Zion National Park is a United States National Park that is located in southern Utah. The park was established in 1909 as Mukuntuweap National Monument and became Zion National Park in 1919. The park protects the incredible rock formations of Zion Canyon, but is also a favorite spot for hiking and backpacking.

History

Mormon pioneers arrived in Zion in 1863 when Isaac Behunin built the first log cabin in Zion Canyon, near the location of the current Zion Lodge. During the remainder of the century small communities and homesteads in the area struggled to survive. The pioneers gave the canyon the name "Zion", a Hebrew word meaning safety, or a place of refuge. Despite the name, the canyon offered little arable land, poor soils, and catastrophic flooding, making agriculture a risky venture. By the first decade of the 20th century, the scenic qualities of southern Utah, and Zion Canyon in particular, had been recognized as a potential destination for tourism. In 1909, a presidential Executive Order designated Mukuntuweap National Monument, in Zion Canyon.

The new monument was, however, virtually inaccessible to visitors, since the existing roads were in poor condition and the closest railhead a hundred miles away. The park's name was changed to Zion National Monument in 1918, and in 1919 the park was expanded and became a national park. Visitation to the new national park increased steadily during the 1920s, and in 1930, the newly completed Zion-Mt Carmel highway allowed motorists to travel through Zion to Bryce and points east. This highway was one of the greatest engineering feats of modern times, requiring the construction of a 5,613-foot tunnel to negotiate the vertical sandstone cliffs of Zion. The Kolob Canyons section was established as a National Monument in 1937 and added to Zion National Park in 1956.

Landscape

Zion National Park encompasses some of the most scenic canyon country in the United States . The park is characterized by high plateaus, a maze of narrow, deep, sandstone canyons and striking rock towers and mesas. Zion Canyon is the largest and most visited canyon in the park. The North Fork of the Virgin River has carved a spectacular gorge here, with canyon walls in most places rising 2000-3000 feet above the canyon floor. The southern part of the park is a lower desert area, with colorful mesas bordered by rocky canyons and washes. The northern sections of the park are higher plateaus covered by forests.

Climate

Weather in the park varies greatly with elevation, and even at the same elevation may differ by over 30°F between day and night. During the spring the weather is very unpredictable, with stormy, wet days common, although warm, sunny weather may occur too. Precipitation peaks in March. Summer days are hot (95-110°F), but overnight lows are usually comfortable (65-70°F). Afternoon thunderstorms are common from mid-July through mid-September, making flash floods a danger. Autumn days are usually clear and mild with cool nights. During the winter storms bring rain or light snow to Zion Canyon, but heavier snow to the higher elevations. Clear days may become quite warm, reaching 60°F; nights are often in the 20s and 30s. Winter storms can last several days and cause roads to be icy.

Get in

There are two sections of the park that are not connected by road; the Kolob Canyons area is in the park's northern area and offers some interesting canyon views. The more popular (and more crowded) Zion Canyon area is in the southern portion of the park and contains many of the park's most famous scenic wonders.

By car
The Kolob Canyons entrance is accessible from I-15, exit 40. I-15 passes west of the Park and connects with UT-9 and 17 to the Park. US-89 passes east and connects with UT-9 to the Park. The Zion Canyon area is a short distance from the Park's South Entrance adjacent to the town of Springdale.

Attractions

 • The Narrows. Accessible from Zion Canyon, the Narrows is an extremely popular off-trail hike. Following the Virgin River along the floor of a very narrow canyon with impossibly high walls, this trek is one of the park's most magical destinations. The full trek is a 16-mile one-way trip, and the area may be closed due to high waters or flash-flood danger. Wading will be required, so wear footwear and leg coverings that can get wet.
 • Checkerboard Mesa. Located next to the park road on the east side of the Zion-Mt. Carmel tunnel, Checkerboard Mesa is a sandstone mountain that has been etched with a fantastic pattern of lines and shapes through the forces of erosion. The surrounding slickrock area is full of similarly amazing rock formations.
 • Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. The road through Zion Canyon leads past some of the most fantastic rock formations in the world, with colorful sandstone cliffs rising 2,000 to 3,000 feet from the canyon floor. The seemingly tiny Virgin River has almost single-handedly created this canyon over a period of 13 million years, with much of the work happening during periods of intense flash flooding.
 • Kolob Canyon. Located in the parks northwestern corner, Kolob Canyon is a less-crowded area of the park that contains beautiful red-rock canyons, incredible overlooks, and lush scenery.

Get out

Zion National Park lies in an area known as canyon country that includes:
 • Bryce Canyon National Park. Bryce Canyon National Park is located 78 miles east of Zion National Park and offers protects an colorful landscape of eroded orange and yellow pillars set amongst a natural amphitheatre.
 • Grand Canyon National Park.
 • Cedar Breaks National Monument.
 • Red Canyon.
 • Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

In addition, other nearby destinations include:
 • Las Vegas. Las Vegas is located 150 miles west of the park along Interstate 15. Sin City generally needs no introduction, but for those not interested in gambling it can make a great meal stop, especially after a week or more of backpacking in the wilderness.