Zion National Park



"I see my path, but I don't know where it leads.  Not knowing where I'm going is what inspires me to travel it."
Rosalia De Castro
"We must go beyond textbooks, go out into the bypaths and untrodden depths of the wilderness and travel and explore and tell the world the glories of our journey."
John Hope Franklin

Entrance to Zion NP

Zion National Park

Zion National Park is located in the aouthwestern United States, near Springdale, Utah. A prominent feature of the 229-square-mile park is Zion Canyon, which is 15 miles long and up to half a mile deep, cut through the sandstone by the north fork of the Virgin River. Zion National Park is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Some services and facilities may close or reduce hours during the winter months.

My first thought, when we visited Zion, is that it reminded me of Yosemite. It has the tall mountains, the waterfalls and the valley. But while it is similiar, it has its own beauty and is different in many ways. We enjoyed exploring this park.



Riverside Walk in Zion NP

To reduce traffice and to improve the park experience, there is a shuttle bus that will take you to most of the main areas of the park. The shuttle runs from March through October. One loop includes stops in Zion Canyon and a second loop includes stops in the town of Springdale. Parking is available throughout Springdale and inside the south park entrance. The shuttle is included in the park entrance fee. It operates daily beginning at 6:30 a.m. and runs every 6 to 8 minutes during the busiest parts of the day. The last bus will leave the Zion Canyon Visitor Center at 9:30 p.m.. The complete round-trip takes a minimum of 90 minutes.

The east side of the park is still accessible by private vehicle. You may pass through the park on highway 9 by private vehicle, but you are unable to drive up the main canyon to major points of interest during the shuttle season.

The Main Canyon is the most popular section of the park. The visitor center and the town of Springdale are surrounded by this part of the park. Popular trail-heads for hiking are Weeping Rock, Emerald Pools, Angels Landing and The Narrows, all of which are found on the eight-mile scenic drive that is accessible by the shuttle.

The Narrows in Zion NP

Perhaps the most famous and one of the most challenging areas of the park is an area referred to as The Narrows. The Virgin River carves deep gorges in the sandstone and hikers may follow the river's path, but plan on walking through water most of the day. The full length of the Narrows canyon is 12.5 miles.

The park is open all year and each season is distinctively different. Spring brings the waterfalls cascading into the Virgin River. Summer is the favorite season, and the most crowded. The canyon is lush and green in the summer months. Fall has brilliant red and gold foliage which accent the stone cliffs. Winter offers moderate temperatures with crisp mornings and warm afternoons. The east entrance to the park may have heavy snowfalls during the winter months.

There are no hotels or lodges within the national park. There are many choices nearby in Springdale, Utah. The national park has three campgrounds. They are South Campground, Watchman Campground and Lava Point Campground. The first 2 are in Zion Canyon and Lava Point is on the Kolob Terrace Road. Comfort stations provide flush toilets, cold running drinkable water, and trash containers, but no showers or electrical outlets. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire pit with attached grill. Quiet hours are 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. Pets are allowed on a leash no longer than six feet. Hiking in the park with pets is allowed only on the roads and Pa'rus Trail. There are also several campgrounds nearby in the Springdale area.

There are lots of activities to do in the park. There are 4 by 4 Jeep tours available. Horse-back riding, river tubing and lots of hiking trails to explore. You can bicycle the Pa'rus Trail or Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, or kayak the Virgin River. Each day park rangers present a series of special talks, guided walks and evening programs at the Visitors Center and the South Campground Ampitheater. For more information about the park and things to do, go to: http://www.nps.gov/zion/index.htm

Zion National Park is close to Bryce Canyon National Park as well as Lake Powell, and The Grand Canyon.  If you plan a long enough vacation you could take in all of these areas in one trip.