Totaling over 200 square miles (322 kms) in southwestern Utah, Zion National Park is a veritable playground for outdoor enthusiasts, offering world-class hiking, rock climbing, and camping opportunities. It’s the park’s signature canyon, however, that sets it apart from most other landscapes in the American West.
Zion Canyon runs for around 15 breathtaking miles (24.1 kms), carving a chasmic, picturesque gash through red sandstone. As my above video of the West Rim Trail shows, it’s the canyon’s striking visuals that make Zion so special. Factoring in the park’s other natural features like slot canyons, it’s no surprise that millions flock to Zion every year after flying into the nearby cities of Las Vegas, NV, (~2 hours away) and Salt Lake City (3 1/2 hours away).
Perhaps Zion’s most famous landmark is Angels Landing, a canyon overlook that’s accessible by the West Rim Trail. My video shows me on return from the landing. Due to the incredibly steep and narrow approach, it’s considered by many to be one of the world’s most dangerous treks. The National Park Service recently changed its access policy for Angels Landing: Only hikers holding a special permit are allowed on the trail.
While Angels Landing may now have exclusive admission, Zion National Park is open to everyone year-round. Entrance passes range in price from $20 USD per person to $35 USD per private vehicle. The park’s well-organized bus system does a fabulous job of expediently shepherding the large number of daily tourists to the canyon’s points of interest.
Related Content
– Click to view my high-resolution photo collection from Zion National Park.
– Click to read my short story “Spirit in the Sky” about a life-changing encounter with a hawk in the forests of North Alabama.
– Click to view my high-resolution photo collection of images from Grand Canyon National Park.