Vegas On Two Wheels: Zion National Park
Greg Bennett takes a drive to Zion National Park.
It has been a while since I have talked about Las Vegas and the surrounding areas. The truth is, the weather has not been cooperating with me. These past several weekends have been cold, and rain and getting on the bike was not that appealing with flash flood watches and warning all around Southern Nevada. Even this past weekend was a wet one.
So I am here to say that I failed you in taking out two wheels but made it out on four this past weekend. I wanted to share with you a ride that is incredible as long as the weather is fitting for two wheels! Pack your saddle bags we are heading out to Zion National Park!
Now, Zion is a bit of a ride out of Vegas but well worth it for the scenic beauty. Zion National Park is just past the border of Nevada and Utah on the Utah side. The trip is fun, smooth, and open-throttled! Just grab the I-15 north out of Las Vegas and follow it to Utah 9 and then take that the whole way up to Zion National Park!
The I-15 north is almost like taking the 95 South; lots of open desert with mountains in the distance and plenty of straight-aways to really open up your V-twin. Once you make it into Utah and get on the 9, then things get a little more exciting. Winding curves and abrupt switchbacks twist and turn you through the mountains. Add steep inclines and declines and you have yourself almost a formula one race track! The rocks that tower over the road are brightly colored in natural reds, browns, pinks, whites, and oranges. And with the added rain, the colors seem to jump out at me while I was driving. I thought it was incredible. The sheen and the rocks as the rain pelted down seems only to enhance the richness of the stones color.
The signs for Zion are hard to miss follow them in and be ready to slow down and pay up! The Park has an entry fee of $30.00 but it is good for seven days. Cough up another $20.00 bucks more and you can have an annual pass and to be honest, if you visit twice or three times within the year, it is totally worth it. The speed within the park drops dramatically from the highway, but you gradually drop in speed on the approach to the park so no worries on the speed traps.
The Park speed limit is between 25mph and 35mph but for good reason. Not only are there hikers on their own walking the sides of the roads but, the roads through the park are hairy, to say the least. The pavement is clean and well kept, but the inclines are steep and come with grueling hairpin turns. If you take the corners too fast, you could fall off a cliff or perhaps hit oncoming traffic.
The visual is to die for. Zion is a place that has me thinking what parts of Heaven would look like. Unfortunately, that part of my journey is for another time. I will be taking the bike next time back to Zion and will let loose to you the beauty that Zion and just a motorcycle ride away!
[Images: Greg Bennett]
Greg Bennett is the morning meteorologist on KTNV’s Good Morning Las Vegas newscast. He is an avid Harley rider but also is a huge classic car fan and loves to work on both. In his free time, you can catch Greg riding his bike around town, working out at the gym, hanging out with his Pit Bull (DewPoint), or getting his hands dirty by volunteering across the city of Las Vegas.
