The Journey is the Thing: Day 6: Zion National Park to Oak Creek Campground between Boulder & Torrey, UT

Greg and Gage replacing a battery on the Tire Monitoring System before we head off for the day

Into the tunnel at the east entrance to Zion. It was built in the 30's so it's effectively a 1-way tunnel now. They alternate traffic at each end so large vehicles can go through safely. It's amazing and wonderful!

We again got up early. We packed up camp and hit the road. We were having “brunch” at the Galaxy Diner in Hatch and wanted to be there as soon as possible. We discovered this diner last year and were really excited about returning again this year.

Inside the tunnel at Zion

Old car stopping for Zion photo op

Old cars driving to Zion

Leaving Zion, we saw an old car club arriving to take a drive through Zion. It was really cool to see these old cars zipping up a road that was designed for them but is still working in 2012. This was an unhitched driving day for us -- the road out of Zion is a tough one and then we were going to Bryce where we'd want to be unhitched anyway -- and then we were driving out on Highway 12 -- an unknown road to us with some killer grades.

It was nearly 11 when we got to the Galaxy Diner but we all had breakfast anyway! It’s such a fun spot. Great food, total characters working there, and a great motto -- burgers, beds, and bikes. It’s a diner, motel, and Harley shop. A must-do stop between Zion and Bryce.

Bryce is like another planet!

Descending into the maze of hoodoos

Bryce!

Gage went farther than anyone else

We did a quick hike in Bryce -- Gage was the one who went the furthest. Hiking any distance the day after The Narrows hike is brutal but it’s really hard not to get down into the canyons at Bryce. It’s otherworldly.

We were using Greg's camera and clearly we don't have the timer feature worked out yet!

We drove out to Kodachrome State Park and saw some amazing scenery along the way

Kodachrome State Park in Utah

Just cut a hole in that mountain and put a road there!

Highway 12 has amazing views and grades!

Looking down into the desert from alpine country

Highest point of the day! 9600 feet

From here, we were entering unknown territory. We kept going on Highway 12 with a brief detour at Kodachrome State Park just northeast of Bryce. Highway 12 is an amazing road through some really beautiful and rugged terrain. We unhitched the car because some of the grades (while short) are 12% . . . . Yikes! We went on top of ridges and down into canyons. We drove through the town Boulder, UT along Boulder Creek (okay, we were seriously unimpressed with this town) and then up an amazing pass to 9600 feet. From over 100F to a cool, blissful 65F at altitude, we found a beautiful campground in an Aspen forest and spent the night.