Zion National Park
Zion National Park is of the nation's oldest national parks and Utah's oldest, designated in 1919. Zion's soaring towers and monoliths offer a quiet grandeur. With nearly three million visitors per year, Zion is Utah's most heavily-used park.
Zion National Park Lodging
In spring of 2000, in order to ease congestion in the 6.5-mile Zion Canyon, a new transportation system will begin operation with multi-passenger, shuttle vehicles as the only motorized transportation. The park has tested the shuttle system, and visitor comments indicate that the open-air "carts" allow them to enjoy Zion's lofty formations such as The Great White Throne, The Watchman, Grotto Picnic Area, Angels Landing, and Weeping Rock with nothing to obstruct their view. The transportation system will also include a "town loop" to eliminate congestion in the streets of Springdale at the park's south entrance. Visitors can still use private vehicles to tour the park on Utah Highway 9. Over-sized vehicles are subject to some restrictions and a fee is charged for escorting them through the narrow long tunnel.
Zion Canyon Canyon National Park
The east entrance is the most dramatic. The highway descends through a mile-long tunnel (burrowing through the mountains and cliffs, construction completed in 1930) and a series of switch-backs winding into Zion Canyon. Huge "windows" appear periodically, providing enticing glimpses of the glory to come at the end of the tunnel. Visitors can experience Zion's massive canyons, deserts, streams, waterfalls and hanging gardens of ferns and moss from the paved road that runs through the park. After millions of years, the Virgin River continues to flow through the masterpiece it has created. There are several easy, self-guiding trails in Zion National Park, along with more strenuous hikes.
The trail to Emerald Pools and the fantastic Gateway To The Narrows Trail are suitable for strollers and wheelchairs with assistance. Sure-footed hikers enjoy hiking in the Virgin River itself (a wet hike most enjoyable in the warm months) through the Zion Narrows. Here you can experience the power of millions of years of erosion as you make your way through slot canyons. These canyons are hundreds of feet high, and at times, only an arm's stretch across. While this provides for an exciting hike, it can also be very dangerous. The Virgin River is the natural drainage for a large geographic area. A downpour rainstorm, completely out of sight from within the Narrows, could fill these narrow canyons in seconds! Such flash floods have been known to strand or kill hikers. Therefore, such hikes require advanced check in at the ranger station.
Two entrances to Zion Canyon are 33 miles east of I-15 or 12 miles west of US 89, both on Utah Highway 9. The beautiful northern Kolob Canyons section of the park is accessible off I-15, 18 miles south of Cedar City. The visitor centers are open year-round. Visitors are encouraged to stop by and learn how to visit the park with minimum impact to the fragile desert environment. Here you will find maps, brochures, and books to help you enjoy your visit. There are campgrounds. The Zion Lodge is open year-round. The town of Springdale at the South Entrance and other nearby communities have year-round accommodations.
For more information contact Zion National Park, PO Box 1099, Springdale 84767, 435-772-3256.