Zion National Park is located in Southwest Utah (approximately 150 miles from Vegas). The elevation ranges from 4,000ft.-9200ft and is 229 square miles or (147,551 acres) large. The park consists of many animals and different species such as 75 mammals, 271 birds, 32 reptiles and amphibians, and 8 fish. What separates Zion National from any other National Park is the amazing views and scenes and how the park was created. This National Park was created by millions of years of the forces of nature.
The Narrows of Zion National Park is one of the many amazing things this park has to offer. The water seen in the photo above is the water of the Virgin River, which flows through the Narrows of Zion National Park. The Narrows was easily named due to the narrow walls of which the river flows through. There is only one way to explore this part of the park, and that is to walk through the river which in some areas the water depth is up to four feet so you must be very careful in doing so.
Zion Canyon(seen in the photo below) is another one of the major attractions in this park. It is 15 miles (24km) long, and reaches extreme elevations. With its breath taking views and hiking trails weaving all a round, this is one thing in this park that you have got to see!!!
Kolob Canyon (seen below) is another amazing canyon in this park. Kolob canyon has the highest peak of the park (9,200) feet. Originally it wasn't part of the park but in 1956 Kolob Canyon became an addition to Zion National Park.
Other Facts on Zion National Park:
- Of the 271 different birds in the park some of them are the roadrunner, golden eagles, and red tail hawks.
- The Park consists of 32 reptiles, the most commonly seen are lizards and several different types of snakes.
- There are 75 mammals in the park, two of the larger mammals are the mule deer and the mountain lion (which is rarely seen) and some of the smaller mammals are ring tails, skunks, and chipmunks.
- The park was originally named Mukuntuweap National Park in 1909 but changed to Zion National Park in 1918.
- The word Zion is an ancient Hebrew word meaning a place of refuge or sanctuary.
- Some activities the park offers is hiking, sight seeing, and walking through the Virgin River
