward Bryce Canyon · 25 videos
Bryce Canyon N.P.: [Day 14]Mon May 23Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park · 29 videos
Arches N.P.: [Day 15]Tue May 24To Arches via Capitol Reef
To Arches via Capitol Reef · 22 videos
[Day 16]Wed May 25Devils Garden and Delicate Arch
Devils Garden and Delicate Arch · 14 videos
[Day 17]Thu May 26Fiery Furnace and Dead Horse Point
Fiery Furnace and Dead Horse Point · 8 videos
Canyonlands N.P.: [Day 18]Fri May 27Canyonlands: Island in the Sky and the Needles
Canyonlands: Island in the Sky and the Needles · 22 videos
Monument Valley/Mesa Verde N.P.: [Day 19]Sat May 28Monument Valley and Mesa Verde
Monument Valley and Mesa Verde · 16 videos
Great Sand Dunes N.P.: [Day 20]Sun May 29Great Sand Dunes: Star Dune hike
Great Sand Dunes: Star Dune hike · 11 videos
[Day 21/22]Mon May 30Great Sand Dunes backup day, then the drive east
Great Sand Dunes backup day, then the drive east · 4 videos
Route Map: [Route][all maps]

Day 9 (Wed May 18, 2011): Zion National Park

Day's Summary: The Narrows. Overnight: Zion Park Motel.

Zion National Park: South Campground

As I mention in the video, I was moved from Watchman Campground to South Campground #68 because of construction being done on Watchman.

I had bought a really good pizza at the Zion Pizza & Noodle Company the night before and I had taken it back (via shuttle that runs from Springdale into the park) to my RAV4 in the campground. I enjoyed those pizza leftovers, let me tell you.

Zion National Park

Headed towards the Mt. Carmel Tunnel in order to hike the Canyon Overlook Trail, which is located directly east of the tunnel.

Zion National Park: Condor?

Is this a California Condor? From what I can recall, I was driving towards a hiking location and saw a bunch of people with cameras taking pictures. I got out and heard talk of a "California Condor," so I started filming. I don't know for sure if it is, but it looks like one.

Zion National Park: Canyon Overlook Hike

This is an easy 0.5 mile hike (1 mile round trip) that is a good choice IF you're in decent shape but you don't want to wear yourself out. Be careful, though, because hiking on a trail that is largely sandstone can be slippery, especially when wet. Make sure it's not wet and that you have good hiking boots.

Here, I'm at the overlook. I was considering hiking Angel's Landing this day, but with the looming rain in the distance I thought it'd be a bad idea. Even hiking THIS trail with the rain threat was not probably the wisest move (even though I wanted to make the most of my time)!

Zion National Park: Canyon Overlook Hike

Panorama of the canyon overlook. Windy, and a dang drop of rain on the lens! At 0:47, I zoom into the winding road on the west side of the Mt. Carmel Tunnel.

Zion National Park: Canyon Overlook Hike

Windy, foggy, and potential rain? Time to make haste and return.

Zion National Park: Canyon Overlook Hike

Illustrating some of the hiking conditions along the trail. Lots of slippery rock. Some frozen precipitation starts to fall at around 1:00. I mention "hail," but it's probably just sleet (rain/snow mix).

Zion National Park: Canyon Overlook Hike

Filming some of the sleet.

Zion National Park: Canyon Overlook Hike

One of the neat areas of the hike that had a large rock canopy covering the trail, as well as a cool bridge at 0:40.

Zion National Park: Canyon Overlook Hike

Filming a section of the trail so you, the viewer, can see what's it's like to hike it. (Labored, out-of-shape breathing thrown in, gratis.)

Zion National Park: Canyon Overlook Hike

The Mt. Carmel Tunnel, from the east. The Canyon Overlook Trail gives a great view of the tunnel from this perspective.

Zion National Park: Canyon Overlook Hike

Another view of the eastern opening of the Mt. Carmel Tunnel from the Canyon Overlook Trail.


← Day 8  |  Trip Index  |  Day 10 →

Page updated Sep 27, 2026 · RoadTrp.org · FAQ · Search