Zion National Park, situated in Utah is a home to various natural wonders such as sandstone cliffs, canyons, trails, the Virgin River, and so on. It consists of lush green vegetation, scenic landscapes, riverside walks, and canyons all over the place. However, it is primarily called a canyon because of the massive Virgin River and its tributaries which have contributed to soil erosion for millions of years now.
The Zion National Park experiences various natural occurrences over millions of years such as rock layering, weathering, uplifting and downcutting, and river erosion due to its canyonic nature. With the inclusion of various trails (beginner, medium, and strenuous difficulty levels), sandstone cliffs, panoramic landscapes, and many other factors, it is the topmost tour locations for visitors worldwide.
Location of the Zion National Park –
The exact location of the Zion National Park is from the southwestern Utah and close to the Springdale town. Its highlighting point is that it lies at the meeting point or junction of 3 major regions namely Great Basin, Mojave Desert and Colorado Plateau.
Zion National Park covers approximately 229 square miles (or 24 kilometers) of area under its shade. All the high plateaus, canyons, cliffs, diverse landscapes, and lush green vegetation present in the park is covered under this area.
Top 10 best Zones in Zion National park:
The 10 best zones in Zion National Park include Virgin River, Zion Canyon, Observation Point, Angels Landing Trail, The Narrows, Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel, The Watchman Trail, West Rim Trail, Court of Patriarchs, and Zion Canyon Scenic Drive.
Virgin River: The origin point of the Virgin River, the lifeline of the whole Zion National Park, is from the Markagunt Plateau. From this point, it flows through various natural wonders of the national park such as Zion Canyon, The Narrows, Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, and so on. The flow of the Virgin River keeps changing with varied weather conditions, shape of landscapes, and strong flash floods & this makes it an irreplaceable part of the Zion.
Zion Canyon: Zion Canyon is said to be the heart or core of the whole Zion National Park. This is because it encloses numerous natural wonders such as trails, lush vegetation, sandstone cliffs, and other adventurous wonders of the national park in itself. It encloses Virgin River, Angels Landing Trail, Riverside Walk, and Zion Canyon Scenic Drive inside its well-structured canyon walls.
Observation Point: For the most beautiful and panoramic views, visiting the Observation Point benefits a lot. Reaching this point needs completing a strenuous hike but once hikers reach the point, captivating views of the complete Zion Canyon can be achieved.
Angels Landing Trail: As another amazing zone of Zion National Park, Angels Landing Trail consists of numerous adventurous and thrilling hikes. It starts very steadily along the West Rim Trail, keeping ascending slowly towards Refrigerator Canyon & Walter’s Wiggles, and reaches the Scout Lookout with the same steady ascend.
The Narrows: To hike the Narrows, visitors either have to wade or swim through the Virgin River to get to the slot canyons surrounding all over the location. The Narrows can be hiked by 2 main ways, i.e., the Bottom Up approach and Top Down approach and for both of them, permits are compulsory.
Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel: Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel is a connecting point between the Zion Canyon and the Zion National Park. The total width of the tunnel is very narrow and that is why giant vehicles need to strictly follow and adopt the traffic control measures.
The Watchman Trail: The distance of the Watchman Trail is comparatively shorter than the other trails of the Zion National Park but it can give an effective sneak-peak into various natural wonders of the park. These wonders include Springdale town, Zion Canyon Visitor Center, Zion Canyon, Virgin River, etc. This trail is a great choice for those who want to enjoy photogenic landscapes going through very strenuous hikes.
West Rim Trail: West Rim Trail is one of the most strenuous and lengthiest hikes of the Zion National Park. It begins at the Grotto Trailhead, overlaps Angels Landing Trail, includes Walter’s Wiggles and Refrigerator Canyon, and continues its high elevations ahead.
Court of Patriarchs: The Court of Patriarchs of the Zion National Park is a group of 3 sandstone cliffs combined together. These sandstone cliffs have their names after some biblical figures and are called Jacob, Abraham, and Issac respectively. These 3 cliffs don’t have a specific access or starting point, but can be viewed throughout the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive and are very photo-friendly-natured.
Zion Canyon Scenic Drive: The Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is also called “the main artery through Zion Canyon”. It covers panoramic views of all the surrounding cliffs, is a starting or accessing point for many trailheads, and is greatly accessible itself, even during peak seasons.
Where to stay in Zion National Park?
Zion National Park has a lot of options like hotels, motels, restaurants, vacation houses, and lodges for a comfortable stay during travel. Tourists who want to have a homely experience should opt for condos, cabins, private rooms, or even bungalow houses. Prebooking is a must during peak seasons, to avoid last moment hussle.
Why a Tour to Zion National Park?
Any tour is incomplete without sightseeing and performing adventurous activities. Zion National park is a natural hub for both adventure and enchanting views. Apart from this you will have an opportunity to experience some other things like Experiencing the thrill of nature, creating a life long memory, A great opportunity for photography and video, Reaching to Remote Areas, Increment in Knowledgeable Insights.
Experiencing the Power and Thrill of Nature
In today’s busy and fast-running life, we always forget to embrace the nature that we live in. But you can make use of your tour to Zion National Park and experience the power & thrill that nature showers. Hikers experience the most advantage as they can reach higher peaks and see the beauty of nature in close-ups.
Creating Lifelong Memories
Memories that are created during adventurous tours are remembered lifelong. Without these beautiful memories, there would be nothing to remember in the later years. That is why going on group tours, making new friends, and enjoying the rest of your life is worth it.
A great opportunity for photography and video
Being able to take photos and videos with as much time as you want is what every photo enthusiast needs. You are going to experience this in Zion National park.
Increment in Knowledgeable Insights
One experienced and knowledgeable guide provides valuable insights mixed with their fascinating stories, historical facts, and ecological information about the unique features of Zion.
5 best things to in Zion National Park
Zion National Park is the most visited place for adventure enthusiasts to feel their adrenalin rush. 5 best things to do in Zion national park include canyoning, observing diverse wildlife, photography and video, hiking and camping.
Canyoning: Canyoning is a very unique activity in Zion National Park. The thrill of descending through the narrow canyons, rappelling down waterfalls, and swimming pools in pristine can be experienced during this fun and exciting activity.
Observing Diverse Wildlife: Zion National Park has a very rich and diverse wildlife like rock squirrels, desert bighorn sheep, ringtail cats, mule deer, etc… This place is a habitat for reptiles & amphibians like collared lizards, desert tortoises, & canyon tree frogs, and birds like California Condor, black-throated gray warbler, and peregrine falcon.
Photo and Videography: Zion national park photos and videos will help you protect your beautiful memories lifelong. This is a special activity when you can trace out the rare places which can only be known by tour guides and locals.
Hiking: Through hiking, one can explore a variety of trails, from easy walks to strenuous hikes. This offers diverse landscapes and stunning views. Some famous trails in Zion national park include Angels landing, the Narrows, Zion canyon overlook trail and the watchman.
Camping: Immerse yourself in nature by camping under the stars in campsites to experience the thrill and power of nature at night. You can experience group activities such as singing, dancing, games, etc….
5 Things to Avoid during Zion National Park Tour
- Not to feed wildlife as it can harm them and disrupt their natural behavior.
- Keep the park clean and beautiful by disposing of the waste properly and at the right place.
- Hike with a partner or in a group, especially on more challenging trails.
- You should always be prepared for all kinds of weather conditions or any sudden weather attacks such as floods, etc.
- Don’t pick any wildflowers and damage the flora of the park. Also, don’t damage the wildlife and vegetation of the place at all.
