Zion National Park

Zion National Park is a 229-square mile national park that is located in the southwest region of the state of Utah. As one of Utah's oldest and most visited parks, Zion boasts some of the most varied plant and animal life in the region - as well as a wealth of spectacular scenery and views.

Originally established as Mukuntuweap National Monument by President William Taft on July 31, 1909, the name was eventually changed to Zion National Park in 1919. Today, the park is one of the major tourist destinations in the region and sees upwards of 2 million visitors a year. Zion is in close proximity to the town of Cedar City, Utah.

• Hiking - Zion offers trails for all abilities. Two handicap accessible trails are Pa’rus Trail, Lower Emerald Pools Trail and the Riverside Walk. Each of these paths are paved. There are other trails that are only an hour or two to complete. Some moderate trails with climbing and the strenuous Angels Landing or Kolob Arch.
• Backcountry Hiking/Backpacking - A not to be missed hike is the Narrows. The gorge is up to 2000 feet deep and at times only 20-30 feet wide. The trail is the river, so at least 60% of the hike is spent wading, walking and at times swimming in the stream. Dangers are flash flooding and hypothermia. Check the Zion Canyon Visitor’s Center for weather updates before heading out and come prepared for the hike. Phone: (435) 772-0170 You can hike part or all of the Narrows, even camping overnight. http://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/zion-narrows.htm There are also many other backcountry hiking opportunities available including more canyoneering.
• Climbing - Best time to climb is spring and fall as summer can be extremely hot and afternoon thunderstorms are common. There is no sport climbing. Permits are not required for day climbs but are required for all overnight bivouacs.
• Wildflowers and Fall Colors - Zion National Park has a variety of life zones and habitats which makes it an outstanding area for taking a wildflower walk in the spring and bright fall color in the autumn.
• Bird watching - offers 288 species found on the park’s bird list including the California condor, bald eagle and the peregrine falcon.
• Bicycling - The Pa’rus Trail and Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is available for bikes. Shuttle buses have bike racks.
• Zion Canyon Field Institute - You can take a class with a wildlife biologist, work on a service project or go discovering.
• Ranger-Led Activities - Free. Check visitor’s centers and bulletin boards throughout park for details. They can include guided hikes, patio talks, evening programs and even Ride with the Ranger Shuttle Tours. (Reservations recommended for Shuttle Tours)

The Zion Shuttle System will open April 1, 2010 and continue to October 31, 2010. The shuttle service is free and operates in Zion Canyon and the town of Springdale. All buses are full accessible. Shuttle schedule changes throughout the season but often run as often as seven minutes.

Major road work is anticipated on The Switchbacks on the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway as early as May 2010. This will affect travelers going through Zion from the South to the East Entrance and they should expect delays and even temporary closures. Visitors using the South Entrance for camping, accessing the shuttle system, Zion Lodge or Springdale will not be affected. http://www.nps.gov/zion/parkmgmt/road-construction.htm