Zion National Park is located in the Southwestern corner of Utah near the Nevada and Arizona borders and was established in 1919. The park is separated into 4 life zones, desert, riparian, woodland, and coniferous forest. The Paiutes believed this place to be the home of their coyote spirit, Sinawava, while early Mormon visitors referred to it as “the natural temples of God."
The park has dramatic peaks and cliffs, odd geologic formations, desert oases featuring abundant pools and waterfalls, and mighty canyons splashed with vivid colours. The sandstone walls surrounding the park are beds of red and white and are full of colourful sandstone canyons. A 3,000-foot-high palisades tower stands above the lush green of the canyon floor. Zion’s diverse topography means the park has a unique range of habits and species. Other than the coyotes Zion is home to 68 species of mammals with predators such as the ringtail cat, gray fox, and cougar.
Great White Throne is a well-known attraction to see in the park it is a mountain of white Navajo Sandstone rising to 2,350 feet on the north. Some other highlights include a trio of peaks known as the Three Patriarchs, the Emerald Pools, fed by waterfalls cascading over the canyon walls, and the veil of spring water trickling over Weeping Rock. More popular attractions are Angel’s Landing and the Watchman., Angel’s Landing had formed in 1926 the top provides a spectacular view of the park. Zion is home to the world’s second-largest natural arch the world, Kolob Arch is located deep in the backcountry in the national park Kolob Canyon’s District.
The park is open all year round though the best time to visit is April to October. A must-see is The Subway (Left Fork of North Creek) is a bottom-up hiking route featuring a curved, hollowed-out canyon reminiscent of a subway tunnel. The journey through The Subway is unlike any other hike as it requires route finding, rappelling, and swimming. To explore you must get a wilderness permit which is subject to daily limits, these can be obtained at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center.
