Zion National Park

Over two million people visit Zion National Park in Utah every year. Steep cliffs and deep, narrow canyons make this park a scenic place to visit.

Park is 229 square miles

Nature filled Zion with 229 square miles of wondrous sights. High plateaus (high level ground) and 2,000-foot Navajo Sandstone cliffs are just some of the sights.

Pine and juniper trees dot the hillsides. The Virgin River, springs, and waterfalls add beauty to the scenery.

Ride with a Ranger Shuttle Tours

Take one of the shuttle tours with a ranger to find out more about the Park. These begin at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center and last about 90 minutes.

Take a scenic drive

A five-mile scenic drive at Kolob Canyons shows the red canyons. There are trails and places to stop along the road.

Ranger Programs

Take a one or two-mile walk with a ranger. Stay for five minutes or an hour at Drop-in Programs held in various locations such as the Big Bend Shuttle Stop and Weeping Rock Trailhead.

Rangers talk about things that make Zion a special place every summer evening at Zion Lodge and Watchman Campground.

Rent Bikes

Rent bikes at the park to explore the park. The Pa’rus Trail is a bike path the follows the Virgin River.

Water comes from a rock

Families love to hike the half-mile Weeping Rock Trail where they can see water coming from a rock.

Rare Wildlife sightings

The peregrine falcon, the fastest animal in the world, has been seen at Zion. Visitors may see mule deer and bighorn sheep as well as the Mexican spotted owl, the desert tortoise, and the California condor so take a camera!

 

-Sandra Merville Hart

Sources:

Flynn, Sarah Wassner. National Geographic Kids: National Parks Guide U.S.A., National Geographic Society, 2012.

McHugh, Erin. National Parks: A Kid’s Guide to America’s Parks, Monuments, and Landmarks, Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, Inc., 2012.

“Zion,” National Park Service, 2016/01/07 http://www.nps.gov/zion/index.htm.