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Leaving Las Vegas for the Desert Heat
After enjoying a couple of days of comfort and entertainment in Las Vegas, we packed up our bags and hit the road once again. We left Vegas before 11:00 AM and drove northward into the striking landscapes of Utah, reaching our next camping destination—the Red Cliffs Campground—at around 3:00 PM.
The desert sun was beating down with intense afternoon heat, so we decided against putting up our tents immediately. Instead, we took our time, relaxing and waiting out the peak warmth until sunset finally cooled the air before we settled down to set up our camp.
After spending our first night navigating the scorching heat of the desert temperatures at the Red Cliffs Campground, we woke up early to pleasant morning weather. Refreshed and ready for a new adventure, we packed up and drove just about one hour from our campsite straight to the majestic gates of Zion National Park.
Upon presenting our national park pass, we parked the car and proceeded directly to the park’s visitor shuttle system, which serves as the primary way to navigate the breathtaking canyon.
Into Zion Canyon and The Temple of Sinawava
The shuttle bus carried us all the way to the very last stop: the Temple of Sinawava.
- History & Landscape: Named by early settlers who thought the towering rock amphitheaters resembled a natural cathedral, the Temple of Sinawava sits at the end of the 7.7-mile Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. Towering sheer red and white sandstone cliffs rise thousands of feet above the canyon floor, carved over millions of years by the rushing waters of the Virgin River.
- The Narrows Water Hike: This location serves as the gateway for the world-famous “Bottom-Up” hike into The Narrows, where the canyon walls narrow dramatically and the river becomes the trail.
Tackling this unique water hike proved to be a fun and memorable challenge for all four of us. The riverbed is full of slick, rounded river rocks, leading Steven and Yolly to take their shoes off and brave the current barefoot! Wading through the cool river water while being completely enclosed by towering, thousand-foot canyon walls offered an astonishing display of nature’s raw beauty and greatness.
Evening in Springdale and Return to Red Cliffs
Exhausted from hours of balancing and hiking through the flowing river, we made our way back out of the canyon and spent a couple of relaxing hours at a local restaurant just outside the park entrance in the charming town of Springdale, enjoying a hearty meal to replenish our energy.
Unforgettable Encounters on the Road Back
On our way back toward the campsite, two unforgettable things happened that added quite a bit of excitement to our day:
The Parking Ticket: First, despite Gabi having paid 25 dollars for a one-day parking pass, we discovered we were slapped with a 60-dollar fine due to not displaying the vehicle’s license plate properly on the dashboard. A frustrating little hiccup, but part of the travel learning curve!
The Police Stop: Shortly after leaving the Springdale center, we experienced our first-ever traffic stop in the U.S. when the police pulled us over for speeding. Steven stayed completely calm, politely handing over his driver’s license when requested. The police officer went back to his mobile cruiser, leaving us waiting anxiously for a minute or two. When he returned, Steven was fully prepared to pay a fine. Instead, the officer spoke in a remarkably kind, calm voice, explaining that the stop should simply serve as a warning for us to watch our speed. We were so incredibly delighted and thankful for his leniency. With a warm smile, the officer handed back the license and wished us a good and safe drive!
A Dramatic Turn of Events at Red Cliffs
By 7:00 PM, we arrived back at our campsite at Red Cliffs, where we will spend our final night under the desert stars before packing up and heading toward our next grand national park destination: Bryce Canyon.After taking our dinner, we sat down together and talked about everything under the sun, enjoying the quiet evening air. Suddenly, the peaceful mood shifted when we saw lightning flashing not too far from our camping site. The wind quickly started getting stronger, and vivid lightning began appearing every 5 to 10 seconds, lighting up the dark sky.
As the storm intensified, we started to get nervous, realizing that the powerful desert thunderstorm might hit our exact location. With quick thinking, Yolly convinced us that it was time to pack up our tents and look for a hotel nearby rather than risk riding out a severe storm unprotected.
In a rush of adrenaline, we immediately took down our tents, packed everything into the car in a hurry, and drove out of the Red Cliffs campsite. Luck was on our side, as the InterContinental Holiday Inn Express in Washington, Utah, still had a room available for us. We were all so glad and profoundly thankful to crawl into comfortable beds, spending the rest of the night in total tranquility and safety, far away from the fears of the thunderstorm.
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