Things to do nearZion National Park

Zion National Park sits in the southwestern corner of Utah, carved over millions of years by the relentless work of the Virgin River cutting through layer upon layer of ancient sandstone and limestone. The park was established in 1919, making it Utah's oldest national park, and its name reflects the reverence early settlers felt for the landscape. The main corridor, Zion Canyon, stretches roughly fifteen miles and is flanked by named formations that have become iconic in American landscape photography, including the Great White Throne, Angels Landing, and the Court of the Patriarchs.

Hikers of all experience levels find something here, from paved riverside walks beneath cottonwood trees to the exposed chain-assisted ascent of Angels Landing, which requires a permit and rewards those who complete it with panoramic views across the entire canyon. The Narrows, where the canyon walls narrow to as little as twenty feet apart while the river fills the floor, is among the most distinctive hikes in the American Southwest. Beyond the main canyon, the Kolob Canyons section in the park's northwest corner offers dramatic finger canyons with far fewer visitors.

Wildlife including mule deer, California condors, and canyon wrens are regularly spotted throughout the park. The town of Springdale sits just outside the south entrance and provides a range of dining options, lodging, and outfitters. Zion rewards visitors who slow down, look closely at the canyon walls, and let the scale of the geology settle into perspective.