Dave and Jan enjoy living just a little over an hour’s drive from Zion National Park. Because it is one of the most popular national parks in America, it gets very busy during the summer season, but it is a great place to visit during the cooler months when traffic is very light.

Closer to Cedar City is Kolob Canyons, the western portion of Zion National Park – just twenty miles south of town, and not so crowded. But Dave and Jan recently followed a tip from a neighbor who served as a ranger in the Kolob area, and they found the closest part of Zion National Park – a part which is probably known to very few people, even those who live in the area. The discovery began when they went looking for a water tower their neighbor told them about, which is located at the top of the steep incline you can see on the side of this hill.

Climbing the hill to the water tower afforded some very nice views of the valley below and the snowy peaks across the valley on the west side of interstate 15.

Just beyond the water tower at the top of the hill was a sign which revealed that Dave and Jan were entering Zion National Park at its northwest corner – the corner closest to Cedar City, but fewer than twenty miles from “home.”

The trail led down into a canyon, but along the way it became evident that the stream in the canyon flowed over a significant drop, creating a waterfall around forty or fifty feet high.

Hiking back down the road leading up to the water tower, Dave and Jan made their way to the mouth of the canyon and hiked the short distance in to the base of the waterfall.

Returning to the area a day or two later with grandson Ryan and their neighbor, Kathleen, they were greeted across the fence by a herd of deer enjoying an evening snack in a farmer’s field.

Ryan enjoyed hiking behind the waterfall for an early start on his shower for the evening.

Dave and Jan continue to enjoy discovering new sights to take in so close to home. And it is fun to be able to share them with other family members and friends. What a pleasant surprise to discover that, while large crowds compete for spots to enjoy in Zion, the northwest corner of Zion is so close to home!

“Come and see the works of God, Who is awesome in His deeds toward the sons of men” Psalm 66:5