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 video shows, it’s the striking visuals of the canyon that makes Zion so special: A hike like the one I took along the West Rim Trail is unforgettable primarily because of the views. Add in the park’s other natural features like slot canyons, and you begin to understand why millions flock to Zion every year after flying into the nearby cities of Las Vegas (~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 trail leading to 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 around. 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.
– Click to view my high-resolution photo collection of images 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 Yosemite National Park.