Zion National Park is Utah’s first national park. It was established on November 19, 1919. The park is known for its canyons and sandstone cliffs, and it sits in the country reached from the Heritage Area’s Under the Rim district.
History of Zion National Park
The area now known as Zion National Park was first identified as a national monument by Presidential Executive Order in 1909, under the name Mukuntuweap National Monument. On March 18, 1918, it was incorporated into Zion National Monument. The park received its current designation as Zion National Park on November 19, 1919.
Park Features and Landscape
The park covers 232 square miles. More than 100 miles of wilderness trails, and 15 miles of paved trails. Unlike the Grand Canyon, which you usually see from the rim, Zion is seen from the canyon floor looking up.
The Virgin River cut Zion Canyon through Navajo sandstone. Flowing water shaped the canyon over about a million years, through old desert dunes that rise more than 2,000 feet.
How to get there
The Utah State Road Commission built the early roads and worked with Union Pacific on rail, auto links, and tourist facilities. Today Highway 89 connects the Under the Rim towns to the park. Use the Travel Planner, Tours, and the parks hub.
Entrance fees are set by the National Park Service. Confirm current details on our Zion National Park page or the official NPS site. Park information: (435) 772-3256.