Stunned by the Beauty of God’s Creation
Towering mountains of sandstone, voluminous white puffy clouds casting shifting shadows, babbling brooks becoming rapidly flowing flash floods after sudden thunderous storms fill their banks with fresh rain water, incredibly interesting rock formations……….all part of experiencing Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks.
In Zion National Park, precipitous canyon walls and massive monoliths are seen in abundance. The Virgin river flows between them and these sand stone formations soar thousands of feet above the floor of Zion Canyon. We hiked to the top of the Observation Point Trail, an 8 mile roundtrip trail, rising 2,150 feet from the Canyon floor, to an elevation of 6,508 ft. The views from the top were breath-taking.
We forged the Narrows, a hike through the rocky river bed that took us to Wall Street where the canyon walls are sheer, near and so high that they appear like walls on either side of the river. We climbed over boulders and sloshed through knee deep water and were fortunate enough to take our trek the day before the big storm hit, which prevents explorers from trekking up the Narrows, due to potential flash floods which can be very dangerous.
In Bryce Canyon, where weathering and erosion create the statuesque rock forms called Hoodoos, the views from the top of the canyon are colorful and unique. The limestone pillars are formed by frost, snow, ice and rain enlarging cracks in the thin walls of rock. Holes are created and bridges form but eventually collapse to leave free standing pillars of stone. The immensity of canyon allows fantastic exploration opportunities. The trails weave through the Hoodoos, down into the canyon floor and go around and under archways and bridges. Our favorite trail was Fairyland Loop. It was long and steep but captivated us with rewarding views of the creativity of God’s creation.
“His voice was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with His GLORY” Ezekiel 43:2
When have you been STUNNED by the beauty of God’s creation?
