10 Reasons To Visit Zion National Park

Located in Utah is the famous Zion National Park. It landed third on our list of All 59 National Parks Ranked, and for good reason. This park has a ton of outdoor adventures to embark on and an immense amount of nature to explore.

Embark on this spectacular hike in Zion National Park. Start from the bottom, hike through the Left Fork of North Creek, walk over creeks, climb over boulders, and then finally arrive at this incredible canyon. Make sure you get a Zion backcountry permit before hiking; it is required for all of the hikes through Left Fork/Subway.

There are three campgrounds located inside Zion National Park – South, Watchman and The Lava Point. South and Watchman Campgrounds are located in Zion Canyon, and The Lava Point Campground is approximately a 1-hour drive from Zion Canyon on the Kolob Terrace Road, according to NPS. The campgrounds are usually full by noon on weekdays and mornings on weekends, so make sure you plan your time accordingly.

This is a strenuous uphill 5-mile hike that offers you some of the most incredible views of the Zion Canyon. Stand at the peak and look out to see the Great White Throne, the Virgin River, Big Bend, Cathedral Mountain and Cable Mountain.

This is one of the most popular areas in Zion National Park. The walls within the Narrows are extremely tall and the river can reach 20 to 30 feet wide. Hike the paved Riverside Walk for one mile, from the Temple of Sinawava, to reach The Narrows, or for the best view, hike in the Virgin River.

Hike the Weeping Rock Trailhead to get to Observation Point — a spectacular viewpoint that offers incredible panoramas of Zion National Park. Take the 8-mile round trip Observation Point Trail to view incredible rock formations, the Echo Canyon and gorgeous White Cliffs.

If you have a love for nature and enjoy watching wildlife Zion is the national park for you. It is home to 68 species of mammals — from the petite kangaroo rat to bighorn sheep. NPS says, the most frequent mammal sightings are foxes, mule deer, rock squirrels, bats and bighorn sheep.

The Watchman is a short trail — 3-miles round trip, and should only take you about 1-2 hours. It starts at the Visitor Center and leads to a spectacular viewpoint on top of a layer of cliffs about 300 feet above. From the viewpoint capture sights of the park, including the Visitor Center complex below. The trail is open year-round; however, it is advised to hike it during the spring and fall when the weather is not as hot. 

This was the first official trail in the park that went from the valley floor to summit, but was closed in the late 1960s because it was too steep and dangerous, according to EveryTrail. However, if you are up for the challenge, the backcountry trail is no longer maintained but it can still be followed to the top. A review on EveryTrail said: "Working your way higher along the well-defined trail, you emerge at a prominent point on the mountain. A sharp white stone point creates a fantastic view of the Lodge and valley below. The steps lead higher which allow for a perfect picture moment!"

Take a 5-mile scenic drive along the Kolob Canyons Road to view the crimson canyons and gain access to a variety of trails and viewpoints. "Whether you come to view the panoramic landscape from our scenic drive, hike into one of our majestic canyons, or begin a multi-day adventure into the Zion Wilderness, Kolob Canyons has something special for everyone to experience," NPS says.

Other than the famous Kolob Canyons Road, Zion National Park offers other incredible scenic drives as well. One of which includes the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. It's a winding drive up the canyon and is only accessible by riding the Zion Park Shuttle. See tons of viewpoints alone the way – Court of the Patriarchs, Emerald Pools, Zion Lodge and the Temple of Sinawava, just to name a few.