Zion National Park Tour from Las Vegas (Zion)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

ZION NATIONAL PARK TOUR FROM LAS VEGAS (ZION) Zion National Park, just 163 miles from Las Vegas is located near Springdale, Utah, covers 229 square miles (590 km2) at the junction of the Colorado Plateau, Great Basin, and Mojave Desert regions, the park's unique geography and variety of life zones allow for unusual plant and animal diversity. The primary feature of the park is Zion Canyon, which is 15 miles (24 km) long and up to half a mile (800 m) deep cut through the sandstone by the North Fork of the Virgin River. Common daytime animals include mule deer, rock squirrels, pinyon jays, as well as whiptail and collared lizards. Desert cottontails, jackrabbits, and Merriam's kangaroo rats come out at night. Cougars, coyotes, gray foxes, and ring-tail cats are the top predators. The park is home to 289 bird, 79 mammal, 28 reptile, 7 fish, and 6 amphibian species. Golden eagles, red-tailed hawks, peregrine falcons, and white- throated swifts can be seen in the area. California condors and bighorn sheep were reintroduced in the 1990s. Nineteen species of bat also live in the area. Notable geographical features of the park which leave visitors in awe include the Virgin River Narrows, Emerald Pools, Hidden Canyon, Angels Landing, The Great White Throne, Checkerboard Mesa, The Three Patriarchs, and Kolob Arch. The geology of the Zion and Kolob canyons area includes nine formations that together represent 150 million years of mostly Mesozoic-aged sedimentation. This entire area was truly created by the hand of God. ZION NATIONAL PARK TOUR FROM LAS VEGAS Artists and photographers have been drawn to Zion for decades in an effort to capture its infinite variety of moods. The incredible landscape of Zion is a magnificent display of beauty that is a perpetual source of inspiration and renewal for all. Zion is a spiritual experience that will forever move you. Tour Times and Points of Interest • Operates: Tuesdays & Thursdays or any day with a combined group of 6 or more, call for any day availability. • Departure: Approximately 7:00 am • Return time: Approximately 6:30pm (Approx 11 1/2 hours) • Free pick up at Hotel • Zion and all its wonderful viewpoints • Checkerboard Mesa • Virgin River • Zion Canyon Scenic Drive • Mountain Tunnel Travel and Amenities • Includes: Lunch + unlimited bottled water and snacks • Gratuity Not included. What to wear • Hiking or athletic walking shoes • Temperatures are cooler from October - February so long pants and a warm jacket are appropriate. • March - September temperatures are warm where shorts, hat and light shirt are comfortable. Vehicle Used (Company's choice) • 7-passenger Luxury 4x4 SUV's • 12-passenger VIP Mini-coaches • 14-passenger VIP Touring Class mini-coaches .

Copy Link

Recommended publications

Hexagonal Fracture Patterns on Navajo Sandstone Crossbeds at Yellow Knolls, Washington County
Hexagonal Fracture Patterns On Navajo Sandstone Crossbeds At Yellow Knolls, Washington County David B. Loope Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, University of Nebraska Lincoln, NE 68588-0340 [email protected] Utah Geosites 2019 Utah Geological Association Publication 48 M. Milligan, R.F. Biek, P. Inkenbrandt, and P. Nielsen, editors Cover Image: Southward-sloping crossbeds in the Navajo Sandstone at Yellow Knolls. M. Milligan, R.F. Biek, P. Inkenbrandt, and P. Nielsen, editors 2019 Utah Geological Association Publication 48 Presidents Message I have had the pleasure of working with many diff erent geologists from all around the world. As I have traveled around Utah for work and pleasure, many times I have observed vehicles parked alongside the road with many people climbing around an outcrop or walking up a trail in a canyon. Whether these people are from Utah or from another state or country, they all are quick to mention to me how wonderful our geology is here in Utah. Utah Geosites 2019 Utah is at the junction of several diff erent geological provinces. We have the Basin and Range to the west and the Central Utah Utah Geological Association Publication 48 Hingeline and Th rust Belt down the middle. Th e Uinta Mountains M. Milligan, R.F. Biek, P. Inkenbrandt, and P. Nielsen, editors have outcrops of some of the oldest sedimentary rock in Utah. Utah also has its share of young cinder cones and basaltic lava Utah Geosites showcases some of Utah’s spectacular geology, both fl ows, and ancient laccoliths, stratovolcanoes, and plutonic rocks. little-known localities and sites seen by visitors to Utah’s many Th e general public comes to Utah to experience our wonderful national and state parks and monuments.
[Show full text]
Sheeting Joints and Polygonal Patterns in the Navajo Sandstone, Southern Utah: Controlled by Rock Fabric, Tectonic Joints, Buckling, and Gullying David B
University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Papers in the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of 2018 Sheeting joints and polygonal patterns in the Navajo Sandstone, southern Utah: Controlled by rock fabric, tectonic joints, buckling, and gullying David B. Loope University of Nebraska, Lincoln, [email protected] Caroline M. Burberry University of Nebraska - Lincoln, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/geosciencefacpub Part of the Earth Sciences Commons Loope, David B. and Burberry, Caroline M., "Sheeting joints and polygonal patterns in the Navajo Sandstone, southern Utah: Controlled by rock fabric, tectonic joints, buckling, and gullying" (2018). Papers in the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. 519. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/geosciencefacpub/519 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Papers in the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Research Paper GEOSPHERE Sheeting joints and polygonal patterns in the Navajo Sandstone, southern Utah: Controlled by rock fabric, tectonic joints, buckling, GEOSPHERE, v. 14, no. 4 and gullying https://doi.org/10.1130/GES01614.1 David B. Loope and Caroline M. Burberry 14 figures; 1 table Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Nebraska,
[Show full text]
Hexagonal Fracture Patterns on Navajo Sandstone Crossbeds at Yellow Knolls, Washington County
University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Department Papers in the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences of 2019 Hexagonal Fracture Patterns On Navajo Sandstone Crossbeds At Yellow Knolls, Washington County David Loope Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/geosciencefacpub Part of the Earth Sciences Commons This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Papers in the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Hexagonal Fracture Patterns On Navajo Sandstone Crossbeds At Yellow Knolls, Washington County David B. Loope Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, University of Nebraska Lincoln, NE 68588-0340 [email protected] Utah Geosites 2019 Utah Geological Association Publication 48 M. Milligan, R.F. Biek, P. Inkenbrandt, and P. Nielsen, editors Cover Image: Southward-sloping crossbeds in the Navajo Sandstone at Yellow Knolls. M. Milligan, R.F. Biek, P. Inkenbrandt, and P. Nielsen, editors 2019 Utah Geological Association Publication 48 Presidents Message I have had the pleasure of working with many diff erent geologists from all around the world. As I have traveled around Utah for work and pleasure, many times I have observed vehicles parked alongside the road with many people climbing around an outcrop or walking up a trail in a canyon. Whether these people are from Utah or from another state or country, they all are quick to mention to me how wonderful our geology is here in Utah.
[Show full text]
Erosion, Weathering, and Change Activity Guide
National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Zion National Park Weathering, Erosion, and Change Geologic Events in Zion PHOTO CREDIT Contents Introduction 2 Core Connections 2 Background 2 Activities Earth’s Power Punches 4 Rock On, Zion 5 It Happened Here! 6 Glossary 8 References 9 Introduction This guide contains background information about how weathering, erosion, and other geologic processes such as volcanoes continually shape the landscape, and directions for three activities that will help students better understand how these processes are at work in Utah. This guide is specifically designed for fifth grade classrooms, but the activities can be NPS modified for students at other levels. Theme of deposition (sedimentation), lithification, The Earth’s surface is a dynamic system that is uplift, weathering, erosion, tectonics, and constantly changing due to weathering, volcanic activity make the park a showcase for erosion, floods, earthquakes, volcanoes, and changing landscapes. other geologic events. Deposition (Sedimentation) Focus Zion National Park was a relatively flat basin The activities focus on relationship between near sea level 275 million years ago, near the NPS/MARC NEIDIG geologic processes such as weathering and coast of Pangaea, the land area believed to erosion and changes on the Earth’s surface. have once connected nearly all of the earth’s landmasses together. As sands, gravels, and Activities muds eroded from surrounding mountains, Earth’s Power Punches streams carried these materials into the Students view a presentation of digital im- basin and deposited them in layers. The sheer ages showing the forces that shape the Earth’s weight of these accumulated layers caused surface.
[Show full text]
The Colorado Plateau
The Colorado Plateau An OUGS Severnside Field Trip 2015 The Colorado Plateau 2015 Introduction This was to be another Severnside trip, but one with a new organiser! Janet Hiscott and Tom Sharpe had devised the idea for this trip when talking about what he would do in his retirement from the Museum of Wales. The large group of 27 members that collected in Denver at the end of September 2015 were the beneficiaries of this chat. We were all eager to explore the Colorado Plateau with Janet and Tom to guide us. The Colorado Plateau is an area between the Rockies and the Basin and Range Province and extends through parts of 4 states, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona. (Fig. 1) It contains some of the most famous and most visited National Parks of the USA and we were here for 17 days to be introduced to the geology, paleontology and human interaction with and exploitation of the region. The Rockies have been through several cycles of uplift and erosion since the Precambrian, the most recent period of uplift started 5Ma ago and the area has seen a change in elevation of 5000ft. There was associated volcanic activity, building volcanoes and causing a redistribution of metals by heated fluids. The latter having been exploited by man in the Colorado Mineral Belt. The debris eroded from the Rockies during these successive periods of upift was deposited in the plains surrounding them. These sediments, and marine deposits from a period of inundation by an inland sea, form the level beds that comprise the Colorado plateau.
[Show full text]
Changing Landscapes Fifth Grade Pre- and Post-Visit Activity Guide
National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Zion National Park Utah Changing Landscapes Fifth Grade Pre- and Post-Visit Activity Guide NPS/MARC NEIDIG Changing Landscapes Fifth Grade Pre- and Post-Visit Activity Guide Zion National Park Springdale, Utah 84767 Contents Introduction 1 Core Connections 1 Background 1 Pre-Visit Activities 3 Earth’s Power Punches 3 Rock On Zion! 4 Then and Now 6 Post-Visit Activities 8 Map Minds 8 It Happened Here! 9 Future Forecasters 11 Glossary 12 References 14 Introduction Background Theme Zion National Park is located along the edge The Earth’s surface is a dynamic system that is of a region called the Colorado Plateau. Uplift, constantly changing due to weathering, tilting, and the erosion of rock layers formed erosion, earthquakes, volcanoes, and uplift. a feature called the Grand Staircase, a series of colorful cliffs stretching between Bryce Focus Canyon, Zion, and the Grand Canyon. The activities focus on relationship between NPS PHOTO geologic processes and changes on the Earth’s Zion has spectacular geology. The arid climate surface. and sparse vegetation expose bare rock and reveal the park’s geologic history. Evidence Pre-Visit Activities of deposition (sedimentation), lithification, 1. Earth’s Power Punches – Students view a uplift, weathering, erosion, tectonics, and presentation of digital images showing the volcanic activity make the park a showcase for forces that shape the Earth’s surface. Then changing landscapes. students view images from Zion and deter- mine which geologic forces have contributed Deposition (Sedimentation) to the landscapes shown. Finally, students Zion National Park was a relatively flat basin discuss which landscapes were formed slowly near sea level 275 million years ago, near the NPS PHOTO and which were formed quickly.
[Show full text]
Creation Vacation: Utah
Creation Vacation: Utah The best time of year to visit this part of Utah is before Memorial Day or after late September; otherwise it is hot (90-105 F.) and crowded! To understand Utah’s geology please watch the DVD Grand Canyon: the Puzzle on the Plateau (by Mike Snavely Mission Imperative) which is based on Walter Brown’s book, In the Beginning, the section on the Grand Canyon. This book is fully viewable on line at http://www.creationscience.com/onlinebook/GrandCanyon.html After the Genesis Flood, the Colorado Plateau rose more than a mile high. During the one and only Ice Age, the basin of this plateau was filled with a lake, Grand Lake (sometimes also called Canyonlands Lake) and Hopi Lake. The Ice Age lasted for some 700 years. In this area of the world there would have been plenty of rain, not snow/ice; it would have been a well-watered place. These two lakes would have grown in size, covering parts of four states. Then they breached. This would have flooded the Northern part of Arizona carving out the Grand Canyon. Three legends of Native American tribes living near the Northern Arizona speak of the Grand Canyon’s formation after a local, single, catastrophic flood. The Navajo speak of an earthquake and a loud roaring sound, scouts were sent out, and they found a large hole, a very large hole. That hole today is called the Grand Canyon. How did these people groups get to Grand Canyon area after the Genesis Flood? These were people who had left the tower of Babel about 100 years after the Genesis Flood and traveled till they settled in the Grand Canyon area.
[Show full text]
Transgression and Regressions
Transgression and Regressions Bryce Canyon National Park I. Introduction A. John Wesley Powell – 1870’s B. Paiute Indians - many of their names retained: Paunsaugunt “home of the beaver C. Mormons, Ebenezer and Mary Bryce, settled here but left because of lack of water 1. “It’s a hell of a place to lose a cow!” D. National Forest in 1905 E. National Monument in 1923 – Temple of the Gods N.M. F. Utah National Park – 1924 G. Bryce Canyon NP in 1928 II. Geographic setting A. rim elevation is 8,000’ – 9,100’ B. not really a canyon: horseshoe shaped basin 12 miles wide and 3 miles long, 800’ deep III. Geologic Processes A. Joint control 1. primary direction of fracture – direction of fins 2. secondary cross-cutting fractures – forms pinnacles B. physical weathering - ~ 200 freeze-thaw cycles/year with differential erosion C. chemical weathering 1. decomposition by solution 2. oxidation and staining a. white is absence of iron minerals b. pink or purple – manganese dioxide c. red and yellow – iron minerals (run over white - stucco coating D. Topography 1. 3 plateaus a. Paunsaugunt – Sevier Fault: Pink Cliffs b. Markagunt – west c. Aquarius – 2000’ higher – no tree line IV. Cenozoic 40 – 60 mya – Claron Formation A. streams, lakes, shallow seas 1. limy ooze precipitated to form limestone – pink limestone forms much of scenery 2. shallow seas & mud formed shales 3. shoreline formed sandstone cemented by iron oxide 4. gravels formed rock cap B. Laramide Orogeny – deformation gentler in Colorado Plateau – not mt. building 1. Faulting – Sevier, Paunsaugunt a. Uplifted 4,000’ – 6,000’ and tilted to west ~ 1,700’ b.
[Show full text]
Ing Zion Climbing: Free and Clean
The Definitive Guidebook to Zion Climbing Free and Clean Zion Climbing: Climbing Zion Free and Clean is the most comprehensive climber’s guide to Zion National Park, arguably one of the most beautiful national parks in the United States. Inside you will find up-to-date information on more than 250 free climbs and 25 of Zion’s best clean aid climbs, plus pictures and directions to the park’s most popular bouldering areas. Detailed coverage ranges from 10-foot boulder problems to 2000-foot epic free climbs, making this compilation of stories, maps, and history the best guide available to all that Zion has to offer. l 250 of the most classic free climbs, from Ashtar Command to Shune’s Buttress. Bryan Bird l 100 never-before published free climbs. l 25 of the best clean big walls, including Moonlight Buttress and Space Shot. l Most accurate and complete beta ever for Zion. l First ascent history—much of it previously unpublished. l Loaded with full-page photos of color climbing action and rock formations. ISBN 978-0976523550 90000 > 7809769 523550 Contents Introduction 9 The Beehives 48 Zion Climbing Gear 10 -Mary Lou Crag Leave No Trace 11 -Hello Mary Lou Getting to Zion Distances 12 When to Climb 13 Map- Court of the Patriarchs to the Grotto Staying in Zion 13 52 Overview Map 15 History 16 Isaac 53 Geology 22 Historical Essay- Tricks of the Trade Ratings 26 -Freeloader Key to Maps 27 -Tricks of the Trade Map- Lower Canyon 28 -Iron Like A Lion In Zion Kinesava 29 Moroni 59 -Tatoween -Road To Comorah -Jolly Green Jam Crack -Voice From the Dust -Lhasa -Plan B -Plumb Line -Molecules of Emotion -Cowboy Ridge -Crack In The Cosmic Egg -The Groper West Temple 36 -Southwest Ridge Lady Mountain 68 -The Big Lebowski -Chimney Sweep -Gettin’ Western The Spearhead 70 Three Marys 44 -Iron Messiah -Left Mary- Gentleman’s Agreement -Up -Middle Mary- C.T.
[Show full text]
Zion National Park Geologic Resources Evaluation Report
National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Program Center Zion National Park Geologic Resource Evaluation Report Natural Resource Report NPS/NRPC/GRD/NRR—2006/014 Zion National Park Geologic Resource Evaluation Report Natural Resource Report NPS/NRPC/GRD/NRR—2006/014 Geologic Resources Division Natural Resource Program Center P.O. Box 25287 Denver, Colorado 80225 March 2006 U.S. Department of the Interior Washington, D.C. The Natural Resource Publication series addresses natural resource topics that are of interest and applicability to a broad readership in the National Park Service and to others in the management of natural resources, including the scientific community, the public, and the NPS conservation and environmental constituencies. Manuscripts are peer-reviewed to ensure that the information is scientifically credible, technically accurate, appropriately written for the intended audience, and is designed and published in a professional manner. Natural Resource Reports are the designated medium for disseminating high priority, current natural resource management information with managerial application. The series targets a general, diverse audience, and may contain NPS policy considerations or address sensitive issues of management applicability. Examples of the diverse array of reports published in this series include vital signs monitoring plans; "how to" resource management papers; proceedings of resource management workshops or conferences; annual reports of resource programs or divisions of the Natural Resource Program Center; resource action plans; fact sheets; and regularly-published newsletters. Views and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect policies of the National Park Service. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the National Park Service.
[Show full text]
Sheeting Joints and Polygonal Patterns in the Navajo Sandstone, Southern Utah: Controlled by Rock Fabric, Tectonic Joints, Buckling, GEOSPHERE, V
Research Paper GEOSPHERE Sheeting joints and polygonal patterns in the Navajo Sandstone, southern Utah: Controlled by rock fabric, tectonic joints, buckling, GEOSPHERE, v. 14, no. 4 and gullying https://doi.org/10.1130/GES01614.1 David B. Loope and Caroline M. Burberry 14 figures; 1 table Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, USA CORRESPONDENCE: [email protected] ABSTRACT overburden, sheeting joints (like “A-tents” and “pop-ups”; Jahns, 1943; Ro- CITATION: Loope, D.B., and Burberry, C.M., 2018, Sheet‑ mani and Twidale, 1999; Twidale and Bourne, 2003) have more recently been ing joints and polygonal patterns in the Navajo Sand‑ stone, southern Utah: Controlled by rock fabric, tec‑ Sheeting joints are ubiquitous in outcrops of the Navajo Sandstone on the interpreted as products of compressive stresses parallel to exposed rock sur- tonic joints, buckling, and gullying: Geosphere, v. 14, west-central Colorado Plateau, USA. As in granitic terrains, these are open- faces (Holzhausen, 1989; Bahat et al., 1999; Martel, 2011, 2017). These stresses no. 4, p. 1–19, https://doi.org/10.1130/GES01614.1. ing-mode fractures and form parallel to land surfaces. In our study areas in can be perturbed by local topography, so landscapes have strong influences south-central Utah, liquefaction during Jurassic seismic events destroyed on the distribution and abundance of fresh, fractured rock (Miller and Dunne, Science Editor: Raymond M. Russo stratification in large volumes of eolian sediment, and first-order sheeting 1996; St. Clair et al., 2015; Slim et al., 2015). At shallow depth, compressive joints are now preferentially forming in these structureless (isotropic) sand- stress parallel to convex land surfaces induces tension perpendicular to the Received 13 September 2017 stones.
[Show full text]
Corridor Management Plan
ZION SCENIC BYWAY CORRIDOR MANAGEMENT PLAN “And so, fully prepared in mind and in spirit, awed and exultant, he enters Zion…” CHAPTER 1- INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAYS PROGRAM ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 2 PURPOSE OF CORRIDOR MANAGEMENT PLAN............................................................................................................................................................................................. 2 ZION SCENIC BYWAY DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4 ZION SCENIC BYWAY USER PROFILE .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 PROTECTION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 ZION SCENIC BYWAY PARTNERSHIPS ........................................................................................................................................................................................................
[Show full text]