Waiting Out the Rain in Zion

Deonne Kahler

Jul 5, 2016

2 min read

Patience isn’t a virtue I’m known for, and I was reminded of this fact at Zion National Park (Utah) in April.

Zion is just one of the spectacular National Parks in Utah, proving that the Mormons did know a thing or two about buying real estate. (Let’s forget about their other, um, unusual practices for the moment.)

The park has grandeur and lush landscapes and waterfalls and a river. I was super excited to be there, ready to hike and photograph the gorgeous trails and valley. Sam and I waited in line at 8 a.m. to get a spot in the campground, and just as I was finishing setting us up it started to rain.

Which was fine. Rain, schmain! We don’t need no stinking badges! (Or something.) Sam and I took a long walk anyway, got back to the campsite and shook off the water, took a nap, and waited for it clear up so I could take the camera out for a late afternoon hike.

As often happens, Mother Nature had other plans, and it turns out my soggy patience has about a four-day limit. But! I did manage to get one hike in, up to the waterfalls. I had really wanted to do the two hikes that Zion is most famous for, the skinny, winding climb to Angel’s Landing, which even has chain railings for assistance, and the sheer-walled slot canyons of The Narrows. But on this trip they weren’t meant to be.

I had to skip Angel’s Landing because of rain (slipping and falling off trail to the valley floor would have put a damper on things), and The Narrows because of flash flood warnings (ditto on the accidental drowning, which happens pretty regularly at Zion).

But really, it was fine. With a landscape like this, who cares? It just gives me two reasons to go back some day.