Zion Canyon

First designated Mukuntuweap (a Southern Paiute word meaning “straight canyon”) National Monument in 1909, Zion National Park is Utah’s oldest and most visited national park. It accommodates approximately 2.5 million visitors annually. Along with being the state’s most popular national park, Zion is also its most accessible park. Its main tourist area lies only approximately 25 miles from Interstate 15 and just 43 miles east of St. George, southern Utah’s largest city.

Named for an ancient Hebrew word that means “place of refuge” or “sanctuary,” Zion National Park preserves 229 square miles of scenic canyons, colorful rock monoliths and forested plateaus that boast unmatched botanical diversity. With elevations ranging from 3,800 feet to nearly 9,000 feet, the park is home to an extremely varied ecosystem, anything from harsh deserts to lush hanging gardens. In addition to its more than 900 species of plant life, the park is home to wildlife such as coyotes, mule deer, ringtails, squirrels and chipmunks, as well as rare species found nowhere else, such as the Zion snail and Virgin spinedace (a fish). Passengers on our scenic jeep tours will enjoy a glimpse of some of the park’s flora and fauna.

Zion National Park’s main attraction is Zion Canyon, which exhibits some the park’s most recognized natural landmarks, including the Watchman, which sits near the mouth of the canyon, the Court of the Patriarchs, Angel’s Landing and the Great White Throne, a 2,200-foot tall rock monolith that has become the park’s signature natural wonder. At the end of Zion Canyon lie the Narrows of the Virgin River, which attract adventurers from all over the world. Passage through the narrow gorge is so tight in some places that hikers can nearly touch both sides with outstretched arms. Kolob Canyons, located in Zion’s northwest corner, lies just off Interstate 15 and contains an impressive collection of towering stone temples and narrow canyons. Surprisingly, most visitors to the park do not venture to Kolob Canyons, making it a pleasant side trip to escape the crowds so common in Zion Canyon during the peak season.