Day 1 - Zion National Park

A Little Bit about Zion National Park

Located in southwestern Utah, 43 miles east of St. George, Zion National Park is Utah’s oldest and most visited national park, annually hosting an average of 4.5 million visitors. The park’s main attraction is Zion Canyon, at its south end, which exhibits stunning rock monoliths and eroded canyon walls cut by the Virgin River over time.

Some of Zion’s most recognized natural wonders are the 2,200-foot Great White Throne, its most famous landmark, the Court of the Patriarchs, Angel’s Landing and the Watchman, which guards its south entrance. Three of the canyon’s most popular trails, providing visitors with breathtaking views of these formations and others, are Emerald Pools, Weeping Rock, and Riverside Walk (also known as “Gateway to the Narrows”). Each year thousands of people flock to Zion to hike the Narrows of the Virgin River, which are so narrow in some places that a hiker can nearly touch both sides of the canyon wall with outstretched hands. The Kolob Canyon section, located in the northwestern part of the park, is home to Kolob Arch, which at 310 feet is the world’s largest known natural span. (Credit: Greaterzion.com)