Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
17
Southern Utah's
National Parks
For many people, the best part of
a Utah vacation is exploring the state's
national parks, which offer spectacular
red-rock scenery, deep green forests, rivers,
historic sites, and numerous opportunities
for hiking and other outdoor recreation.
Although visitation at some national
parks has dropped from a peak in about
1999 or 2000, Utah's parks remain popular.
Both
Zion
and
Arches
national parks
broke visitation records in 2008.
For those trying to avoid the crowds, go
in the off season. The parks are busiest in
summer, when most children are out of
school, so visit at almost any other time.
Fall is usually best. Spring is okay, but
often windy; and winter can be delightful
but chilly.
1
ZION NATIONAL PARK
Early Mormon settler Isaac Behunin is credited with naming his homestead “Little Zion”
because it seemed to be a bit of heaven on earth. Today, 150 years later, Zion National
Park casts a spell over you as you gaze upon its sheer multicolored walls of sandstone,
explore its narrow canyons, hunt for hanging gardens of wildflowers, and listen to the
roar of the churning, tumbling Virgin River.
Here you'll discover a smorgasbord of experiences, sights, sounds, and even smells,
from massive stone sculptures and monuments to lush forests and rushing rivers.
Zion is home to an abundance of wildlife, with mammals ranging from pocket
gophers to mountain lions, hundreds of birds (including golden eagles), lizards of all
shapes and sizes, and a dozen species of snakes. Mule deer are common, and you may also
see foxes, coyotes, ringtails, beaver, porcupines, and plenty of squirrels and bats. Practi-
cally every summer visitor sees lizards, often the colorful collared and whiptail varieties,
and hears the song of the canyon wren and the call of the piñon jay.
ESSENTIALS
Located in southwest Utah, at elevations ranging from 3,666 feet to 8,726 feet, Zion
National Park has several sections:
Zion Canyon,
the main part of the park, where every-
one goes, and the less-visited
Kolob Terrace
and
Kolob Canyons
areas.
GETTING THERE
St. George
and
Cedar City
are the closest towns with airport ser-
vice. From either airport, it's easy to rent a car and drive to Zion. Utah 9 crosses the park,
giving the main section of the park two entry gates, south and east. The drive into Zion
Canyon from I-15 on the park's western side—following Utah 9, or Utah 17 and Utah
9, to the south entrance at Springdale—is the more popular route.
From the east, a spectacularly scenic 24-mile drive leads from Mt. Carmel on Utah 9,
reached from the north or south on US 89. However, be aware that this route into the
park drops over 2,500 feet in elevation, passes through the mile-long Zion-Mt. Carmel
Tunnel, and winds down six steep switchbacks. The tunnel is too small for two-way
