Day 187: March 31, 2005 - Tree in Shadows

by Christian Williams
The interesting afternoon lighting causes this tree to pop out of the shadows.

Day 186: March 30, 2005 - Road Across Zion

by Christian Williams
The view from this mountain shows how the road through Zion really cuts right through the scenic views. Even if you don't have time to hike East Zion, it is well worth the scenic drive that takes you right through the heart of Zion's beauty.

Day 185: March 29, 2005 - Framed Mountain

by Christian Williams
As I hiked back toward the road after exploring a narrow canyon, I liked the way the canyon walls framed the peaks beyond.

Day 184: March 28, 2005 - Indian Paintbrush

by Christian Williams
These Indian Paintbrush blossoms are perfectly framed by the tree root, creating an interesting visual contrast.

Day 183: March 27, 2005 - Miniature Blooms

by Karen Williams
Another example of the perfect miniature blooms found blooming in mossy areas of Zion in the spring.

Day 182: March 26, 2005 - Snow Buds

by Karen Williams
As we hiked into the backcountry of Zion, I came across these beautiful little buds, peaking out of the snow. The frost didn't seem to deter them, as we found many flowers blooming in spite of the cold weather.

Day 181: March 25, 2005 - Sunburst

by Karen Williams
The sun sets behind the Checkerboard Mesa, which has interesting patterns of snow settled along it's surface.

Day 180: March 24, 2005 - Late Spring Snow

by Karen Williams
In spite of all the snow we had this winter, we never got a really good picture of the snow covered Checkerboard Mesa. Luckily this late spring snowstorm gave us another chance to capture one of Zion's most interesting peaks with a dusting of snow.

by Christian Williams
This mountain has an interesting look to it, with the multiple layers of rock in front of it.

by Karen Williams
The entrance sign to the park is not the most interesting part of the park, but I love the view of the sign with the snow covered mountains in the background.

Day 179: March 23, 2005 - Reaching Tree

by Christian Williams
This photo has an interesting perspective. I like the way the branch is reaching out at you from the center of the picture, yet at the same time you feel drawn in toward Bridge Mountain in the background.

Day 178: March 22, 2005 - Macro World

by Karen Williams
These tiny little spikey plants are so small you'd never notice them if you stepped on them. Zion is a desert environment, but because water plays such an important role in shaping the canyons it's not uncommon to find pockets of lush green plants like these.

Day 177: March 21, 2005 - Delicate Macro Flowers

by Karen Williams
These tiny, delicate flowers are growing directly out of the sand and rock. I think it's interesting that such inhospitable ground can still support a variety of plant life.

Day 176: March 20, 2005 - Fresh Rain


by Karen Williams
The rain poured down for an hour, and just as quickly as the rain it came, the clouds cleared. Blue skies and sunshine returned while the water drained across Checkerboard Mesa. The bright sun, and the wet, white rock combined to give the mesa a shining surface.

Day 175: March 19, 2005 - Hidden Frog

by Karen Williams
As I walked by the river, I spotted this little frog hidden in the sand. I didn't realize the frogs burrowed themselves in the sand like this - and am impressed I even saw him, he is so well concealed.

Day 174: March 18, 2005 - Balanced Rock and Green Moss

by Karen Williams
This unusual photograph was taken near a little pond left behind after some snowmelt ran down the mountainside. There is nothing spectacular in the scene perhaps, but I loved all the different colors and textures all present in the same small area. The wood is actually a series of exposed tree roots, surrounded by vibrant green plantlife.

by Karen Williams
I came across this amazing balanced rock while hiking. It doesn't seem possible that a rock can stand up like that on such a small base, on an uneven surface.

Day 173: March 17, 2005 - Little Plants Cimbling a Wall

by Karen Williams
We often talk of contrasts on the blog, and this picture is no exception. The small soft green plants, contrasted in every way with the sandy, red stone behind it. I love the diversity of nature in this desert landscape.

Day 172: March 16, 2005 - Glowing Leaves by the River

by Karen Williams
I walked down by the river now flowing in the usually dry wash, and loved the light from the setting sun that glowed on the trees and the water.

Day 171: March 15, 2005 - Jumbled Rock Wall

by Christian Williams
After spending several days admiring the impressive orderly lines often found in rock formations in Zion, I revisited an area of the park where the jumbled mass of rock leaves one feeling overwhelmed with a sense of nature's violence and chaos.

Day 170: March 14, 2005 - Red Rock Lines

by Christian Williams
The characteristic red rock of Zion provides a beautiful constrast to the blue sky. Also the lined rock in the foreground contrasts nicely with the more jumbled rocks on the mountain behind.

Day 169: March 13, 2005 - Spring is Coming

by Christian Williams
Once again I was struck by the interesting patterns that manifested themselves in the rock. The colors of the rock in the foreground are also distinctly different than those of the rock wall in the background. Zion is full of diversity in plantlife as well as geological formations.

by Karen Williams
As sign of things to come - the weather is starting to warm up, spring is on its way, and the tourists are beginning to pour into the park, making seclusion in Zion harder to achieve than it was in the cold, winter months.

Day 168: March 12, 2005 - White Wall of Stone

by Karen Williams
The rising sun made the white wall of stone glow in the morning.

Day 167: March 11, 2005 - Wavy Rocks

by Christian Williams
Zion has a variety of terrains throughout the parks. Some areas are filled with chaotic jumbles of rock, and other areas such as this one have orderly lines of layered rock.

by Karen Williams
This plant is interesting, because the flower appears to be covered in pollen, making it difficult to tell if the flower is usually yellow or green.

Day 166: March 10, 2005 - The Tunnel

by Karen Williams
While driving through the Zion Tunnel, you can enjoy some beautiful views of the park through multiple windows cut out of the side of the mountain. Stopping is not permitted, so if you want a picture you have be fast!

Day 165: March 9, 2005 - Stripes on the Wall

by Christian Williams
The stripes and texture in the rock are very visually interesting.

Day 164: March 8, 2005 - Reflections

by Christian Williams
I found this little canyon filled with water. As I hiked back into the little canyon, jumping over small pools of water, I stopped to take a photo of the reflection of the cliffs and blue sky above.

Day 163: March 7, 2005 - Waterfalls

by Christian Williams
Near the entrance to the Zion Narrows, I stopped to take a photo of this waterfall.

Day 162: March 6, 2005 - Vivid Colors

by Karen Williams
The white and red rock and the vibrant blue sky create a beautiful contrast in this scene.

Day 161: March 5, 2005 - Mini World

by Karen Williams
This plant is only about an inch tall. I took out my macro lens, and as I looked around at the moss in this area, I noticed it is like a mini forest, with flowers, grass, bushes.

Day 160: March 4, 2005 - Manzanita Blooms

by Karen Williams
This manzanita bloom was so vibrant I spent a long time with my macro lens and tripod trying to find the best way to capture the colors.

Day 159: March 3, 2005 - Arctic Zion

by Christian Williams
This wall of the Checkerboard Mesa looks arctic and devoid of color in the snowy, stormy weather.

Day 158: March 2, 2005 - Zion Canyons

by Christian Williams    
I hiked up from the main road in East Zion, and this was the view from one side of the canyon, looking back toward the East Rim.


by Christian Williams
I then looked back toward the road, and saw another breathtaking view of the Zion landscape.

Day 157: March 1, 2005 - Checkerboard Mesa in the Fog

by Christian Williams
The Checkerboard Mesa stands tall and majestic in the fog.

by Christian Williams
On the way home, I once again spotted the bald eagle. It seems to like this area. It looks angry and beautiful staring down at me.

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365 IN ZION

365 Days in Zion is a photo experience by Karen and Christian Williams. Together, we spent an entire year in Zion National Park amidst snow, rain, flash floods, brush fires, and the beautiful sunny blue skies that typify Southern Utah in the United States of America.

365 Days in Zion National Park

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