Zion National Park
National Parks
Zion National Park Information
| Zion National Park | |
| IUCN Category II (National Park) | |
| Zion National Park Location | Washington, Kane, and Iron counties, Utah, United States |
| Zion National Park Nearest city | Springdale, Utah(south), Orderville, Utah (east) and Cedar City, Utah near Kolob Canyons entrance Nearest city: Springdale, Utah(south), Orderville, Utah (east) and Cedar City, Utah near Kolob Canyons entrance |
| Zion National Park Coordinates | 37°18′0″N 113°3′0″W |
| Zion National Park Area | 146,598 acres (593 km2), 143,035.07 acres (579 km2) federal |
| Zion National Park Established | July 31, 1909 Established: July 31, 1909 |
| Zion National Park Visitors | 2,697,182 (in 2007) |
| Zion National Park Governing body | National Park Service |
Zion National Park Fees & Reservations
- Zion National Park WEEKLY PASSES
- Private Vehicle: $25. Valid for 7 days.
- Motorcycle: $12. Valid for 7 days.
- Per Person: $12. Valid for 7 days.
- Zion National Park NON-COMMERCIAL ORGANIZED GROUPS:
- Non-commercial vehicles (Vehicle capacity of 14 or less) - $25.00
- Non-commercial vehicles (Capacity of 15 or greater) - $12.00 per person
- Zion National Park COMMERCIAL TOURS
- 1-6 Passengers ($35.00 + $12.00 per passenger not to exceed $70.00) - $35.00
- 7-15 Passengers - $70.00
- 16-25 Passengers - $80.00
- 26 and above Passengers - $190.00
Zion National Park Outdoor Activities
- Bicycling
- Birdwatching (207 species of birds)
- Hiking
- Horseback Riding
- Photography
- Ranger-led Activities
- Wildflowers & Fall Colors
Zion National Park Visitor Services and Protection
Visitation: 2,589,250 (2006)
Frontcountry Camping (limited to 14 days)
Watchman Campground: 152 sites (hookups, reservations April-Oct.)
South Campground: 127 sites (no reservations)
Lava Point Campground: 6 sites (primitive, no reservations)
Picnic Areas: 4 (Grotto, Kolob Canyons, Nature Center, Zion Canyon VC)
Backcountry Use (2006)
- Backcountry Camp Sites: 41
- Total Permits issued: 7677
- Overnight Backpacking Permits: 2960
- Technical Canyoneering (Day Use): 4461
- Climbing Bivouacs: 198
Hiking trails: 120 miles
Zion National Park Climate and Weather
Annual Precipitation: 15 inches (Zion Canyon)
Temperature Extremes: Highest: 115 F (July 13, 2002; Zion Canyon)
Lowest: –2 F (January 1, 1989; Zion Canyon)
Zion National Park Geology
| Rock layer | Appearance | Location | Deposition | Rock type |
| Dakota Formation | Cliffs | Top of Horse Ranch Mountain | Streams | Conglomerate and sandstone |
| Carmel Formation | Cliffs | Mt Carmel Junction | Shallow sea and coastal desert | Limestone, sandstone and gypsum |
| Temple Cap Formation | Cliffs | Top of West Temple | Desert | Sandstone |
| Navajo Sandstone | Steep cliffs 1,600 to 2,200 ft (490 to 670 m)
thick; red lower layers are colored by iron oxides |
Tall cliffs of Zion Canyon; highest exposure is West Temple. Cross-bedding shows well at Checkerboard Mesa (photo) | Desert sand dunes covered 150,000 mi2 (390,000 km2).Shifting winds during deposition created cross-bedding | Sandstone |
| Kayenta Formation | Rocky slopes | Throughout canyon | Streams | Siltstone and sandstone |
| Moenave Formation | Slopes and ledges | Lower red cliffs seen from Zion Human History Museum | Streams and ponds | Siltstone and sandstone |
| Chinle Formation | Purplish slopes | Above Rockville | Streams | Shale, loose clay and conglomerate |
| Moenkopi Formation | Chocolate cliffs with white bands | Rocky slopes from Virgin to Rockville | Shallow sea | Shale, siltstone, sandstone, mudstone, and limestone |
| Kaibab Formation | Cliffs | Hurricane Cliffs along I-15 near Kolob Canyons | Shallow sea | Limestone |
Zion National Park Hotels & Lodging
| Name | Neighborhood |
|---|---|
| Best Western East Zion Thunderbird Lodge | Near the East Entrance |
| Canyon Ranch Motel | Outside the Park |
| El Rio Lodge in Zion Canyon | Outside the Park |
| Golden Hills Motel | Near the East Entrance |
| Mukuntuweep RV Park & Campground | Near the East Entrance |
| Zion Park Motel | Outside the Park |
| Best Western Zion Park Inn | Outside the Park |
| Cliffrose Lodge & Gardens | Outside the Park |
| Desert Pearl Inn | Outside the Park |
| Driftwood Lodge | Outside the Park |
| Flanigan's Inn | Outside the Park |
| Harvest House Bed & Breakfast at Zion | Outside the Park |
| Historic Pioneer Lodge and Restaurant | Outside the Park |
| Under the Eaves Inn | Outside the Park |
| Zion Lodge | In the Park |
| Zion Mountain Resort | Near the East Entrance |
| Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort | Near the East Entrance |
