Photo by: Jacob Lips
Home to Zion Canyon, Zion National Park is a 146,597-acre of preserved natural resources in Utah. Aside from the canyons, there are other natural formations in the park with diverse plant and animal life. This is one of the more popular national parks in the U.S. and was visited by 4,320,033 in 2018.
The park will be celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.
History
The geological history of Zion National Park spans over 150 million years of rock formations. The natural formations in the park are buttes, canyons, mesas, monoliths, mountains, natural arches, rivers, and slot canyons.
Human settlement dates back 8,000 years ago. It reached tourism radar in the 18th century when Europeans started exploring Southern Utah. People who visited the area started talking about it, while some painted and photographed the place, as journalists wrote about it. These started the campaign to protect the area.
Zion National Park was established on Nov. 19, 1919. It is Utah’s first National Park.
Photo by: Jacob Lips
Things to do
Zion National Park features different natural resources that reflect different colors. Visitors will see red sandstone cliffs, creamy colored desert land, clear rivers, and green vegetation. Activities in the park will lead visitors to various stunning spots in the park.
Hiking The Narrows & various observation perches
The name of The Narrows was derived from the slimmest section of Zion Canyon. This is among the most popular areas for people to hike. Adventurous hikers would have to wade into the Virgin River, though, to journey into the orange-red canyons of the park. The narrow passage makes the canyon feel more massive than it already is.
Landforms as expansive as the Zion Canyon and Zion National Park as a whole, are great for hiking because of the natural scenery. Various trails in the park provide different vistas in the area. The trails also range from easy to strenuous. It doesn’t matter, though, as each trail provides a backdrop of the massive Zion canyon, as well as the different natural formations.
Among the more popular trails lead to the Canyon Overlook, a favorite among photographers. The canyon just looks most impressive from this view. Another famous viewpoint is the Observation Point, which has an elevation of 6,521 feet giving the visitors a bird’s eye view of the park. Those who follow the Watchman Trail will have a great view of the Watchman Spire.
Angel’s Landing is an elevated perch that offers stunning views of the park. It’s going to be a challenging five-hour trek to reach this viewpoint but the vista is worth it. Despite the challenge, this is the most popular Zion National Park hike.
Zion Canyon Scenic Drive
Not all people love to hike or sweat just to see great views. For those kinds of visitors, the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is just perfect with various pullouts, showcasing the different panoramic views of the park. There will be views with a glimpse of the canyons as well as the Virgin River. Visitors might even spot some bighorn sheep along the way.
Riverside Walk
This is just an easy stroll along the Virgin River, which is a tributary of the Colorado River. Wading through this river or walking through its banks means being in the middle of imposing canyons, which is an exciting experience. The water, itself, is stunning.
View the Court of the Patriarchs
Visitors don’t need to hike just to see this view. Just near the shuttle bus unloading area is the viewpoint for the Court of the Patriarchs, a trio of massive sandstone forms named Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It’s very biblical.
Biking in Zion
There is only one biking trail in the park and that is the Pa’rus Trail, which is 3.5 miles long. The trail passes through the Virgin River going to Canon Junction. Those who enjoy history could drop by the Human History Museum.
View the Sunset from Watchman
For those doing the Watchman Trail, they can stay for a few hours until dusk so they can witness the majestic sunset from this popular Zion peak.
Flora and fauna
People marvel at the land and rock formations of the park, but the flora and fauna are just as impressive. Desert-like conditions in the park allow the following plants to thrive: Indian paintbrush, rabbitbrush, sacred datura, sagebrush, and prickly pear cactus. Those who go higher up in the park can see some cliffrose, juniper, manzanita shrub, pinyon pine, scrub oak, serviceberry, and yucca.
Animals that visitors may spot in the park include the following: badgers, bobcats, collared and whiptail lizards, coyotes, desert cottontails, gray foxes, jackrabbits, kangaroo rats, mule deer, ringtail cats, and rock squirrels. There are also 289 species of birds that call Zion National Park home.
Photo by: Jacob Lips