Zion National Park Utah

Zion National Park exhibits the handiwork of the Virgin River, which over millions of years has eroded a spectacular gorge full of wondrous, towering rock formations that reach heights of 2,000 to 3,000 feet. This gorge, Zion Canyon, is the park’s most visited section. After boarding a shuttle bus (in the peak season from April to October), visitors can relax as they traverse the 6.5-mile Zion Canyon Scenic Drive and view some of the park’s most famous formations, including the Great White Throne, Angel’s Landing, the Court of the Patriarchs and the Watchman, which guard’s the canyon’s entrance. During their ride up the canyon, shuttle drivers offer narration expounding on the park’s history, geology, and flora and fauna. Our scenic jeep tours offer a similar experience in the rugged backcountry of the park, away from the crowds.

Zion National Park is home to trails suitable for every level of hiker, from the strenuous 2.5-mile climb to the top of Angel’s Landing to the Riverside Walk, a relatively flat paved path along the banks of the Virgin River, suitable even for wheelchairs. Also known as the “Gateway to the Narrows,” the Riverside Walk, whose trailhead is at the end of the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, provides a glimpse of the Zion Narrows, whose average width is only 20 feet in its narrowest portion. Another popular hike in Zion Canyon is the Weeping Rock Trail, which is a ¼-mile jaunt to lush hanging gardens, created by water seeping through its porous sandstone.

Utah’s oldest national park and one of the state’s most visited tourist attractions, Zion National Park is located in southwestern Utah, only 43 miles east of St. George. Easily accessible via Interstate 15, Zion is only a two and a half hour drive north of Las Vegas, Nevada, and a four and a half hour drive south of Salt Lake City. The Kolob Canyons section of the park is located right off I-15 at exit 40. This less-visited portion of the park is just as spectacular as Zion Canyon, boasting a collection of colorful, towering monoliths and narrow canyons.