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The Ultimate Southwest Vacation includes Zion National Park, Utah!

Stay in Mount Carmel Junction, the heart of the parks, and visit the treasures of the Southwest.

Zion Park 12 miles
Grand Staircase 9 miles
Sand Dunes 11 miles
Dixie Forest 22 miles
Cedar Breaks 45 miles
Red Canyon 47 miles
Coyote Butte 57 miles
Bryce Canyon 60 miles
North Rim 85 miles
Toroweap 90 miles

In these pages you will find insiders information on Zion National Park lodging, adventures and hikes. This detailed guide includes road maps, park maps, pictures, trail beta, backpacking, history, fees, geology, flora, fauna, campgrounds, things for kids to do and even information on Zion's hidden treasures.

Making summer memories in the Utah National Parks and National Monuments.

Utah!

Zion National Park Map

Directions to Zion National Park
From Salt Lake City: Travel I-15 south, past Beaver. Exit on Hwy 20. Follow US-89 to Mount Carmel Junction. Take U-9 to Zion's east entrance.
From Arizona: Travel 89A through Fredonia, Arizona and Kanab Utah. Follow US-89 to to Mount Carmel Junction. Take U-9 to the east park entrance.
From Las Vegas: Travel I-15 north. Take exit 16 and travel through Hurricane. Make a right on U-9 at the second traffic light in LaVerkin. Continue on U-9 to the south entrance of the park. U-9 through Zion National Park is always open and is also called the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway.

Oversized Vehicle Information
Zion Canyon Shuttle Information

The east side of Zion National Park is home to magnificent slots canyons such as Red Cave.

Zion Slot Pictures
East Zion Pictures

Shane Burrows is one of the first to explore and record many of the technical slot canyons in Utah. His guide is an excellent recourse for canyoneering in Moab, Capital Reef, Cedar Mesa, Escalante Canyons, Lake Powell, Robbers Roost, San Rafael Swell, Wasatch Mountains and of course Zion National Park.

Utah Canyoneering
Climb Utah Store
Zion Canyoneering Book

What is a Slot Canyon?

Imagine sand dunes, violently blowing and twisting in the wind, over 170 million years ago. Time passed as sedimentary rock was eroded away, slowly, by violent storms, floods and wind pounding the stone, carving twisted canyons into works of art. Thus, the narrow crevices we call slot canyons were formed. Whirled striations forged into soft rock. Like an artist's brush on a palate, color was painted on the sandstone walls. The result is a hikers paradise of almost claustrophobic caverns, twisting and turning, often allowing only a glitter of glowing light into its depths.

Where can I find the Slot Canyons?

Utah has the densest population of slot canyons in the world, due to the eroding soft sandstone found in the state. Although most people have heard of two or three slot canyons, there are actually over one-thousand slot canyons south of Highway I70 alone. Outside of Southern Utah however, slot canyons are a rare find.

Twisting, turning, tempting slot canyons filled with pot holes of ice cold water and mysterious lighting are found throughout Zion National Park.

The Southwest had endured a drought that lasted several years, leaving scoured sandstone slot canyons easy to explore without wading and swimming through the narrow slots. The polished rock and green level of vegetation gave away secrets of days when the slot canyons had waist deep water to plunge through. With signs of the drought ending those deep water plunges might again become common.

The canyon's twisting wind- and water-carved walls, deep red and stained by desert varnish, shut out the outside world. Most slot canyons require at least a scramble over boulders, between crevices and through water.

Utah Canyoneering  Climb Utah Store 
Zion Canyoneering Book

Zion Narrows
The granddaddy of the slot canyons reveals over eighteen-million years of geological history in it's caverns. The Zion Narrows is on a National Geographic list as the fifth best adventure in the US.

Echo Canyon
This is an enchanting slot canyon hidden in the heart of Zion Canyon. When the slot canyon is dry, it's a moderate hike with some bouldering.

The Mount Carmel area (East Zion) is home to six Incredible slot canyons. See the East Zion Tour Guide for jeep tours into Red Cave and Red Canyon or visit the slot canyons on your own.

Red Cave - Two Semi-Technical slot canyon. No ropes are usually required, but someone in the group needs to have good climbing skills. There are two slot canyons. The upper fork and the lower fork.

Red Canyon - a rugged 4WD trip is needed to get there through soft sand but it takes you right to the canyon door.  The slot itself is an easy stroll.

Meadow Creek to Mineral Gulch - This is a long day hike, but the slot section is outstanding. To top it off there are arches, caves and petroglyphs to see as well.

Red Hollow - A short hike through a wonderful hollow ending at an impossibly narrow slot. When the water is running the waterfall is fantastic and the stemming is a blast.

Spring Hollow - Spring Hollow is a nice little slot canyon located in Glendale, just six miles from Mt. Carmel Jct. The slot canyon ends in a sandy little play area. The intermittent waterfall at the end of the slot canyon is wonderful and there are indian petroglyphs along this hike. The entrance to the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is also in Glendale, Utah which leads to more slot canyons.

Lick Wash Slot Canyon - Lick Wash is an enjoyable slot canyon trail that families can enjoy together. The path has few elevation changes and the canyon walls offer shade and a host of cubby holes for kids to play in.

Willis Creek Slot Canyon - Willis Creek is similar to the Lick Wash slot but it has a tiny stream of water flowing through it.

Bull Valley Gorge Slot Canyon - Semi-technical slot canyon near Lick Wash and Willis Creek in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

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Zion National Park

Zion National Park - UTAH!

We use the word wilderness, but perhaps we mean wildness. Isn't that why I've come here? In wilderness I seek the wildness in myself and in so doing come on the wildness everywhere around me. Because, after all, being part of nature I'm cut from the same cloth. -- Gretel Ehrlich Photo: Pine Creek Waterfall © Photography by Tanya

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