191.8 miles, New Total = 6592.2 miles.
Drove about 40 miles to Zion from the campground. Saw a number of mule deer on the roads.
Also a small herd of Buffalo. The road into the Park Visitor Ctr. had some fabulous scenery, breathtaking switchbacks, and a one mile tunnel carved through the sandstone mountain.
From the Visitor Ctr. we took the Park free shuttle to the various viewpoints along the twelve mile Park central canyon road. Our first stop (at the far end of the Canyon) was the Temple of Sinawava where we took a mile walk up a trail along the Virgin River which runs through the center of the Canyon. This is the river that carved the Canyon over the millennia. In direct contrast to Bryce Canyon, Zion is viewed from the floor of the Canyon rather than the rim.
Along our walk, we viewed wildlife (mule deer, chipmunks, & squirrels), swamps, cottonwoods & aspens in color and of course the river.
We then boarded the shuttle again and stopped at 2 or 3 other scenic viewpoints and had lunch at the Zion Lodge.
The ride out of the park through the many switchbacks was much more enjoyable for Dave and I as drivers. We then traveled about 20 miles to Page, AZ where we were camping for the night. Page is the home of the Glen Powell Dam and the Southern end of Lake Powell.
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