The national park in Zion is nearly a hundred years old, having been set aside as a national park in 1909.  The area has long been recognized as being something special, however, dating back to the early Mormon settlers of the region.

Zion National Park is centered upon Zion Canyon, a spectacular 15 mile stretch of canyon ending in the Zion Narrows, where the canyon walls come closely together and nearly touching for an amazing if not claustrophobic experience.  While hiking the Narrows can be the most exciting part of your trip to Zion, it can also be the most dangerous.  Flash floods can come without warning in the Narrows, and with such little room to maneuver they can be deadly.  Always check in with local guides before braving the depths of the Narrows.

Although the canyon is certainly the feature attraction of Zion National Park, it is hardly the only thing to see in the 229 square mile park.  Everywhere you turn in the park you experience the enormous beauty of the place, from the temples of Zion and Zion towers to the massive amounts of wildlife that call Zion their home.

You might wonder why the mountains and mesas would be called towers and temples of Zion, but when you see them for yourself you will wonder no more.  The magnificent mesas with their rich and many colors appear to truly be temples of Zion, placed upon the earth by God himself.  The peaks rise above the landscape in awe-inspiring glory, true Zion towers.

Throughout the park there are over 30 miles worth of hiking trails.  Bicyclists can also find trails in the park, where they can experience the magnificent canyon and temples of Zion from their bicycle on the approved Pa'rus trail as well as the many roads that wind their way through the park.  Bicyclists should be warned that there is no bicycling on the hiking trails.

For campers looking to spend time among the temples of Zion and the Zion towers, there are three separate campgrounds in Zion National Park.  The two major campgrounds are South and Watchman.  South is open year round while Watchman is open only half of the year, March through November.  The third campground is limited and provides the most primitive of camping.  There are only six sites and no water is provided for campers there.  Sites are available on a first come first serve basis.

Prices are $16 a tent a night.  For camp sites along the river, prices go to $20 a night per tent.  If you want electricity it is $18 a night.  For groups not expecting to use the facilities for showers the price is $3 a night per person.  There are no RV hookups at any of the campgrounds in the park.

Visiting Zion National Park you will find an amazing place unlike anything you have ever seen before.  Although not as vast as the Grand Canyon, it has a unique beauty all its own.  The temples of Zion rise beautifully in the distance throughout the park, and as you explore the brilliant wilderness you will not wonder that the earliest explorers of the region so powerfully felt the presence of God and named the area accordingly.