Watchman at sunset, Zion NP Let me start by saying that when planning for this trip I was looking forward to Zion National Park the most.  From reports from friends to photos from various professionals, I was in awe at Zion and the beautiful scenes that it held.  I don't know if my expectations grew to a point that Zion just couldn't live up to what I wanted it to be or if I picked a bad time to visit.  Maybe both.  After enjoying the relative peace of the other parks for the last week I wasn't prepared for the utter chaos that was Zion. 

From the moment I arrived to the moment I left I was stuck in bumper to bumper traffic, dodging cars parked haphazardly alongside the road and cruising through overcrowded parking lots hopelessly looking for an available space.  Sure, the park was beautiful - the little bit I got to see while cruising along the roads.  I couldn't actually stop anywhere to get out of the car and enjoy the views.  I was so discouraged by the chaos that I was contemplating leaving the park and either heading for home a day early or heading back to Bryce Canyon.  In the end I decided to stay in Zion and get a fresh start the next morning, hoping that if I got out early enough I could beat the crowds.

After a good night's sleep I set off from my camp on the East side of the park just before sunrise.  When I arrived at the visitor center on the West side the parking lot was already about half full.  I quickly gathered up my pack and set off for the shuttle bus queue.  I started off the day by hiking to the Emerald Pools.  The best part of that hike was the fall foliage on the trees lining the trail - not something I get to enjoy here in Montana.  After that I headed down the Grotto trail and back to the shuttle bus.  I had thought about hiking Angels' Landing but after seeing it from the road I chickened out.  My fear of heights got the better of me.  The next hike I set off for was Riverside Walk.  It was an interesting area but difficult to photograph - narrow canyon with shadows on one side and bright sunlight on the other.  And it was busy much like the rest of the park.  After Riverside trail it was time to get back on the bus and head for home.  I had wasted so much time the day before navigating through traffic that I didn't get to do any exploring and my time in Zion was cut down to a half a day hiking.  I returned to the visitor center just after noon to find the parking lot full once again.

I left Zion that afternoon feeling disappointed, cheated.  I didn't get to see nearly as much of the park as I had hoped.  I didn't get any amazing photographs - I hardly got any photos.  Years ago when I had started planning this trip Zion was the only park I wanted to see, the other parks got added to the trip over the years out of geographic convenience.  I'm glad that I didn't come all this way just for Zion, visiting the other parks was the highlight of the trip.  As much as I hated to end the trip on a negative note I just couldn't find any way to salvage my experience in Zion.  Sure, I'm glad I got to see it.  I don't think I'll be returning anytime soon.  The other parks were much more  beautiful and much less crowded.  I'll be heading back to Utah again as I know there are still many other wonderful areas to explore.  Zion won't be on the itinerary for that trip.