Riverside Trail (Zion Day Trip Part 2)


After perusing the brochure that we got from the Visitor Center, we decided to take the Riverside Trail. This one-mile (2 round trip) trail begins at the farthest end of the Zion Canyon in a natural amphitheater called Temple of Siniwava and follows the Virgin River until it ends where the Navajo Sandstone walls close in and the water is forced into the narrow walls of the renowned Zion Narrows.

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I can see why this trail racks up 3,000 visitors a day in the summer time. The trail is paved, although it can be tricky at some point especially when a portion of the trail is covered with hardened ice as it did that day. In the winter time, when we visited however, it was as if we were there on our own. Few people were taking the trail.

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The cherry on my sundae came midway through the trail when the local residents came to say hi. There were a few deer grazing in the banks of the river, but the squirrels well they are my favorites.

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The river is very picturesque. According to wikipedia it is 162 mi long and is a tributary of Colorado and in 2009 during the centennial celebration of Zion NP, it was designated as Utah's first wild and scenic river. I don't doubt it if mile 1 of 162 is the basis.

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We reached the end of the trail sooner than I wanted. The trail ended but there is a way to go see the narrows and it's through the river. I don't know how high the river becomes, but on that day the water level was pretty low. We could easily wade into the river and walk further. We opted not to do that.

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We went down on the river bank full of rocks and noted that there were two men who crossed the river and were obviously set on photography.

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Getting ready for some awesome photography, I'm jealous.

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At the end of the trail, there is are steps to go down to the river bank. We were ready to to back.

This is MY WORLD this week.

Comments

  1. I hope to visit Zion NP one day in the future! Your posts are a wonderful preview!

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  2. What a wonderful scenic time you are having and great photography of nature's treasures for OWT ~

    artmusedog and carol (A Creative Harbor)

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  3. I am enjoying your photographs from this trip very much.

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  4. Lovely images from Zion! The river walk looks very nice.. We did not have much time to hike when we were there, I would like to go back! Wonderful photos!

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  5. Oh the grandeur of those cliffs.
    That wonderful azure blue sky - a magnificent day for hiking!
    Thank you for looking in on me too!

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  6. I must say....I think YOUR photography is pretty darned awesome!!

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  7. Wonderful and exciting trip.

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  8. Gee, it looks like winter is the time of year to walk this trail. I'm not fond of crowds and there's so much to see.

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  9. Hi! I looked both part 1 and part 2. This Zion trail is abound with nature. It looks very wonderful and exciting too. I enjoyed your posts very much. Thanks for sharing.

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  10. A great series of photos and comment on this fabulous trail. I'd like to go.

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  11. What a gorgeous place and lovely photos !

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  12. What an awesome trail - I bet there are some great photographic opportunities in the narrows.

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  13. Wouldn't it be fun if we could go with each other on our separate photo hunts, Maria! Well, I guess we are, through our posts like this! Thank you.

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  14. I have been there once but it seems so long ago now. It looks different in a way. They seem to built more things to keep people in place. :) Lovely images. Thanks for sharing.

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  15. Wow; Zion trail is such wonderful place I've never visited♡♡♡

    Sending Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*

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  16. That looks like a marvelous outing. The locals sure gave you a nice greeting.

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