The name “Zion” means “Promised Land,” and this alone evokes the significance of the National Park. Zion is constantly changing and transforming due to the erosive powers of water, similar to four of the other five National Parks in southern Utah.
The cliffs of Zion stand proud with a glowing presence, especially in the afternoon, as the landscape below constantly changes. The water of the Virgin River runs calmly through the center of Zion, waiting for the right moment to roar to life. Flash floods rush through the narrow canyon shaping, forming, and driving its way through in search of the open air of the Pacific.
The landscape of this wonderful place is constantly changing, multiplying with each slope, mesa, and soil type. At any second there can be a change in the precipitation and temperature, or both. The addition of the local species from the nearby ecosystems helps to influence Zion, since they are all fine-tuned to the desert environment.
North of Zion, rains fall on the 11,000-foot-high Colorado Plateau, flooding downhill toward Zion’s relatively soft rock layers. The flooding waters push all the debris off the Plateau’s southern edge carving the beautiful canyon known today as Zion.
People have occupied this landscape for thousands of years. The first known communities were the Ancestral Puebloans. Unfortunately drought, resource depletion, and migrations decreased their dominance. The Southern Paiute peoples followed bringing traditions more suited to the harsh desert climate.
In the 1860’s westward expansion brought the early Mormon pioneers, who built small communities while farming the river terraces. These early settlers managed to tolerate and endure in the harsh landscape, where drought burned crops and flashfloods washed away towns.
I was able to spend about half a day here. I drove through the scenic east entrance through Mount Caramel, bringing me straight to the visitor’s center. The visitor’s center is where I was able to find all information pertaining to the park, including the hikes offered in Zion.
The scenic drive for, Zion National, is only accessible via the visitor’s center shuttle. The National Park Service allocates 12,000 free shuttle tickets at 3pm each day. If you want to take a bus before 3 pm then all you have to do is make a $1 reservation through www.recreation.gov.
Hiking Within the Depths of Zion
There are two hiking trails accessible from the visitor center; one that is easy, the Pa’rus Trail, and another that rates as moderate, the Watchman Trail. The Watchman trail was a 2-hour, 3.3-mile, round trip hike. The entire trail offers sweeping views of lower Zion Canyon, the small town of Springdale, and the Towers of the Virgin.
Inside the upper canyon, were many more hiking trails that range from easy all the way through strenuous. In one half day I was able to complete just about every easy and moderate trail that Zion had to offer. I was able to soak in as much as possible after arriving, as late as noon.
If time allows the most rewarding hikes in Zion are the two strenuous climbs, Angels Landing and the Narrows. Both of these hikes need sufficient planning, as they’re not for the feint of heart. Angels Landing checks in at 5.4 miles, whereas the Narrows registers in at 9.4 miles respectively.
I would like to take this moment to mention that any hiking in the Zion Canyon should be thoroughly researched. The soaring heat and the sudden flash floods can put any experienced hiker in a life-threatening position, one that could be easily avoided with the proper planning.
Zion National Park is considered the gem of Utah, and boy did it live up to the reputation. Although, it wasn’t my favorite National Park, in the state, it still registers at a close second.
I spent the week before my visit, hiking five other National Parks during the day. I’d spend the evenings driving to the next National Park, usually finishing up the drive during early morning hours. By the time I’d arrived in Zion I was exhausted. I had sore and achy muscles that cried for some yoga.
The exhaustion and muscle fatigue kept me from exploring the two trails I’d most wanted to climb most. I managed to crush out 12 miles in my half day, albeit it wasn’t easy. I will definitely be back, especially due to having missed out on the two best hikes that I’ve been wanting to complete. I’d highly recommend exploring Zion with at least two or three days available. That away you don’t have to miss out like me.
