Zion National Park
Zion National Park
Zion National Park is an intricate series of deep sandstone canyons carved by the Virgin River and massive monoliths that tower thousands of feet above the canyon floor. Zion Canyon and Kolob Canyon are the two main areas of the park, which encompasses 229 miles of natural splendor. Zion is Utah's first and most visited national park. The park is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, offering year-round hiking, biking, rock climbing, canyoneering, horseback riding, bird watching, photography and more. With more than 70 miles of trails, Zion National Park is perhaps best known for The Narrows, its signature maze of slot canyons. The park is also home to Kolob Arch, one of the largest freestanding natural arches in the world.
History
The earliest human traces in the Zion area date back to 7,000 B.C. Anasazi Indians inhabited the area from 500 to 1200 A.D., followed by the Paiute who were still in residence when Mormon pioneers occupied land along the fertile banks of the Virgin River in the mid-1800s. In 1858, a Paiute guide led Nephi Johnson into Zion Canyon; he returned shortly after to settle the town of Virgin. Major John Wesley Powell visited Zion Canyon in 1872 but a federal land survey in 1908 finally brought attention to Zion Canyon. In 1909 President Taft turned 15,000 acres into Mukuntuweap National Monument. The park was upgraded to national park status in 1919 and renamed Zion National Park. Visitors were few and far between, however, until roads and railroads brought the masses. Today, Zion National Park receives more than 2.5 million annual visitors.
Visiting Zion National Park
Mandatory shuttle service is provided in Zion National Park during peak season, but private vehicles are permitted in the park off-season or if you are just passing through the park. There are three entrances to Zion National Park. Visitors coming from Cave Lakes Canyon will reach the east entrance via US-89 to the U-9/Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway. The 1.1-mile Zion-Mt. Carmel tunnel leads to the Zion Canyon Scenic drive, which is the main route through the park. The road leads to many of the park’s famous landmarks, including Checkerboard Mesa, Court of the Patriarchs, Weeping Rock, the Emerald Pools, Angels Landing, Riverside Walk, and the Great White Throne, one of the largest monoliths in the world. One of the most popular hikes in Zion National Park is The Narrows. The total hike distance is 16 miles, but you can explore as little or as far as you desire. Depending on water levels you may be wading, or even swimming, in the Virgin River at the narrowest points. Permits are required to hike The Narrows and can be obtained at the visitor center. Be sure to check in, as flash flooding is common, and potentially deadly, in The Narrows.
Geology
The Zion region was once the floor of an ancient shallow sea. Over time, layers of sediment were deposited by the sea and the lakes, streams, and sandy desert that followed. Sand dunes calcified to form sandstone monoliths. As the Colorado Plateau uplifted and shifted, it forced the powerful Virgin River to rush downward and cut through the rock, carving the intricate canyons we see today in Zion National Park.
Biology
Zion National Park's elevations range from 3,666 feet to 8,726 feet. Located at the junction of the Colorado Plateau, Great Basin, and Mojave Desert, the park's diverse landscape is home to a variety of plant and animal life. More than 800 native plant species dot the landscape, from desert cacti to blooming wildflowers and cottonwood trees along the banks of the Virgin River. More than 400 species of animals reside in Zion National Park, including the endangered Peregrine Falcon.
Zion National Park is an intricate series of deep sandstone canyons carved by the Virgin River and massive monoliths that tower thousands of feet above the canyon floor. Zion Canyon and Kolob Canyon are the two main areas of the park, which encompasses 229 miles of natural splendor. Zion is Utah's first and most visited national park. The park is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, offering year-round hiking, biking, rock climbing, canyoneering, horseback riding, bird watching, photography and more. With more than 70 miles of trails, Zion National Park is perhaps best known for The Narrows, its signature maze of slot canyons. The park is also home to Kolob Arch, one of the largest freestanding natural arches in the world.
History
The earliest human traces in the Zion area date back to 7,000 B.C. Anasazi Indians inhabited the area from 500 to 1200 A.D., followed by the Paiute who were still in residence when Mormon pioneers occupied land along the fertile banks of the Virgin River in the mid-1800s. In 1858, a Paiute guide led Nephi Johnson into Zion Canyon; he returned shortly after to settle the town of Virgin. Major John Wesley Powell visited Zion Canyon in 1872 but a federal land survey in 1908 finally brought attention to Zion Canyon. In 1909 President Taft turned 15,000 acres into Mukuntuweap National Monument. The park was upgraded to national park status in 1919 and renamed Zion National Park. Visitors were few and far between, however, until roads and railroads brought the masses. Today, Zion National Park receives more than 2.5 million annual visitors.
Visiting Zion National Park
Mandatory shuttle service is provided in Zion National Park during peak season, but private vehicles are permitted in the park off-season or if you are just passing through the park. There are three entrances to Zion National Park. Visitors coming from Cave Lakes Canyon will reach the east entrance via US-89 to the U-9/Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway. The 1.1-mile Zion-Mt. Carmel tunnel leads to the Zion Canyon Scenic drive, which is the main route through the park. The road leads to many of the park’s famous landmarks, including Checkerboard Mesa, Court of the Patriarchs, Weeping Rock, the Emerald Pools, Angels Landing, Riverside Walk, and the Great White Throne, one of the largest monoliths in the world. One of the most popular hikes in Zion National Park is The Narrows. The total hike distance is 16 miles, but you can explore as little or as far as you desire. Depending on water levels you may be wading, or even swimming, in the Virgin River at the narrowest points. Permits are required to hike The Narrows and can be obtained at the visitor center. Be sure to check in, as flash flooding is common, and potentially deadly, in The Narrows.
Geology
The Zion region was once the floor of an ancient shallow sea. Over time, layers of sediment were deposited by the sea and the lakes, streams, and sandy desert that followed. Sand dunes calcified to form sandstone monoliths. As the Colorado Plateau uplifted and shifted, it forced the powerful Virgin River to rush downward and cut through the rock, carving the intricate canyons we see today in Zion National Park.
Biology
Zion National Park's elevations range from 3,666 feet to 8,726 feet. Located at the junction of the Colorado Plateau, Great Basin, and Mojave Desert, the park's diverse landscape is home to a variety of plant and animal life. More than 800 native plant species dot the landscape, from desert cacti to blooming wildflowers and cottonwood trees along the banks of the Virgin River. More than 400 species of animals reside in Zion National Park, including the endangered Peregrine Falcon.
Area Attractions
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