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Zion National Park Landmarks

Landmarks rise sharply from the steppe within the boundaries of Utah's most visited park, Zion National Park. Extraordinary columns of vertical rock, formed millions of years ago, provide today's brilliant display of sandstone. Early pioneers gave biblical names to many of Zion's great monoliths. The names Angels Landing, Great White Throne, Three Patriarchs, Cathedral Mountain, West Temple, East Temple, Altar of Sacrifice and the Temple of Sinawava are all reminders of Zion's early beginnings. In 1918 the existing name of Mukuntuweap National Monument was changed to Zion National Monument. A year later the Monument was proclaimed a National Park.

Great White Throne - The Great White Throne is an impressive monolith rising more than 2400 feet above the canyon floor. The Zion Canyon Shuttle stops at a viewpoint for the Great White Throne and the nearby Organ. There are no trails to the top of it, but the magnificent white topped monolith is perhaps the most famous of all Zion's landmarks. Even historic brochures often used a photo of it as the cover. W. H. W. Evans was the first to climb the Great White Throne. The attempt was made on June 27, 1927, but he fell on the climb down. Hidden Canyon was discovered during the rescue and as a result the East Rim Trail leading to Hidden Canyon was built. The name, Great White Throne, was given by the same Methodist minister, Frederick Fisher, that also named Angels Landing and the Three Patriarchs. Fisher felt that the monolith was magnificent enough to symbolize the throne of God.  Elevation: 6744 feet.                

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.			Zion Photo: Author of the site, Tanya Milligan on Observation Point, where many of Zion's most famous landmarks can be seen including Angels Landing, Cathedral Mountain, Castle Dome, Three Patriarchs, Cable Mountain, Great White Throne, and the Watchman.
	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.

Cathedral Mountain

West Temple - The Spry Canyon route leads to a wonderful view of the West Temple and the "horse head" on its face. The horse head is seen when driving along the south side of the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel, going toward the tunnel. The towering West Temple is peeking high throughout most of the park as well as from many viewpoints outside of Zion. In 1933 the West Temple was climbed for the first time. John Wesley Powell named the West Temple. Elevation: 7810 feet.

East Temple - The East Temple is a huge mesa towering 2000 feet from the road. This enormous mountain is seen from many different perspectives around the park. Perhaps the best view is from the east side of the park along the spiraling Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway. The East Temple was named by John Wesley Powell. Elevation: 7110 feet.

Checkerboard Mesa - Checkerboard Mesa is a mass of slickrock with crossbedding etched into the north face of the rock. The imperfect vertical and horizontal fissures are a result of jointing and crossbedding. The checkerboard design has been created by weathering and erosion in the upper portion of the Navajo Formation. Checkerboard Mesa was named by one of Zion's superintendents, Preston Patraw about 1938. Prior to that time it was known as Rock Candy Mountain. Elevation: 6670 feet.

Three Patriarchs - One of the first shuttle stops is at a short, uphill path leading to a viewpoint to view a trio of similar shaped cliffs. The Three Patriarchs are named: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. From the view point many Zion National Park landmarks are seen including Mount Moroni, the Spearhead, Mountain of the Sun and the Twin Brothers. Reverend Fisher along with naming the Great White Throne and Angels Landing, named the Three Patriarchs: Abraham (6990 feet), Isaac (6825 feet) and Jacob (6831 feet).

History of the Thunderbird