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Zion National Park
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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

Flora of Zion National Park

Many plant species exist in Zion

Almost eight-hundred native species of plant life are found in the various zones of Zion National Park. Like many National Parks, Zion struggles to keep its native plants alive and thriving. Zion is the most visited National Park in Utah and the millions of visitors each year impact the habitats of the park's flora. Zion has its own nursery and greenhouse where it grows native plants that are used to replenish areas where the species have been destroyed. Hikers straying off the trails are a main factor in habitat destruction. The park uses a sophisticated database to keep track of the seeds sown and to ensure that native flora is planted back in its natural habitat. Foxtail and Rip-gut are two non-native grasses that create havoc in the park. Rip-gut has sharp edges and can harm animals that eat it. These unwanted grasses grow in many areas of Zion National Park where the land has been disturbed. Look for grass in clumps within the boundaries of the park, this is the native species of grass that is welcome. The control of Tamarisk is another problem. It was brought into the US to control erosion, and it works well, but it is taking over the habitat of native species. Native cottonwood trees, which help control erosion, are planted along the Virgin River banks in Zion Canyon where the Tamarisk was removed.

Just like the wildlife in Zion National Park, the plant life changes as elevation changes. At about 5000' the Pinions and Juniper forests dominate. Moving higher, Pine and Oak trees are abundant. If we were to look at an even higher elevation we would see Fir and Aspen trees and trekking up even more, the Spruce and Fir become abundant.

The evergreens, Juniper and Pine, are widespread throughout Zion National Park. The Juniper has a bluish berry-like fruit which takes two years to mature and the bark is fibrous and easily peels off its base. The early settlers made use of the easily frayed material for things like diapers, bedding, thread and needle and even skirts. The Single-leaf Pinon is the common Pine seen on the rocky cliff sides in Zion National Park.

To live in the harsh desert environment of Zion a plant must be persistent and adapt to the hot summers and cold winters. Hiking many of the trails in Zion National Park involve a change in elevation allowing the hiker to experience many different micro-environments or natural life zones. Many of the plants in the park have adapted to the hot desert by forming deep, long roots, while others survive as perennials.

Plants, like animals have adapted to the hot desert climate of Zion National Park. The Cactus is a good example of how a plant is able to hoard water for survival. The shallow, wide root system of the cactus enables the plant to soak up rainwater efficiently and the sharp spines help the leaves to conserve water by minimizing transpiration. The tall-bladed Yucca cactus has adapted to its environment by channeling water to its roots. In addition, the thick wax coat of the cactus discourages evaporation. Sweet Prickly Pear jelly is made from the flower of the Prickly Pear Cactus and is found in many shops around Zion National Park. Cactus are common in Zion National Park, they include the Prickly Pear, the Claret Cup Cactus and the Purple Torch which is named after it's dark purple trumpet shaped flowers.

The Sacred Datura is a common sight in Zion. The Datura has hallucinogenic qualities used by the ancient Indians that visited the Zion National Park area. Ancient Indians ground up parts of the Datura and used the hallucinogen in male puberty rituals. Their reaction would tell the tribe if the child would have a long life or not. Avoid touching the Datura or Poison Ivy, since some people have severe allergic reactions to them. That would make for a very unpleasant experience and ruin a vacation. The Sacred Datura plant has large white trumpet shaped flowers that close in the hottest parts of the day. The plant thrives in dry lower elevations of Zion National Park and is seen all along the east section of the parks as well as in Zion Canyon.

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For all the way up the long red slate slopes, that in the distance seemed barren, you find little garden beds and tufts of dwarf phlox, ivesia, and blue arctic daisies that go straight to your heart, blessed fellow mountaineers kept safe and warm by a thousand miracles. -- John Muir Photo: Pine Creek Waterfall © Photography by Tanya

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