The Paiute Indians call it Mukuntuweap, “straight up place.” An apt name considering massive canyon walls soar to enormous heights to be framed by a shockingly blue sky. Today, we call it Zion National Park.

Amazingly, all the natural beauty and wonder in Zion National Park was carved by water! The North Fork of the Virgin River begins high on the Markagunt Plateau at an altitude of 9,000 feet. The river drops roughly 80 feet per mile as it carves its way through 20 miles of Navajo sandstone, including carving one of the most popular slot canyons in America, The Narrows. These unique sandstone cliffs range in color from cream, to pink, to red, and are the crowning jewels of a fantastic and beautiful setting. For much of the year, the Virgin River sits tamely in its banks, but during summer thunderstorms, the calm river can become a raging beast, with 100 times the normal flow of water through the canyon.

Due to its softness, Navajo sandstone seems to weather into gigantic cliffs where ever it is found, but none so stunning as in Zion National Park. Perhaps the most majestic and awe-inspiring location is known as West Temple, where 2,000-foot-tall cliffs painted in creams and reds, soar to the skies.

The Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is accessible by shuttle bus only. Private vehicles are not allowed. The neat part is that the bus ride is free and you can spend your time looking, rather than worrying about driving! However, that’s not the only way to see the park. There are plenty of hiking trails that will take you to many areas of the 229 square miles that make up the Zion National Park … as long as your feet hold up.

If you have only a few hours to spend in the park, you should take the Zion Canyon Scenic Shuttle, and take the quick hikes on Weeping Rock Trail and Court of the Patriarchs. If you have more time to spend in the park, Lower Emerald Pool, the Riverside Walk, Watchman Trail, Angel’s Landing Trail, Observation Point and Hidden Canyon are all great hikes.

The elevation changes in the park, from 3,600 feet up to 8,700 feet provide locations for some of the richest diversity of plants (and animals) in Utah—almost 800 native species. The differences in elevation, sunlight, water, and temperature create “microenvironments,” like hanging gardens, side canyons, and isolated mesas that create this fantastic diversity. 67 species of mammals, 207 birds, 35 reptiles and amphibians and six species of native fish call the Zion National Park home.

Human habitation of Zion National Park dates back at least 12,000 years, when prehistoric people hunted mammoth and giant sloth in the area. Only a few ancient artifacts have been found buried deep or in sheltered caves. Between 500 and 1300 A.D., the Anasazi people arrived. The word anasazi means ancient ones. Two distinctive groups, the Virgin Anasazi and Parowan Fremont, appear in the archeological record of Zion National Park during this period. These people were prodigious builders as the pueblo ruins in the park prove. They also cultivated the tops of the plateau as well as the river bottoms.

If you are looking for places to stay, Watchman Campground is open all year. South Point Campground is open April – October, and primitive camping is allowed at Lava Point Campground. Zion Lodge sit at the three-mile point on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive and is open year-round. The Zion Lodge Dining room serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, while the Cafe provides quick lunches. Other lodging, dining and shopping is available in Springdale, Rockville, Mt. Carmel Junction, Kanab, and Cedar City.

Zion National Park
Springdale, UT 84767-1099
Visitor Information 1-435-772-3256