Zion National Park: 3 Million People A Year Visit This National Park

Travel & Leisure

  • Author Peter Gibbons
  • Published December 25, 2010
  • Word count 589

The national parks in the US boast some of the most stunning and awe-inspiring natural sights on the planet. The range of plant and animal species that live here, along with the various habitats and land formations which can be discovered here, help to make each one a unique destination to visit. Not all of them are as well-known as a number of US sightseeing attractions, but they all have unique aspects which make them a must see for nature lovers, adventure lovers and sightseers in the region.

Zion National Park is located in the Southwestern USA, close to Springdale, Utah. It is Utah’s most widely used national park with almost 3 million people every year. A number of its popular land formations consist of the Kolob arch (the second biggest freestanding arch on the planet) as well as the rock stands generally known as the Court of Patriarchs and Angel’s Landing, which are immortalized in numerous motion pictures and a favorite of many novice and professional photographers.

The area was previously a national monument, intended to safeguard the canyon, and was first called Mukuntuweap National Monument. It became a National Park in 1919 and then the name was switched to Zion National Park. The Park Service takes care of it and makes sure that it stays safe for tons of tourists each year.

The scenery in Zion National Park is really as diverse as it is gorgeous. Four specific landscape types can be viewed: desert, riparian, wood land, and coniferous forest. You will discover mountains, canyons, buttes, mesas, monoliths, rivers, slot canyons as well as natural arches. The inhabitants of the area include mountain lions, mule deer and golden eagles. Uncommon and endangered species like the peregrine falcon, Mexican spotted owl, California condor, desert tortoise and the endemic Zion snail also dwell here.

You will discover several activities that park guests can enjoy. One could go enjoy the scene on the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, which gives entry to Zion Canyon. To help relieve traffic congestion through the tight canyon, however, the road is closed to private cars or trucks and only shuttle buses are permitted from April through October. There are also 2 electric trams each one taking as many as 36 travelers as part of the shuttle fleet.

Backpacking trails with several round trip times can be found in Zion National Park. In Zion Canyon, the popular paths include Weeping Rock (half an hour) and Angel’s Landing (four hours). The Kolob Canyons section of the park features lengthier paths like Taylor Creek (4 hours) and Kolob Arch (eight hours). Trekking down The Narrows, on the other hand, requires 12 hours.

It isn't surprising that Zion can be a center for rock climbing. Small walls such as Touchstone, Moonlight Buttress, Spaceshot, and Prodigal Son are incredibly well-known. Guided horseback riding trips, nature strolls and evening programs can be found from the later part of March to the beginning of November. Kids from ages 6-12 may take part in the Junior Ranger Program that is active from Memorial Day to Labor Day at the Zion Nature Center.

With such a large area as well as the numerous leisure options that are available, it's wise to prepare the day at Zion National Park very carefully so that you can maximize the time and still experience the various activities. Individuals can visit various websites and acquire travel tips and example itineraries. One day will not be sufficient to see all that the park provides however with careful preparation you'll have a great experience.

If you are interested in Utah travel or Zion National Park then visit go-utah.com. There are many interesting destinations to explore and see in the many areas of Utah. If you are interested in finding out more information about these topics please read more articles.

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