Zion National Park is nature’s grand spectacle waiting to be explored. Located in Utah in the USA, the park is a sanctuary of dramatic and colourful landscapes and abundant wildlife within its 229 square miles of area. The greatness of Zion National Park comes from its numerous varying landscapes including spectacular mesas, monolithic cliffs, steep canyons, the world’s largest arch – Kolob Arch, lush forests and the wild Virgin River. Lush with amazing wilderness, it is home to around 290 species of birds and 120 species of animals.
Outdoor Activities
There is a plethora of outdoor adventures that can be enjoyed with the help of local, skilled guides and instructors at the Zion National Park.
Travellers can opt for helicopter tours of the park to enjoy breathtaking sceneries of colourful cliffs and dramatic geological formations.
Horseback riding excursions are quite popular at the park. These excursions range from half an hour to half a day long and are said to be one of the best ways to experience the park’s beauty.
Hiking is a popular activity here. The park offers some well-marked hiking trails for both beginners as well as advanced hikers. Hikers can choose from short nature walks to thrilling trails overlooking canyons, which lead to high plateaus through the Virgin River.
The varied and grand landscape of the park makes bike riding a pleasant experience. Many visitors prefer bike rides up the canyon to experience all the beauty of the park.
Rock climbing is one of the top reasons for visiting the park. It offers plenty of towering cliffs, deep canyons and rocky knolls to challenge adventurous rock climbers.
Canyoneering or canyoning is another favourite sport here. Also known as the ‘mecca of canyoneering’, the park offers different types of extreme elevations and vast types of rock formations to challenge every level of climber.
Bird watching and animal spotting are popular outdoor activities at the park. It has over 200 species of birds, including the Peregrine falcon, the bald eagle, the California condor and the Mexican spotted owl.
Other Major Attractions
Zion National Park is not just a place for adventure seekers and nature lovers. Travellers can spend time at attractions around the park as well, such as the Zion Canyon Theatre, which shows movies about the park’s origins and history in one of the world’s largest six-storey giant screens. Travellers can visit the nearby Tuacahn Amphitheater, which conducts professional Broadway style shows amidst memorable settings. There are many museums and galleries around the park, such as LaFave Gallery and Worthington Gallery. Enjoy the hip, emerging nightlife of St. George, which is close to the park, and experience its ‘George Streetfest’ and ‘George Jazz Garden’ festivals among others.
Dining
There are many restaurants to choose from outside the national park in the nearby areas of Springdale, St. George, Cedar City or Mt. Carmel.
