Destinations / The best touristic attractions in Utah, USA / Zion National Park

  Zion National Park is located in the southwestern part of Utah and is considered to be the most beloved tourist destinations. Zion National Park is one of the most sacred and most charming areas in Utah. The park was established on July 31, 1909 and is considered to be the Utah’s oldest National Park. Because of its beauty and picturesque places, here comes over 3 million visitors per year.  The park is known in entire state and also in entire world for its gorgeous red canyons, towering cliffs, mesas, buttes and massive monoliths. Also, the park is known for its desert landscape and high plateaus. Here, visitors can walk around on the canyon floor and look up, rather than looking down. This is one of the main reasons that this park is the most visited from Utah. This park provides opportunities for activities such as biking, hiking and outfitters, rock climbing or canyoneering, camping, horseback riding, jeep tours, Sky diving, Photography.

  The main attraction in Zion National Park is: Zion Canyon, Kolob Canyons, Kolob Terrace, and Highway 9.  Those are the main areas where have embedded a large number of tourist attractions. Most park facilities are located in the Zion Canyon area, and it attracts the most visitors.
  The Zion Canyon area is the main destination for most of the tourists. Is a deep and narrow gorge in southwestern Utah and is carved by the North Fork of the Virgin River.  Still nowadays, the strong winds continue to sculpt the canyon walls, creating natural arches. The canyon is very long and is the perfect place for adventurous visitors. The Canyon runs through the Narrows, riparian zones, and pine Creeks.  Zion Canyon Drive and Zion-Mount Carmel Highway are the two major roads throughout the canyon. The main features here are: The Grotto- Angels landing and West Rim Trailhead - one of the most spectacular hikes in Zion begins here; Weeping Rock- Observation Point Trailhead- an alcove cut by water into the cliff, also one of the more popular trails in Zion Canyon; Big Bend- The Organ; Temple of Sinawava; Riverside Walk; The Narrows- one of the world's best canyon hikes.

  The Kolob Canyon area is known for its spectacular finger canyons. Compared with Zion Canyon, this region is much smaller but offers a picturesque view of soaring cliffs of red Navajo sandstone and deep pocket canyons. The Kolob Canyon has magnificent surroundings and a unique geological history. Also,  a lot of people come here to see the incredible animal and plant life. Mule deer can be seen in winter grazing along the hillsides, rock squirrels and jack rabbits are commonly seen scampering the bushes in the summer. Ravens, blue scrub jay, red tail hawks, golden eagles and an occasional bald eagle can be seen soaring the skies over Kolob.  The main attractions in this canyon are:  Middle Fork of Taylor Creek and Kolob Arch.
  The Kolob Terrace area is also a beautiful region and is known for its unique features. Here you can find the famous Subway semi-technical slot canyon route, along with other stunning routes like the Right Fork of North Creek. In the Subway you can see a big number of spectacular cascades and waterfalls. Most canyoneers hike this canyon from top down.

  Even if it is a desert region, this area can be proud of a wide variety of plant life, because the unique geology has created diverse environments such as deserts, canyons, slickrock, hanging gardens, riparian, and high plateaus. There are many beautiful wildflowers and a diversity of plant communities, supporting more than 900 species of plants.  Visitors are frequently astonished by the relative lushness found in Zion Canyon. The riparian area of the Virgin River supports huge cottonwood trees and a diversity of herbaceous plants and grasses. Water seeping out of the Navajo sandstone creates tranquil springs and the unique “hanging gardens” for which Zion is famous, full of ferns and mosses. There also can be seen arid Grasslands and Desert Shrubs;  Pinyon-Juniper Forest - a desert forest full of life; Ponderosa Pine- These massive trees push powerful roots into the Navajo Sandstone, adding to the slow process of erosion that is constantly changing the face of Zion; Mixed Conifer and Aspen Forest.  There are also seen a great number of animals, birds, lizards, and various insects. These plants and animals make the desert community more magnificent and pleasure visitors with their wild beauty and brilliant color.
 

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Maps of Zion National Park