Zion National Park

When visiting Zion National Park it’s clear that the early settlers thought of the park as a spiritual place; many of the most impressive sights have names with religious meanings, and it’s easy to understand why. Zion Nation Park is incredibly beautiful.

Getting to Zion

No matter which direction you come from when visiting Zion, you must experience the drive through the East entrance of the park on Highway 9. You’ll drive through Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel, which spans 1.1 miles and changes direction. Along the drive, vast windows open giving drivers and passengers glimpses of the majestic Zion Canyon.

As a child, I always loved driving through tunnels. Hold your breathe and make a wish. ✨✨. Five years ago, we explored our first National Park. Imagine my delight as we drove through the mile long Zion-Mount Carmel tunnel. Catching glimpses of the stunning vistas of Zion through the tunnel windows was an eye opening moment. It took us 30 years and a short 4.5 hour drive to discover this grandeur was in our backyard. I’ve been hooked and haven’t stopped exploring since. I’ve got my 2017 adventure wishlist and cheers to making wishes come true ✨✨ @zionnps #zionnationalpark #hikeutah #hobbithike #nationalparkgeek #findyourpark

A post shared by phay.saya (@phay.saya) on Jan 7, 2017 at 7:08am PST

Things to Do in Zion National Park

The scenic drive is open to shuttle buses only from spring to fall. Favorite sights along the scenic drive include the Court of the Patriarchs, Weeping Rock, and Temple of Sinawava.

The best way to experience Zion is to get out of your vehicle and walk or hike. For less strenuous hikes, we suggest the trip to Lower Emerald Pools via the Emerald Pools Trail, and a trip down Riverside Walk to the entrance to The Narrows.

Hiking in The Narrows

Zion is an ideal national park for experienced hikers because the trails are numerous and some offer difficult trails with incredible views. With 18 trails to choose from, you could easily spend weeks exploring this park. Arguably the most famous trail in Zion is Angels Landing, called one of the top hikes in America. This 5.4-mile trail 1,488 feet to overlook Zion. Another popular advanced hike in Zion is The Narrows, in which hikers traverse along and within the Fork River to Orderville Canyon and back. The Narrows trail is the river itself, so hikers should research at length before attempting this strenuous hike.

The View from Angel’s Landing

Whether you’re in a vehicle or on foot, you’re likely to spot wildlife at Zion National Park, particularly mule deer and mountain goats. Make sure you follow all park guidelines and keep your distance from wild animals.