Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 8: Nearby Things to See & Do
The area surrounding Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks offers a
smorgasbordofscenicwondersandrecreationalopportunities.Thegate-
way communities to the parks provide a variety of activities along with
a welcome change of pace for kids who might be getting a bit tired of
the beautiful but seemingly endless rock formations. Adjacent to Bryce
Canyon National Park is Grand Staircase-Escalante—a vast, stark, but
stunninglybeautifulnationalmonument—aswellasDixieNationalForest,
a popular spot for mountain bikers, anglers, campers, and hikers. Within
90 minutes of the south entrance to Zion National Park, you can wander
throughthemysteriouslavacavesofSnowCanyon,orstrikeoutof-road
in a dune buggy at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park—and that's just
forstarters.Twootherstateparks,KodachromeBasinandEscalante,are
within an hour of the entrance to Bryce Canyon and provide lovely vistas
and quirky pleasures all on their own.
Gateway Towns
Just outside the parks are communities offering additional outdoor recreation op-
portunities. Additional information is provided in the chapters covering activities
in each of the parks.
Outside Zion National Park
The small community of
Springdale,
with a population of about 600 and an eleva-
tion of 3,900 feet, was settled in 1862 and today is the south gateway to Zion Nation-
al Park. Springdale is a good spot to pick up those forgotten supplies.
The community of
Virgin
(pop. 550) lies about 13 miles west of Springdale along
Utah 9. First named Pocketville because of the red sandstone cliffs that closely sur-
round it, the town was renamed for the Virgin River that runs through it. The Kolob
Terrace Road heads north out of Virgin into Zion National Park, accessing several
backcountry trails.
How's
this
for Gun Control?
