Zion National Park
Touring Zion National Park, UT
Located in the southwest corner of Utah, Zion National Park encompasses 229 square miles at the junction of the Colorado Plateau, Great Basin, and Mojave Desert regions. Known for its incredible canyons and spectacular views, it is Utah’s oldest national park, designated in 1919 by the newly created National Park Service. Zion is also Utah’s most visited park, and attracts nearly three million people a year to enjoy its spectacular views and vast sandstone monoliths. The northern portion of the park is known as the Kolob Canyons section, which is conveniently located just off the interstate.
It is often said that tours of Zion present the most beautiful place in America to ovservers, with its towering red and tan-colored Navajo sandstone cliffs, deep canyons, mesas, buttes, and rivers. This geologic wonder is the result of two hundred million years of ice, water, and snow carving its eight layers of sandstone into breathtaking natural creations. The powerful Virgin River moves millions of tons of rock and sediment every year that gets deposited where it meets its tributaries, creating dramatic waterfalls.
Four life zones are found in the park: desert, riparian, woodland, and Coniferous forest habitats. Over 400 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, fish and amphibians make their home in one or more areas of this diverse habitat. It is no mystery why Zion National Park’s enchanting landscape attracts so many to hike, walk, climb, drive, backpack, horseback ride, and photograph its geologic diversity. For those looking to spend more than one day exploring, two developed campgrounds are located within the park that offer plenty of amenities. More adventurous campers can also set up in the one primitive campground, located off the Kolob Terrace road. Zion Lodge has motel units and cabins available for visitors. The Lodge is located halfway through Zion Canyon, and is open year-round.
If you are looking for Zion Canyon tours, click here: Zion Canyon Tour