National Park

ZID N NATIONAL PARK - UTAH UNITED STATES Historic Events DEPARTMENT OF THE Ml 6 Father Escalante in search of route to Pacific crossed Virgin River near Hur INTERIOR ricane. Zion Harold L. Ickes, Secretary 1826 Jedediah Smith, fur trader, with a NATIONAL party of about 16 men exploring the region, traversed Virgin River. PARK OPEN 1847 Brigham Young and his band of Mor UTAH mons founded Salt Lake City and be ALL gan the colonization of Utah. YEAR 1858 The colonization of Utah's "Dixie" NATIONAL PARK SERVICE begun by the Mormons. Newton B. Drury, Director 1858 Zion Canyon discovered by Nephi Johnson, a Mormon scout. THE FIRST PATRIARCH c o J\T E j\r s 1861 Joseph Black explored the canyon and 1 or 2 years later was followed by a few settlers who farmed in the can The Great White Throne . Cover yon, which they called "Little Zion." ION NATIONAL PARK, with gin began to flow there was no can Formation of Zion Canyon . 3 1872 Maj, John Wesley Powell visited the an area of about 135 square yon. During the long period since Wildlife 6 region and gave name "Mukuntu- f miles and located in the heart its course was established the river has weap" to north fork and "Parunu- Z of the spectacular desert and canyon slowly deepened its channel and ex Park Season 6 weap" to east fork of Virgin River. country of southern Utah, has as its tended it headward until its original How to Reach Zion .... 6 1909 Mukuntuweap National Monument chief feature the great multi-colored shallow valley has become a long nar established by Presidential proclama gorge, Zion Canyon. The sandstone row trench between towering walls. Roads in the Park . ' . '7 tion. cliffs, rising sheer to form the canyon Though now deeply entrenched in the The Trail System 10 1914 Frederick Vining Fisher visited Zion walls and encircle the valley, are awe rocks of the Kolob Plateau, the river Administration 13 • Canyon and gave names to many of some; but it is the vivid coloring which maintains substantially its original pat the outstanding formations, such as most amazes. The deep red of the Ver tern. It flows in the same direction, and Educational Service . 13 Great White Throne and Angels Landing. milion Cliffs is the prevailing tint. Two- the curves and straight stretches of its Museum 13 thirds of the way up these marvelous present walls duplicate the meanders of 1917 Wylie Way Camp, first tourist accom walls and temples are painted varying the stream when it flowed some 5,000 Accommodations and modations, constructed. shades of red; then, above the reds, feet above its present level. Expenses 13 1918 Monument enlarged and the name they rise in startling white, sometimes For many thousand years the Vir Free Public Campgrounds . 15 changed to Zion by Presidential proc surmounted by a cap of brilliant red. lamation. gin and its tributaries have been busy Post Office and Communica with two tasks, namely, deepening their 1919 Monument changed to a national park FORMATION OF ZION CANYON channels and transporting material tion Service. 15 by act of Congress. Zion Canyon, the best known ex weathered from the canyon walls. At Miscellaneous Services ... 15 1923 President Warren G. Harding visited ample of a deep, narrow, vertically present the Virgin carries away from the park on June 27. Transportation 15 walled chasm readily accessible for ob the park each year about 3,000,000 1930 East Rim road and tunnel completed servation, was made by the north fork tons of ground-up rock at an average Saddle Horses 15 and dedicated. of the Virgin River, the stream which rate of 180 carloads a day. For such now flows through it. Before the Vir effective work the many-branched river 2 Zion National Park • Utah Zion National Park • Utah 3 seems incompetent. But though rela canyons, the Virgin itself and the other tively small in volume, this stream sys streams heading on the adjoining tem falls from 50 to 70 feet per mile plateaus are only incidentally con (nine times the fall of the Colorado in cerned with the detailed carving that Grand Canyon)' and is at work on makes Zion Canyon unique. The walls rock, chiefly sandstone, that disinte are retreating in consequence of ground grates with exceptional ease. Many water which emerges as springs and tributaries are on bare rock, little re seeps, rain which falls directly into the tarded by vegetation, and are fed by canyon, water that spills over the rim, short but violent showers. Consequently, frost and tree roots which pry off slabs, they are brought to flood stage not only and chemical agencies which weaken seasonally but with each period of the rock by the removal of the cement heavy rainfall. Because they flow only about individual grains. Continuous in response to showers, the smaller sapping at or near the contact of the tributaries are unable to cut channels as porous Navajo sandstone and the more deep as the perennial master stream. impervious underlying beds has devel From their mouths high on the canyon oped alcoves in the canyon walls at walls, they descend as waterfalls. Wiley Retreat, the Stadium, Weeping Though they are primarily responsi Rock, Emerald Pool, Birch Creek, Oak ble for the depth and position of the Creek, and elsewhere. After H. E. Gregory Union Pacific Railroad photo GENERALIZED SECTION OF SEDIMENTS IN ZION AND BRYCE CANYONS. THE SENTINEL VIEWED FROM ONE OF THE WINDOWS OF THE MOUNT CARMEL TUNNEL. 4 Zion National Park • Utah Zion National Park • Utah 5 In the development of the amazing Several species of birds are resident cine System. From this point motorbus High-speed, de luxe airplane service variety of architectural features on the on the floor of the canyon, the best service is provided by the Utah Parks from all points in the United States canyon walls, the composition and known being the spurred towhee, robin, Co. to Salt Lake City is available through structure of the Navajo formation have canyon wren, and yellow warbler. Buses of the Burlington Transporta United Air Lines. Service is also avail served as controlling guides. In addi Among the ponderosa pines back of the tion Co. and Interstate Transit Lines able from Los Angeles by Western Air tion to the bedding planes—horizontal, canyon rims are such colorful songsters operate from Salt Lake City and Los Express, with stops at Las Vegas, Nev., oblique, and curved surfaces — the as the western tanager, Audubon's Angeles to Cedar City, where passen and Salt Lake City, Utah. Navajo has developed parting planes warbler, and western warbling vireo. gers may transfer to the buses of the (joints) that extend downward for Of absorbing interest are the many Utah Parks Co. for the park. On prior ROADS IN THE PARK notice, connections can be made with short distances or pass through the for varieties of harmless reptiles in the can There are 20 miles of improved roads the Santa Fe Trails System at Mount mation from top to bottom. These bed yon. Lizards, such as the blue-bellied in Zion Park. One road leads from Carmel Junction. ding planes and joints determine the swift and brown-shouldered uta, are the park's entrance to the Temple of shape and size of the blocks that spall Motorists on the Arrowhead Trail, commonly observed around the brush- Sinawava, a distance of 8 miles. No off from the towering cliff walls. Un United States Highway No. 91, from covered slopes, while the Boyle's king- one has really seen Zion Canyon until like that of humid regions, this type snake and wandering gartersnake are to the north may turn off at Anderson he has made a trip over this road, and of erosion progresses from below up be found in the dense vegetation near Junction, 33 miles south of Cedar City, visitors driving in closed cars should ward; it causes the canyon to widen the river. and those from the south may turn off at Harrisburg Bench Junction, 10 make frequent stops so that they may and still retain its vertical walls. PARK SEASON miles north of St. George, and reach get out and enjoy the magnificent view. Each season of the year is distinctive WILDLIFE Zion over State Route No. 15. Motor Within the park also is a stretch of in Zion. In winter, the colored cliffs With the lower reaches of the park ists on United States Highway No. 89 the remarkable Zion-Mount Carmel stand out in startling contrast to the should turn off on State Route No. 15 Highway, 11% miles in length. Run extending into the desert regions to the snow-covered levels and slopes; in at Mount Carmel Junction, entering ning east from the Virgin River Bridge, southward, and the northernmost por spring, melting snows cascade over the Zion by the east entrance. this road forms a connecting link tions reaching into the spruce-covered cliff faces in foaming white waterfalls. highlands, Zion offers the visitor a wide Summer brings with it the greens of variety of wildlife forms. Among the the valley as a foreground for the color larger mammals, the mule deer are espe ful formations; and in autumn when cially numerous and can frequently be the skies are deepest blue, the trees observed along the floor of Zion Can of the valley floor and slopes take on yon in late evening. A few bighorn variegated hues. are present but spend their time in the Although Zion Lodge is open only relatively inaccessible canyons, hence between May 30 and September 30, are seldom seen.

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