Bryce-Zion Day 7, Backroads Ends

Before our Backroads farewell dinner in Springdale last night, we gathered for happy hour with gorgeous red mountains as our backdrop. Springdale’s permanent population is 500 people. You would not know that during tourist season, as the town bustles with activity.  To maintain its ambiance, the town allows no fast food restaurants. Subway managed to put a store in, but had to close when the town boycotted it. 

This morning, we cycled for a total of 16 miles on the traffic-free Zion Canyon Scenic drive next to the Virgin River. Making our way to the Narrows trailhead, we pedaled sandwiched between walls of sheer sandstone rising 2,000 feet from the Canyon floor. It was quiet, peaceful and breathtaking. This was the most scenic and beautiful route of the week, and most similar to the European routes I have ridden. 

Once we got to the Narrows trailhead, I hiked one mile on the Narrows Trail until I got to the point where the dirt trail ends and you have to hike mostly in the river. It was fun watching groups of people as they contemplated how they were going to navigate the cold waters. Actually, having gotten into the water yesterday up to my waist, the temperature was not that uncomfortable. I ran the one mile back to the trailhead, hopped on my bike, and cycled 8 miles hard back to Cable Mountain Lodge. 

After cleaning up and packing, we gathered for Picnic lunch near the Virgin River, took a Backroads group photo, and then piled into our vans for a one hour shuttle back to St. George, where the temperature will reach a high of 90 today. Yes, we started out at 108, biked in temperatures of 17 with the windchill, and now we will be back to 90 plus. At least I will be hiking in the mornings the next two days before it really warms up!

After saying goodbye to our new Backroads friends, Pete and I will spend the next two days at Red Mountain Resort, just outside of St. George. Our 4 p.m. massages will feel really good!

If you asked me would I return to Bryce and Zion, the answer would be a resounding yes, but I would do all hiking instead of biking and hiking. Unlike Europe, where many roads seem made for cycling as well as autos, the United States has a car culture, and many roads we biked on this week had heavy traffic. Because I am not a hardcore cyclist, I cycle on these trips as much to commune with nature or to experience the local culture. You will definitely get more communal with nature by hiking the National Parks than cycling because trails do not get shared with cars. In Europe, I prefer cycling.

I would like to thank my fellow Backroads travelers for rarely bringing up the Pandemic, the Press, the Protests, and Politics. Although all are well read and educated, I think that there was an unspoken agreement that we were all here on vacation to escape all of that for one blissful week. All of that will be waiting for us when we return.