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Greater Zion Area Trails and Photos

Amazing geography lines the scenic byways and fills the National Parks and Monuments on the east side of Zion National Park. Sculpted sandstone, vermillion cliffs, forests, hoodoos and more grant the photographer a wealth of photo opportunities. Hidden in the depths of some of the most outstanding scenery on earth are magnificent slot canyons. Just past the east entrance of Zion there is a huge share of photogenic opportunities.

East Fork Virgin River Photos

The East Fork of the Virgin River is one of the most incredible places in or near Zion National Park. The trail begins at Checkerboard Mesa inside the park and ends at Mount Carmel Junction on the east side of Zion. It can also be done as an in and back hike and can even include Fat Man's Misery, a fun slot canyon outside of Zion.

Fat Man's Misery Photos
Parunuweap Canyon Photos

East Zion Slot Canyon Photos & Trails

Birch Hollow Photos
Red Hollow Photos
Red Cave Photos
Spring Hollow Photos
Red Canyon  Photos
Meadow Creek - Mineral Gulch Photos

Zion Park Slot Canyons Photos & Trails
Starting outside the east side of the park

Orderville Canyon Photos
Zion Narrows Photos
Englestead Hollow Photos
Canyoneering in Zion

 

Directions to Zion National Park From the North: Travel I-15 south, past Beaver. Exit on Hwy 20. Follow US-89 to Mount Carmel Junction. Take SR-9 to Zion's east entrance. From Arizona: Travel US-89A through Fredonia, Arizona and Kanab Utah. Follow US-89 to Mount Carmel Junction. Take SR-9 to the east park entrance. From the South: Travel I-15 north. Take exit 16 and travel through Hurricane to LaVerkin. Continue on SR-9 to the south entrance of the park. SR-9 through Zion National Park is always open and is also called the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway.			Photo: Tanya Milligan in Water Canyon on the East side of Zion National Park.
	Zion National Park Lodging Lodging and services are available in East Zion. The main road through Zion, the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway (SR-9) is open year-round, and is not a route the Zion Canyon Shuttle takes. Zion Canyon is deep inside the park. Towering 3000' walls form a slot canyon, forged by the violent rush of torrent water over millions of years. From late March to late October access through the six mile stretch of road is via the Zion Canyon Shuttle, the rest of the year the canyon is accessed in private vehicles.

Grand Staircase Escalante Slot Canyons

The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument has an enormous terrain filled with canyons, buttes, terraces and wilderness scenery galore. Travel this arid landscape to some of the most photogenic slot canyons anywhere.

Lick Wash Photos
Willis Creek Photos
Bull Valley Gorge Photos
Round Valley Draw  Photos
Hackberry Canyon Photos

Moquith Mountain Photos

Moquith Mountain is found off US-89 near the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. The area is a haven of slickrock plateaus, vermilion cliffs, drainage's, beautiful canyons and hidden treasures such as the South Fork Indian Pictographs.

S. Fork Indian Canyon Pictographs Photos
Helldive Canyon Pictographs  Photos

Canaan Mountain Photos (Zion Overlook)

The Canaan Mountain trail goes through Water Canyon, over wind swept slick rock, past volcanic rock and white hoodoos, moqui marbles, sand and then climbs to the top of the mountain where white hoodoos reveal a wonderful view of Zion National Park. Hardcore hikers/backpackers might want to continue all the way to the exit at Eagle Crags instead of backtracking once at the windlass.

Canaan Mountain Photos
Canaan Mountain Day Hike
Squirrel Canyon Photos

History of the Thunderbird