Zion National Park

Zion National Park began in 1909 as Mukuntuweap National Monument. It gained national park status 10 years later in 1919. The park - as the name suggests - is a massive sandstone canyon. Actually, it is a series of canyons, some over 2,000 feet deep. While the park entrance and most facilities are on the floor of the canyon, some of the best views are on the trails that ascend to the Colorado Plateau above. Zion is famous for it's slot canyons.

While the park is the oldest national park in Utah, there is evidence that people lived in the area as early as 12,000 years ago. The Anasazi were established in the region about 2,000 years ago. Around 800 years ago, dwindling resources (or so we believe) force the Anasazi onward. Within a few centuries, the Piutte had moved into the region.

With over 2.5 million visitors a year, Zion is the most visited national park in Utah and has shown some of the strain from overuse. The park service has begun to address this issue by banning motorized vehicles from the park, using a propane powered shuttle and building a "sustainable" (an overused term to be sure, but appropriate here) visitors center.

National Park Service Website.


	The Kolob Plateau, a less traveled portion of the park that is easily accessed from I-15. Some of my favorite views are in this area.

	Below are views from inside the park. The two directly below were taken from right outside the tent.



	Left and below were taken from the Ponderosa Ranch. A wonderful place to stay on the plateau above Zion.