Zion National Park, USA

The name “Zion” means a place of peace and refuge. Situated in the southwestern corner of Utah near the Nevada and Arizona borders, Zion National Park is a convenient stop for those visiting Salt Lake City, Las Vegas or Grand Canyon National Park. Accessible from State Route 9 or Interstate 15, Zion offers visitors a variety of activities across several geographic regions. It started out as Mukuntuweap National Monument in 1909, but was granted national park status by the U.S. Congress in 1919.

Zion National Park encompasses some 150,000 acres of wild canyon country east of St. George, Utah, including the narrow, multicolored Kolob Canyons to the north and many miles of largely impenetrable mountain wilderness. However, the vast majority of visitors come only to see Zion Canyon, probably the most immediately spectacular of the many geological wonders in Utah, where sheer red and white sandstone cliffs tower up to 2,500 feet above the North Fork of the Virgin River, and gradually become closer together upstream until only 30 feet apart in places.

The highlight of Zion National Park is an expansive canyon. Averaging 2,000 feet deep, Zion Canyon offers hiking opportunities along its floor in the 20 to 30 foot wide area known as The Narrows and the challenging area known as The Subway. Swimming is also permitted in this area of the Virgin River.

Main Spots

Cedar Breaks National Monument

A smaller, lesser-known park is situated between Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks and worth a visit. Climb more than 10,000 feet and travel by cedar and aspen trees en route to what the rangers jokingly refer to as Baby Bryce due to its smaller, but similar canyon. Most of the road closes in the winter due to snow, but in the summer and fall, the park and the drive are alive with color. Junior ranger programs are available here, as well. 

North Rim Grand Canyon

Located Southeast of Zion National Park approximately 120 miles and a 2.5 hour drive this amazing section of the Grand Canyon makes for a wonderful day trip. This portion of the Grand Canyon National Park is located nearly 1000 feet higher than the more visited South Rim giving it a truly unique setting.

Because this area is more remote the North Rim is only open May-October. Much like Bryce Canyon the North Rim is easily viewed from the many easy to get to scenic lookouts and is also possible to see most of this park in a few short hours.

Emerald Pools

Three small pools can be reached via a number of trails. The one-mile Grotto Trail connects to the Zion Lodge and can combine with the Lower Emerald Poll and Kayenta Trails for an easy 2.5-mile loop. The Upper Emerald Pool Trail from Zion Lodge is a one-mile rocky trail that meets the pool at the base of a cliff. The Lower Emerald Pool Trail is just more than a mile long but is a paved and easy hike. 

Bryce Canyon

There is no place quite like Bryce Canyon. Hoodoos (odd-shaped pillars of rock left standing from the forces of erosion) can be found on every continent, but here is the archetypal “hoodoo-iferous” terrain. Descriptions fail. Cave without a roof? Forest of stone? Even photographs strain credulity. When you visit maybe you’ll come up with a better name. In the meantime “Bryce” will have to suffice.

The Narrows

The Narrows may be difficult to get to, but entirely worth the trip, if traveling with older kids who can make the hike, much of it wading through water. The Narrows is a 16-mile gorge that is 2,000 feet deep and at its narrowest, only 20 feet wide. To reach it, hikers need to walk in the Virgin River, and sometimes swim in water with strong currents. This is a strenuous hike and visitors may choose to hike from the bottom and back or from the top to bottom and will require a full day. 

Weeping Rock Trail

Weeping Rock is a point of interest along the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. Here, water drips from springs and create hanging gardens. A short, but steep, half-mile round-trip paved trail takes visitors in for a closer view. 

Zion Canyon Scenic Drive

  

This scenic drive is closed to traffic from summer through October 26, and on weekends in November. It can be viewed from the free shuttles in Zion, with stops at a number of points of interest, including the Temple of Sinawava, which accesses the Narrows, Weeping Rock, The Grotto, and Zion Human History Museum.