Utah: Zion National Park and Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park

Nov. 2021

We decided to return to Zion National Park because there was still a lot of fall color in the area, and we thought the yellows would be really pretty against the red rocks of Zion, and they were. Also, in mid-November, we hoped it wouldn’t be as crowded as it is in June. It was still pretty busy, but we didn’t have to wait in a very long line for a shuttle bus, like we did several years ago in June. It wasn’t hot, either, which was much nicer.

We drove from Hurricane, where we were staying, along Rt. 9 to the town of Springdale just south of the park entrance. We saw a lot of beautiful yellow fall color along the way.

We first stopped at the visitor center, and then left our car at that parking lot in order to catch the shuttle. We were glad we arrived early enough that we could still find a place to park. We rode the shuttle to the last stop, #9, in order to walk the 2 mile round trip paved Riverside Walk. We had walked this about 5 years ago in June, when it was hotter and very crowded. It was a little less busy this year in November. This trail leads to the Narrows, which we did not walk down, because we would have had to rent waterproof shoes and clothing. People who had rented the gear commented that they still could feel how cold the water was at that time of year.

On the shuttle ride back, we first stopped at stop # 8, to get a look at Angels Landing from below. We could catch glimpses of some hikers high up along the rim, holding onto the chains. This photo is zoomed in and cropped. The second photo is zoomed out on a different section of the mountain and is closer to what it looked like to us as we stood below. There’s no way I’d hike that trail! Too strenuous and scary!

While we were at this spot, someone pointed out a condor soaring very high above us.

Then we hopped on the shuttle again to take us to Stop #5, where Zion Lodge is. We hiked another paved trail to Lower Emerald Pool. We were going to return on another morning to hike the Canyon Overlook Trail, but the drive through the tunnel to get there was closed due to a rockfall, and there was no other way to drive there from where we were camping without adding several hours in drive time! We probably could have gone back later, as we planned to stay at Coral Pink Sand Dunes near Kanab, which wasn’t far away, but decided to rest our sore feet, instead!

View from our lawn chairs. A covered picnic table was to the left.

We made a return visit to Coral Pink Sand Dunes, but this time it was cooler, and it was our first time camping here. The sites were paved, and very long and spacious, and right next to the dunes. It was noisy with OHV’s on Saturday, but mostly empty the rest of the time. It was so dark and quiet at night! There was no cell service or internet, so we spent a few relaxing unplugged days there. We did go into Kanab one morning for coffee and internet, so we could check emails and call some family to let them know we were still alive!

At the park visitor center, we rented a sand board and wax for sledding on the dunes. It was not easy to get the sled going! Also, it was hard to climb up the loose sand on the dunes. I got a video of Craig wiping out on the way down! We gave up after a few tries!