Another short trail to get back into it. The Emerald Pools are three pools fed by a small creek at the end of a side canyon to Zion Canyon.
We got up kind of late today because early on it was 2C outside so we waited until about 11 am to get going. We got the town shuttle that took us to the park entrance and then the park shuttle that took us into the canyon.
The shuttles were not very busy but the trail sure was. This is one of few trails marked as family friendly and they were out in force. At one narrow spot I am sure we waited for 15 people to go by before we had a chance to go.
We took an alternate trail to the pools instead of the easy trails which the families take, to try an avoid some of the crowds.
It was a short climb and then a flat traverse to the middle pool through some interesting formations.
The middle pool was nothing to get excited about.
The climb to the upper pools was much steeper and narrower. The pool itself again was nothing much but the setting was great. Just as we sat down for lunch, the sun went behind the rim above us.
Huge vertical walls all around.
Notice the people in the picture below for scale.
It got really busy and we left. Kids and babies everywhere.
Down to the lower pool.
It is filled by a waterfall flowing over this huge undercut.
We took the easy trail back to the main canyon.
Angel’s Landing is the point just over the river in the above picture. We saw a few people that had conquered it.
We got our reward at the Zion Canyon Lodge.
Back home via shuttle.
Great pictures of the canyon. When we were tent camping in Zion back in 90's we swam in the Virgin River. It was mid-July and the water was cool and fresh!
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