Monday morning, and time for something just outside of Zion (to avoid the crowds). Nearby Snow Canyon State Park features interesting landscapes and hikes, including this one to the Lava Tubes and Whiterocks Amphitheater. It's hot and sunny today with very little shade here in the open desert -- so bring a backback full of water & supplies.
This park is very quiet compared to Zion, and has miles of good hiking. An extinct volcano left behind tons of black lava rocks everywhere, and lava tubes (pictured) -- which are basically cave systems created by the volcano. These tubes extend into the ground, and can be explored by visitors. But there is no indication about how far the caves go, or how deep they are.
I peer down into one of the deep holes of the lava tubes and contemplate exploring. The opening is about 12 feet wide, and looks possible to climb down -- but you can't quite see the bottom; and a nearby sign suggests having at least 3 people in your party before exploring, and also to bring rope, lanterns and other equipment -- and includes a reminder that cell phones don't work underground. Today seems like a good day to to skip cave exploring and stay with above-ground hiking.
