One of the most visited U.S. national parks, Zion National Park is filled with natural highlights, from Angels Landing and The Narrows to Weeping Rock and the scenic Virgin River. Popular activities include camping, hiking and sightseeing.
A park that’s as imposing as it is fragile, as spectacular as it’s delicate, it’s impossible to visit Zion National Park and not be awe-struck.
The cliffs of Zion Canyon rise up monumentally alongside the meandering, gem-blue Virgin River, while the leaves of cottonwood trees rustle in the gentle breeze. This landscape might seem calm, peaceful and never-changing, but it’s not.
When thunderstorms roll in and lightning flashes above the canyon, surprise flash floods sweep through slot canyons and waterfalls appear out of nowhere from previously bone-dry cliffs.
A swollen Virgin River rips loose tree trunks and displaces boulders, a powerful force that continues to change the appearance of Zion Canyon.
Even people found livelihood in this unforgiving landscape, thanks to the river’s endless, if sometimes scarce, flow of clear water. After thousands of years of Native American presence, Zion also offered a home to Mormon pioneers and other settlers.
Zion National Park, established in 1919, is now one of the most-visited national parks in America. It attracts more than four million people each year, tourists and adventurers looking to explore some of the world’s most spectacular landscapes.
The park is a superb place for outdoor activities, from hiking and river trekking to canyoneering and rock climbing.
Adrenaline junkies will find sanctuary—”Zion” is a biblical term for a place of refuge—at various places in the park, while more low-key attractions like hanging gardens, weeping rocks and shimmering ponds are popular spots among families and day visitors.
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Highlights of Zion National Park
There’s plenty to see and do in Zion National Park, the most popular of the five epic national parks in Utah.
The amazing Zion-Mt Carmel Highway is your way into the park, snaking its way through the park’s southern section. To get to Zion Canyon’s attractions, however, you most likely need to hop on the free Zion Canyon Shuttle. (Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is only open to private vehicles in the low season.)
Zion Canyon is filled with imposing rock formations, canyons, natural gardens and world-class hiking trails. These are my personal favorites.
- The Watchman
- Emerald Pools
- Weeping Rock
- Angels Landing
- Echo Canyon
- Observation Point Trail
- The Narrows
Zion Canyon is the star attraction and centerpiece of Zion National Park. If you’re after more solitude and off-the-beaten-path experiences, consider visiting Kolob Canyons in the remote northern part of the park. For more information about the Kolob Canyons section, you can visit this webpage.
Accommodation Near Zion National Park
There are two large campgrounds, as well as the Zion Lodge, in Zion Canyon. The gateway town of Springdale, just outside the South Entrance, has numerous accommodation choices, cafés, shops, restaurants and even a brewery.
Booking.com
Useful Info
Location: Southwestern Utah
Nearest Town: Springdale
Area: 232 square miles (148,016 acres)
Annual Visitors (2022): 4,692,417
Features: Deep canyons, steep cliffs, desert vegetation, rock formations, lush river banks, weeping rocks and hanging gardens, scenic views
Top Attractions: Angels Landing, Observation Point, the Watchman, Virgin River, the Narrows, Emerald Pools, Weeping Rock, Court of the Patriarchs, Checkerboard Mesa, Kolob Canyons
Popular Activities: Hiking, camping, rock climbing and canyoneering, wildlife watching, photography
Suggested Stay: 3 days
Campground(s):
- Watchman Campground (176 sites)
- South Campground (117 sites)
- Lava Point Campground (6 sites)
More Information: National Park Service
Nearby National Parks:
- Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
- Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
- Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
- Death Valley National Park, California
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