Utah's Zion National Park

Utah's Zion National Park


Published On: 02-10-2012 05:13pm

Comments: 0 - Hits: 43

Category: Travel Journal

Zion Canyon Visitor center is open year round. You can view a 22 minute orientation film at the visitor's centers. Shuttle buses are used to transport visitors along the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive where you can access the many trials. No private vehicles are permitted during the Spring or Fall seasons only the park's shuttle buses. You can access the trials by private vehicle during off season. The fee is $25 for seven days for a private vehicle. Or you can buy an Inter-agency Pass for $80 for the year which lets you into all National Parks (note: does not apply to State Parks). For backcountry hiking and camping you must obtain a permit at the visitor center.

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Lodging is available in Springdale just outside the park. They also have shuttle buses running within this town so you can go shopping and eat at restaurants without using you vehicle, or you can walk. You can take the shuttle bus from your hotel and get off at Zion Park and then from there you hop on another shuttle and hit the trials. There are many hotels in Springdale and many tourists so book ahead or you may not find a room. We got lucky and did find a room at the Best Western, they had one room left.

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We used the East Entrance to get into the Park which involved going through the mile long tunnel. I personally did not like the tunnel, it was pitch black and scary, they have no lights in the tunnel, only the occasional window to allow some natural light into the tunnel. On the way out we used the south entrance.

The Virgin River runs along the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, and there a many beautiful trials that you can hike. There is the Zion Lodge right on this road where you can lodge, but have no idea what the price would be. I'm sure it is very expensive.

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Zion is part of the Colorado Plateau. A 130,000 square mile mass of rock, over 10,000 feet above sea level uplifted by geologic forces millions of years ago.  North of Zion, rain falls on the 11,000 foot high Colorado Plateau running down through Zion and creating rivers and streams, and carving out the many canyons in this region. Just above Zion, there are a series of canyons known as The Grand Staircase consisting of the Pink and White Cliffs, and the Vermilion Cliffs. On the top of the Grand Staircase is Bryce Canyon. Just Northwest of Zion (the western edge of the Colorado Plateau) is the Kolob Canyons and Hurricane Cliffs. Below Zion is the Grand Canyon forming the lowest rung of the plateau into which 90 percent of the waters run. The water continues on through the Mojave Desert lands and joins the Colorado River in Lake Mead before completing the journey to the Pacific Ocean.

The word "Zion" was first used by a Mormon settler in the 1860's implies a peaceful or heavenly place. As you can see the photos below confirm this.

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During our stay we had mostly rainy and cloudy days but still these mountains provide a spectacular scenic view. We were in Zion during the month of October.

This photo is taken at the entrance of the Narrows trial. You access this trial via the  Riverside Walk trial. The Narrows is strenuous because the river is the trial. Use some good hiking shoes that are waterproof or use water shoes. Rocks are slippery. Use walking sticks for balance.

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This is called the Emerald Pools accessible via the Emerald Pools Trial. All the trials hiked were accessible via the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive using the Shuttle bus to take us to the trials and take us back to the Visitor's center.

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If you are in Utah, then put Zion National Park on your list of must see.

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