There were two thoughts prevailing in my mind as we lined up for the shuttle bus heading into Zion National Park. Number one: wow, it is dark out! Number two: wow, it is really cold! I had heard stories in the past that the parking lot at the Springdale Visitor Center fills up incredibly early, so it made sense how we parked there when it was still pitch black out. Using a mix of iPhone flashlight and dimly illuminated guide signs, we eventually found our way to the shuttle station. Actually, getting to the station involved a unexpectedly large amount of walking. Walking back through the same route later in the day, I would realize that the entire path was part of the line up queue for the shuttles. It is almost like Disneyland, only much colder and in Utah. When we finally reached the line of people boarding the shuttles, I was glad to see it was relatively short. We must have scored a Fast Pass! After waiting in line for about ten minutes, we boarded one of the shuttle busses. As the bus departed the station, headed for the heart of Zion Canyon, it was already starting to get light outside.

This was all part of a larger road trip spread throughout the American Southwest. For me, one of the reasons I chose to be homeschooled is to have a more immersive learning curriculum. There is probably no better way to study geology than to actually see it up-close and in person. Before heading to the Southwest, I spent a good two months studying geology in advance. The plan was to learn about the places we were heading to and applying the information while seeing the sights in person. Before going on this trip, I had never recognized a photo of Zion National Park. I was looking forward to seeing it for the very first time!

My initial impression of the canyon was extraordinary. For two nights, we stayed in the town of Springdale, Utah. The small town is positioned right outside the border to the park and is nestled in the mouth of the canyon itself. The town was surrounded by vibrant red and orange cliffs 2,000 feet high on both sides. Little would I know what was to come would be far more inspiring than I could have possibly imagined.

As I stated before, we had both heard stories about how the parking lot fills up exceedingly fast so we drove the one mile stretch between the hotel and the visitor center long before dawn. After navigating through the parking lot using flashlights and boarding the shuttles, we starting voyaging into the canyon. After a couple of minutes and a handful of various stops, we reached Angels Landing. Confession, this post is not about Angels Landing. I know the views are spectacular, but we did not make the climb due to recent overcrowding issues and a moderate fear of heights on my part. However, I am not lying to you when I say that literally everyone but us departed from the shuttle at the Angels Landing Trailhead. Although we were headed for the Temple of Sinawava and The Narrows, everyone else was on the bus to score an early climb up to Angels Landing. Because of a upcoming permit lottery system, everyone was eager to see Angels Landing before it was too late.

By the time we reached The Narrows parking lot, it was fully lit outside. However, the temperature was still chilly. After drinking some coffee at the parking lot, we started the hike. The plan was to reach the start of The Narrows. Even though we did not see the narrowest part, the canyon was still incredibly thin during the duration of the hike. Although the canyon was beautiful on the walk to The Narrows, it completely exploded in excellence on the way back. While returning, the sun finally peaked over the canyon walls, illuminating the cliffs above. Overall, I think this was one of the best moments in Zion National Park. In simplest terms, I was completely awestruck by the natural beauty of the geology. Although I have spent some time visiting desert environments, I had never before seen anything like the imposing cliffs and grand geology of the American Southwest. Seeing Zion was an incredible new experience for me.

After we reached the parking lot, we boarded a shuttle bus back to the visitor center. On our way back to the car, I realized the path we walked down in the early morning was all part of a larger queue to board the shuttle. As I surmised earlier, Disneyland. After trying to find our car in the daylight, we started the drive to other locations spread throughout the park.