A panorama of Zion at Canyon Overlook.
Just leaving the ravines and entering the hoodoos.
We left Zion early in the morning, fleeing our ratty campsite—Zion has the worst campgrounds. On the way out, we hiked a half-mile trail on the eastern side of the tunnel of the Zion - Mount Carmel Highway to see the view at Canyon Overlook.
Next stop, Red Canyon and Thunder Mountain.
Near the top of Thunder Mountain.
We rode a spectacular trail called Thunder Mountain a couple of years ago. It’s located in Red Canyon, about ten miles west of Bryce Canyon National Park.
When we rode it before, we parked at the bottom and rode up the bike path next to the highway. Nancy hated that section, so this time we parked at the top, and I volunteered to ride back to get the truck. Result, happy girlfriend.
The first bit of downhill.
There’s a few miles of up-and-down—ten ravines in a row through the trees—until you get to Thunder Mountain, which is just a high point, not a real mountain.
Cruising the ridges.
After that, it’s a ripping downhill through Bryce-like hoodoos and red rock formations.
Buenas vistas.
The weather was perfect and the trail was in great shape, with hardly any loose rock.
Stopping next to some hoodoos.
The trail is pretty easy, with nothing you would call technical. The only hard part is riding at 8,000’ if you aren’t acclimated to the altitude.
Nancy works her way down a steeper section.
If you wanted a really tough uphill, you could ride the singletrack back up. Maybe next time. Maybe not.
Navigating more hoodoos.
It’s almost all downhill from the high point of Thunder Mountain, culminating in a fast last mile ripping through the Jeffrey pines back to the highway.
Nice rolling singletrack.
Nancy waited at the tourist center while I chugged seven miles uphill to get the truck.
Thanks, sweetie.
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