Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 2: Exploring Zion National
Park
Utah's first and most popular national park, Zion is a spectacularly beau-
tiful spot that offers a wide variety of sights and experiences. The park is
hometocreaturesofpracticallyallshapesandsizes,fromtheminuteZion
snail—almosttoosmalltoseeatall—onup.Massiverockformations,such
astheGreatWhiteThrone,giveonethefeelingthatthislandissomething
permanent,butthebeautifulNarrows,wheretimeandwaterhavecarved
huge chunks of stone into a delicate work of art, prove otherwise.
Essentials
ACCESS/ENTRYPOINTS
Zion National Park has two main sections:
ZionCanyon,
the
main part of the park, and the less-visited
KolobCanyons.
The main east-west road
through Zion Canyon is the park-owned extension of Utah 9; from this road, the
park's 12-mile round-trip Zion Canyon Scenic Drive heads north, providing access
to most of the scenic overlooks and trail heads.
Utah 9 connects to both sides of Zion National Park, giving the main section
of the park two entry gates—south and east. The south entrance, at Springdale,
is by far the more popular, with two-thirds of park visitors arriving there. Most
area lodgings and restaurants are found in Springdale. (See chapter 4, “Where to
Stay, Camp & Eat in Zion.”) In addition, the park's two campgrounds and the Zion
Canyon Visitor Center are located just inside the south entrance.
There is no town at the east entrance, but that route is more scenic—it drops over
2,500 feet in elevation, passes through the 1-mile-long Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel, and
winds down six steep switchbacks. The tunnel is off limits to bicycles. It can ac-
commodate two-way traffic when standard passenger cars and pickup trucks are
being used, but it is too small for two-way traffic that includes larger vehicles, so
opposite-direction traffic must be stopped when motor homes, campers, and other
larger vehicles are passing through (see “Regulations,” below). Those also visiting
Bryce Canyon National Park will probably enter or leave Zion through the east en-
trance.
