Zion National Park
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Hidden Gardens Zion National Park |
April 19, 2010
Having waited until spring for this year's visit, no icicles await me this morning as I emerge from my motel room in Mount Carmel. After downing the requisite bowl of oatmeal at the cafe, it is a 12-mile drive to the eastern park entrance, then another few miles of gorgeous scenery to the trailhead — a small parking area at the southernmost entrance to the little tunnel.
Gateway to incomparable beauty
Although the route leads generally southward, it is much easier and more fun to scramble down the use trail on the north side of the road to a man-made tunnel underneath the highway. Many hikers are unaware of this handy feature.
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| Trailhead | Hikers' access tunnel |
Within a ten-minute walk, I spot the tall pine that guards the entrance to a little slot leading up to the right.
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| Clear Creek Wash | Side canyon entrance |
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| Water flowed here quite recently | |
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| It's partly an obstacle course | |
Presently I encounter a beautiful little bird's nest tucked neatly into an alcove in the canyon wall.
This is why I go hiking
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After a quarter-mile or so, the canyon peters out, so I turn around. On the return I photograph whatever I can find, including the single hanging "garden" for which this trek was named.
The garden wall
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| Juniper berries | Almost there |
§: Perhaps it was a bit early in the year for maximum effect, as I found just
one spot in the little canyon resembling a hanging garden. Nevertheless,
the weather was perfect, and the precious little bird's nest made the walk more
than worthwhile.
Zion National Park
Hidden Gardens