There's nothing wrong with your backup plan and would be worth it IMO. I've also got permits for April, and we will be starting at the gate near Cave Spring and spending a few days between there and SC4. There is plenty to see and find all throughout the canyon if you spend the time to look...
Here is the announcement right from Zion: https://www.nps.gov/zion/learn/news/zion-2024-campground-and-wilderness-permit-changes.htm
Typically, permit fees (day or overnight) do not include the park entrance fee.
1. You really can't go wrong with either, but if you are looking for more solitude and not having the Jetboat pass you by twice a day, then I would go with Stillwater, especially since you have 5 nights. Most trips on their way to Cataract also motor down Meander. I did Meander first to see...
It was called a Ring of Fire eclipse back in 2012, too, so it's not really a new marketing term for this one.
Just looked up the old thread for that one: https://backcountrypost.com/threads/total-eclipse-of-the-sun.223/
That seems a bit extreme. I've never been a fan of the parks and public lands getting closed during government shutdowns, but then every time it happens and I see how people treat these places when no one is watching, I am reminded why it is unfortunately necessary to close them down. Too many...
I think this might be more of a case of bad reporting.
This is the story from someone 'in the know' from this thread on 14ers: https://www.14ers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=63373
Bullet to Government has always been the driest section of Grand Gulch when I've been in there. We've always had a little trouble finding water to drink in that section and have had to go up side canyons to get some from small springs. I wouldn't count on finding water to cool off in. But...
I drove up there during a winter storm a couple years ago and it's not an experience I care to repeat. The descent of the trail was steep and slippery at first, but nowhere near as bad as the drive.
https://adventr.co/2019/04/heart-of-the-salt-creek-archeological-district/
Let me just state that I am not much of a climber and very conservative about going down things that I am not positive I can get back up, so what is impassible for me might still be easily passible for others.
I have not hiked downstream Water Canyon from the ledge spring, but my understanding is that it's not too difficult, unlike the upper end of Water Canyon to Chimney Rock is (which I just hiked a couple weeks ago and it wasn't bad, just one tricky ledge). According to David Day's book, this is...