Covering about 235 square miles, Zion National Utah Park Bed is home to a wide range of beautiful scenery -- from the majestic Angels Landing mount that gives those at the top a breathtaking view of Zion Canyon to wondrous hoodoos in Kolob Canyon. It is situated just a 45 minute drive away from St. George in Southwestern Utah. Since the park is home to dramatic cliffs that rise 2,500 to 3,000 feet above the canyon floor of red, yellow, orange, and white hues accompanied by numerous landmarks, millions of visitors from all over the world and country flock here each year. Perhaps what makes this such a fascinating place is the Virgin River is still etching in the earth as it continues to sculpt the area.
A combination of modern visitor facilities -- from restrooms to museums, hiking paths suitable for all types of people, an extensive backcountry trail network, and unique routes like The Narrows that allows hikers to wade through a river at the bottom of slot canyons make Zion a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, photographers, and general admirers of a pretty place.
The park's most popular area is Zion Canyon which is just north of the town of Springdale, a small town with a vibrant artisan crowd. One of the easiest ways to access the canyon is to use state Highway 9 that connects to Interstate 15. From the canyon visitors can head east on the Mount Carmel Junction to visit nearby Bryce Canyon National Park. Heading this way will take drivers through a tunnel that is approximately 1.1 mile long. Checkerboard Mesa is one of the highlights along this way; it is known for its checkerboard pattern that nature etched into it with water and wind.
Kolob Canyon is on the northwest end of the park, and is overlooked by many who focus on Zion Canyon. It is easily accessible as it is just off of Interstate 15. The vegetation is more sparse than that in Zion, but this better showcases the red sandstone cliffs that are one of the park's trademarks. Like the main canyon, it also has a myriad of hiking trails suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels.
Visit our hiking in Zion National Park page to learn more about traversing this area by foot.
