Through the Valley of Fire to Springdale

This was essentially a driving day to get us to Zion National Park for the following day. So we proceeded from the Hoover Dam area to Springdale, but doing so through the dramatically titled Valley of Fire State Park.

So a lot of driving through empty semi-desert country. Big scale scenery.

Now the Valley of Fire State Park probably deserves its name on two counts. Firstly the bright red sandstone outcrops give it a fiery red colour. And secondly it was damned hot. Over 40C. Furnace like heat. We, as usual, went to the park visitors' centre for tips on hiking trails. Their tip was not to go hiking. Too hot. So we only made a few photo stops really, rarely more than a few minutes out of our air-conditioned vehicle.

 Springdale just has great views. It isn't much more than a ribbon development coming up to Zion National Park. So this was the view out of my bedroom in our hotel in the late evening

 We went somewhere relatively fancy across the road - the King's Landing Bistro. Food a little disappointing, as was the fact that we couldn't eat outside and enjoy the views across to the mountains because it was nearly full.. Definitely the place to order the steak. Steak was good.