Zion National Park

This truly is the promise land. And we were lucky enough to again enter a national park as the sun was setting during our drive from the east entrance of Zion to the south entrance and our campsite. Before setting up the tent and filling our water bottles, we collected trash from the parking lot at the visitors center. In the morning we quickly packed up and drove the 4 miles to the Riverside Walk, a 1 mile trail along the Virgin River. This trail was fairly clean, with much of the concentration of trash in and around the parking lot and trail entrance. This river allows the plush landscape of Zion to grow in a desert climate and is what forms this canyon of sandstone thrones. After our walk/drive through the canyon, we scaled our way up Angel's Landing, a 2.5 mile climb to the top of Zion offering views of the valley from all angles. Across a spine of rocks, we gathered trash that had collected along the brush, most likely dropped by eager hikers who could not retrieve their litter because of the steep drop-offs. The abundance of plant life keeps the trash closer to the trails, highlighting the carelessness of some but also making our job easier. To learn more about Utah's first national park, visit: http://www.nps.gov/zion/index.htm

Approximate trash/recyclables collected: 175 pieces

Description: plastic bottles, coke cans, a plastic bag, ABC gum, corners of plastic candy bar wrappers, and cigarette butts

Dates visited: March 1-2, 2009