Road Trip Out West; Exploring, Wandering and Photography; Part VIII; Zion National Park

On our hike to The Narrows.  I only used my iPhone to make a couple of
exposures since the crowds were so thick.  In this little scene I waited until
everyone down by the Virgin River were just out of sight (momentarily)
then made a coupe of photos.  Entirely disappointed, this was the only
photo I made in the main part of the park. (click any image to enlarge)

We left Bryce Canyon after a relatively short visit.  As I previously mentioned, I just felt like the day we visited the weather was not the best for photography, the light wasn’t ‘right’ and the place didn’t quite measure up to my anticipation of what I thought it was from the gorgeous photos I had seen of it over the years.  I was not disappointed in the park, just the environmental conditions and time frame didn’t allow me to capture the images I wanted to make.  …and so it goes, but that is okay.  After all, I did get to visit and most people don’t have that opportunity, so I’m grateful for that.

We spent the night in Cedar City, Utah in a mainstream chain hotel (not an inexpensive one) and it turned out to be old, run down and lacking in employees who should care more about their customers.  ‘Nuff said about that.  The next morning we drove to Springdale, Utah which is located right outside of Zion National Park.  There, we stayed in the same brand of hotel and it was marvelous!  It was obvious to both of us that the owners and managers of this property kept the place in tip top shape and the several employees with which we interacted treated us like we were the most important people in town.  A wonderful experience.

I last visited Zion National Park in October of 1998.  Since I was in Utah on business, I didn’t have long to visit.  Only a few hours, unfortunately. That said, I had my large, heavy, bulky Pentax 6X7 with four lenses and large tripod with me.  I know that for sure!  I made some photographs on color negative film and I have digitized those negatives in the past.

The long line to ride the shuttle bus from the 
visitor's center.

Let me explain some of the differences I found between my two visits.  First, during my first visit, the park was largely uncrowded.  I found the visit very pleasurable and I was able to make a few photographs without worrying about people in my shots.  I remember driving up the canyon and parking not far from ‘The Narrows.’  This visit was just a bit different.  We visited in the ‘shoulder’ season when the crowds are not as bad as they are in the middle of the summer.  Nonetheless, the park was packed!  One can no longer drive up through the canyon.  Taking shuttle buses, walking or riding a bicycle is necessary.  This is absolutely essential as there are just too many people wanting to spend time in a relatively small area.

The crowds at The Narrows were unbelievable!  Last time I
was here there were only a couple of others present.

Second, Springdale is regularly so crowded and the traffic is so heavy, they, too, have gone to a shuttle bus system.  Again, absolutely necessary and appropriate.  I must say both shuttle bus systems are well designed and run very frequently.  Hardly any waiting time.  I would judge both shuttle systems as ‘efficient.’  Also, both free to ride.  Still, your experience is controlled by having to ride a shuttle instead of being in control of our own activities.

Because there were so many people, for me, that really degraded the experience.  I really wanted to experience nature and be ‘awed’ by the place.  But, no silence.  No just standing there enjoying nature and the awesome scenery.  Loud talking, children shouting and running, laughing, the sounds of many people interacting.  That, more than nature, was what was most noticeable.  It was almost impossible to walk the 2 miles up and back from where one departed the shuttle bus to ‘The Narrows’ without being in a long line of fellow walkers going the same place.  Also, it was almost impossible to make any photos without numerous people in them.  Both my wife and I decided we never needed to return.  

All that said, if you visit in the dead of winter or you are a backpacker I’m sure your experience would have been much better.  Getting away from the crowds would be possible and the ability to just sit and enjoy the place would have been possible.  

The other aspect of Zion that I thought was much better than the main side of the park was leaving by its east entrance and driving toward our next destination of Page, Arizona.  Driving up the mountainside through the curving tunnels (with ‘windows’ cut into the side of the mountain!) was a treat.  I distinctly remember that from my last visit.  Additionally, the other side of the mountain has the Navajo Sandstone formations which were ancient sand dunes.  The rock structures, the patterns, colors, shapes and layers of sand that were laid down and wind driven, then over millennia buried and compressed into rock and then eroded by wind and water.  They were magnificent.  I found this much more interesting than the more popular spots in the park.  That might be because my university degree is in geology!  Go figure!

These images were made on the east side of the park.  After driving up and through the tunnels,
when one emerges from the other side, the geology is completely different.  These are ancient
sand dunes.  The various patterns represent the various times in history the geography 
changed as well as the wind and the water.

I found these scenes much more interesting than the main part of Zion National Park.

This is called Checkerboard Mesa.

If you were to ask me if you should go to Zion, I would be very hesitant to recommend it.  Unless you were planning on going in winter when the crowds are not there, I would stay away.  To me, the excessive lines to get on the shuttle busses, the traffic, the lack of parking and the commercialization just ruin the natural experience—for me.  Your mileage may vary.

Okay!  We are now on to our next destination, Page, Arizona.  What’s there, you ask?  Just wait and see!

Join me over at my website, https://www.dennismook.com.  

Thanks for looking. Enjoy!  

Dennis A. Mook  

All content on this blog is © 2013-2025 Dennis A. Mook. All Rights Reserved. Feel free to point to this blog from your website with full attribution. Permission may be granted for commercial use. Please contact Mr. Mook to discuss permission to reproduce the blog posts and/or images.