SW Road Trip - Day 4
Panguich to Vegas, Dixie National Forest & Zion National Park
The valley between Bryce and Zion National Parks is lush farmland fed by the Sevier River. Heading south on 89 we took a scenic detour through Dixie National Forest. Plenty of pronghorns and mule deer.
We planned on spending most of our day at Zion with a goal to hike Angels Landing. After parking and packing for the day, we caught the park shuttle to the Grotto Trailhead. The Virgin River runs though the middle of the park and the main road runs right next to it. Its s narrow valley with steep cliffs and peaks on either side. Angels landing is a rocky thumb that sticks out into into the valley with commanding views up and down the valley. The trail quickly climbs out of the river bottom and up switchbacks carved right into the cliffside. The second half of the trail is a steep, rocky ridge line that brings you out to the landing. Chains anchored to the rock help you navigate the steep path. Watch your step, 7 hikers have fallen to their death in the last 10 years. The sketchiest part was trying to pass other people going the other way, and was a busy day. Again, if you've only got a day, do the Angels Landing hike. It was a hot hike and we cooled down with and beer and river swim, before getting back in the car.
It was golden hour when we pulled into Vegas. In-n-Out, Days in Vegas for $45 a night, the hit the strip for some street photography.
