Zion National Park captivates millions of visitors with its towering red cliffs and deep canyons. Mormon settlers gave the park its biblical name because they viewed the landscape as a sanctuary. Furthermore, the Virgin River continues to carve the sandstone daily, changing the shape of the park constantly. Consequently, this dynamic landscape offers adventure and history around every bend. Explore these fascinating details about Utah's first national park.
Zion National Park
The park originally bore the name Mukuntuweap National Monument. However, Mormon settlers complained that the Paiute name was too difficult to pronounce, so federal officials changed it to Zion to increase tourism.
A rare bird known as the California Condor soars over the canyon walls. Remarkably, these massive scavengers possess a wingspan of nearly 10 feet (3 meters), earning them the title of the largest land bird in North America.
The famous Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel features huge windows cut directly into the rock face. Engineers designed these galleries to provide ventilation and a place to dump debris during the dangerous construction process in the 1920s.
Hikers on Angels Landing must hold onto heavy metal chains to survive the final ascent. Terrifyingly, the trail follows a narrow spine of rock with 1,000-foot (305-meter) drops on both sides.
The Virgin River removes over one million tons of sediment from the park every single year. Thus, the river acts as a powerful conveyor belt that constantly deepens the canyon floor.
Water that drips from Weeping Rock fell as rain roughly 1,000 years ago. The moisture takes centuries to slowly filter down through the thick layers of sandstone before it finally re-emerges at the spring.
Zion contains one of the largest freestanding natural arches in the world. Specifically, Kolob Arch spans 287 feet (87 meters), but visitors must hike deep into the backcountry to see it.
The famous “Subway” formation resembles a natural subway tunnel. Flash floods carved this unique cylindrical canyon, which requires a special permit and technical skills to explore.
Native Americans lived in the canyon for thousands of years before European settlers arrived. In fact, the Ancestral Puebloans built granaries high on the cliff walls to protect their food storage from rodents and floods.
Checkerboard Mesa displays a unique cross-hatched pattern on its surface. Wind and water erosion created these perpendicular lines that look exactly like a giant game board frozen in stone.
The park hosts a wider variety of plants than the Hawaiian Islands. Because the elevation ranges from desert floors to high alpine forests, over 900 different plant species thrive within the borders.
Zion shuts down private vehicle traffic during the busy season. To protect the environment, the park operates a shuttle system that carries millions of people up the scenic drive.
The Great White Throne stands as one of the most recognizable landmarks in the park. This massive white monolith rises 2,350 feet (716 meters) from the canyon floor and contrasts sharply with the surrounding red rock.
Bighorn sheep often scale the steep cliffs near the east entrance. Fortunately, these agile animals made a strong comeback after disease nearly wiped them out in the mid-20th century.
Finally, the Olympic Torch passed through the park on its way to Salt Lake City in 2002. Runners carried the flame through the stunning landscape to highlight the natural beauty of Utah to the world.
