Arches National Park

Arches National Park was amazing but we experiencing "red rock sensory overload". There are several arches but non seemed as impressive to us as the arch at Canyon Lands.

It was very hot and the campsites were full so we spent the day and continued down 70 via Mohab to Westminster.

To avoid freeway rush hour gridlock we discovered an exit just after Idaho Springs (6) that winds into Golden. We could then take 9 north and enter Broomfield via 128. Easy, hassle free driving for old folks.

Canyon LandsNational Park

Leaving Zion we camped again at Capitol Reef stopping to pick peaches on the way to Canyon Land National Park. Much of the road goes through open range (cattle have right-of-way). We found a parking/camping at the National Park. It was clean and pleasant. We walked to the arch for sunset photos but returned early. It's an easy hike and well worth the vista. This arch is featured in several books. The next morning we took sunrise photos over the canyon. We decided to move on to Arches National Park.

Camping at Zion

The second, and larger entry to Zion can be traveled through via car, but the road that cuts into the interior
is accessible only by park buses. The buses travel back and forth stopping at points of interest approximately every six minutes. They are were filled with the chatter of several foreign languages dominated by the Germans and Japanese with French, Italian and a few others. The buses start at 5:30 a.m and run through 10:30 p.m. filling the campground with engine noise. It was also very dusty and our least favorite campground. The stream from the canyon runs through the campground for fun swimming.

Recycling of plastic water bottles via several faucets with spring water was encouraged. It was explained that the spring water is fed from rainfall percolating through the sandstone canyon walls. This percolation process takes as much as 1,400 to 4,000 years.

It was explained that the wilted white flowers that look similar to morning glories are called Moon Poppies because they bloom at night. They're also called loco weed because cows or horses that eat them go mad and die.

Cedar Breaks & West Zion

We decided to stop by Cedar Breaks National Park on our way to Zion. It reminded us of Bryce Canyon but the altitude is over 10,000' which we found exhausting. After a quick peek, we continued on toward Zion via I-15.

This park access has immense vistas rather than the interior squeeze feeling of the canyons we later photographed at the second entrance on 9. One minute it seems like desert and suddenly the huge rocks jut up to fill the horizon. The haze was disappointing.