Zion National Park

Zions National Park is located in the southwestern part of Utah. The three closest cities are Springdale to the south, Ordervilleto the east, and Cedar City near Kolob Canyons entrance.

The geography in Zions National Park includes mountains, canyons, buttes, mesas, monoliths, rivers, slot canyons, and natural arches. It has something to offer to everyone. There are many species of animals, birds, reptiles, and more.

Originally settled by Native Americans who moved on, the Mormons then settled there. In 1909, President William Howard Taft in order to protect it named it Mukuntuweap National Monument. Then in 1918, the newly created National Park Service director Horace Albright,wrote a proposal that the park be enlarged and the name changed to Zion National Monument. On November 19, 1919, Congress re-allocated the monument as Zion National Park, and the act was signed by President Woodrow Wilson.

The purpose of the park is and has always been to protect the beauty of the land and species for future generations.

Zions National Park has a mild climate. Year round average high temperatures range from 52 degrees F in December to 100 degrees F in July. The average low temperatures range from 29 degrees F in December to 69 degrees F in July.

Spring weather can be a bit unpredictable with stormy rainy days and occasionally sunny warm weather mixed in. Flowers bloom during spring season from April through June and the peak being in May. Fall days are usually clear and mild with autumn foliage peaking in October. Winter brings fairly mild weather to Zions with a mostly rain and mix of light snow. Clear days in winterwill often reach 60 degrees F with night temperatures being 20 to 40 degrees F.

Hiking includes several trails that range from easy to moderate. These trails range from a half hour to two hours round trip to complete. There are two strenuous trails that range between four hours and eight hours round trip to complete. You can find the times and miles in the park newspaper.

All users of the park are required to pay a fee when entering the park. There are different types of passes. The different passes include:

• Private Vehicle: $35. Valid for 7 days 15 passengers or fewer are private
• Motorcycle: $30. Valid for 7 days
• Per Person: $20. Valid for 7 days
• Non-Commercial Organized Groups: Valid for 7 days$35.00 Non-commercial vehicles with a vehicle capacity of 15 or less.$20.00 per person Non-commercial vehicles with a capacity of 16 or greater. These fees will not exceed commercial groups of the same size vehicles.
• Youth 15 and under are free. Pass and photo id is required.

Zions National Park has three campgrounds.

• Watchman Campground is located in Zions National Park and open all year round located near Springdale on the south end. Reservations required
• South Campground is closed in winter located near Springdale on the south end.
• The Lava Point Campground is about a 1-hour drive from Zion Canyon on the Kolob Terrace Road and is closed in winter.

There are also several campgrounds that are just a short drive from the park and those include:

• Zion Canyon Visitors Bureau
• East Zion Tourism Council
• St. George Area Visitor Bureau
• BLM, St. George Field Office
• Kane County, Utah (including Kanab)