Zion National Park • Utah

NATIONAL ZION PARK • UTAH Contents THE GREAT WHITE THRONE . Cover MUSEUM 13 FORMATION OF ZION CANYON . 3 FREE PUBLIC CAMPGROUNDS . 15 NATIONAL WILDLIFE 6 ACCOMMODATIONS 15 PARK SEASON 6 TRANSPORTATION 15 How TO REACH ZION 6 SADDLE HORSES 15 PARK ROADS IN THE PARK 8 POST OFFICE AND COMMUNICA Zion THE TRAIL SYSTEM 10 TION SERVICE 15 ADMINISTRATION 13 MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES .... 15 Open All Year NATURALIST SERVICE 13 Historic Events 'ION NATIONAL PARK, lished the river has slowly deepened 1776 Father Escalante in search of route to Pacific crossed Virgin River near Hurricane. located in the heart of its channel and extended it headward the spectacular desert until its original shallow valley has 1826 Jedediah Smith, fur trader, with a party of about 16 men exploring the and canyon country of become a long narrow trench be region, traversed Virgin River. southern Utah, has as tween towering walls. Though now 1847 Brigham Young and his band of Mormons founded Salt Lake City and one of its chief features the great deeply entrenched in the rocks of the began the colonization of Utah. multicolored gorge, Zion Canyon. Kolob Plateau, the river maintains 1858 The colonization of Utah's "Dixie" begun by the Mormons. The sandstone cliffs, rising sheer to substantially its original pattern. It 1858 Zion Canyon discovered by Nephi Johnson, a Mormon scout. form the canyon walls and encircle flows in the same direction, and the 1861 Joseph Black explored the canyon and 1 or 2 years later was followed the valley, are awesome; but it is the curves and straight stretches of its by a few settlers who farmed in the canyon, which they called "Little vivid coloring which most amazes. present walls duplicate the meanders The deep red of the Vermilion Cliffs of the stream when it flowed some Zion." is the prevailing tint. Two-thirds of 5,000 feet above its present level. 1872 Maj. John Wesley Powell visited the region and gave name "Mukuntu- the way up these marvelous walls and For many thousands of years the weap" to north fork and "Parunuweap" to east fork of Virgin River. temples are painted varying shades Virgin River and irs tributaries have 1909 Mukuntuweap National Monument established by Presidential proc of red; then, above the reds they rise lamation. been busy with two tasks, namely, in startling white, sometimes sur deepening their channels and trans 1914 Frederick Vining Fisher visited Zion Canyon and gave names to many mounted by a cap of brilliant red. porting material weathered from the of the outstanding formations, such as Great White Throne and Angels 1 canyon walls. At present the Virgin Landing. Formation of Zion Canyon carries away from the park each year 1917 Wylie Way Camp, first tourist accommodations, constructed. Zion Canyon, the best known ex about 3,000,000 tons of ground-up 1918 Monument enlarged and the name changed to Zion by Presidential ample of a deep, narrow, vertically rock at an average rate of 180 car proclamation. walled chasm readily accessible for loads a day. For such effective work 1919 Monument changed to a national park by act of Congress. observation, was made by the north the many-branched river seems in fork of the Virgin River, the stream competent. But though relatively 1923 President Warren G. Harding visited the park on June 27. which now flows through it. Before small in volume, this stream system 1930 East Rim road and tunnel completed and dedicated. this stream established its course falls from 50 to 70 feet per mile (nine there was no canyon. During the times the fall of the Colorado in UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE long period since its course was estab- Grand Canyon) and is at work on rock, chiefly sandstone, that disin INTERIOR Douglas McKay, Secretary 1 Condensed from "A Geologic and Geo tegrates with exceptional ease. Many graphic Sketch of Zion National Park" by tributaries are on bare rock, little re- NATIONAL PARK SERVICE . Conrad L. Wirth, Director Herbert E. Gregory. 3 tarded by vegetation, and are fed by water that spills over the rim, frost short but violent showers. Conse and tree roots which pry off slabs, quently, they are brought to flood and chemical agencies which weaken stage not only seasonally but with the rock by the removal of the ce each period of heavy rainfall. Because ment about individual grains. Con they flow only in response to showers, tinuous sapping at or near the con the smaller tributaries are unable to tact of the porous Navajo sandstone cut channels as deep as the perennial and the more impervious underlying master stream. From their mouths beds has developed alcoves in the high on the canyon walls, they de canyon walls at Wiley Retreat, the scend as waterfalls. Stadium, Weeping Rock, Emerald Though they are primarily respon Pool, Birch Creek, Oak Creek, and sible for the depth and position of elsewhere. the canyons, the Virgin River itself In the development of the amazing and the other streams heading on the variety of architectural features on adjoining plateaus are only inciden the canyon walls, the composition tally concerned with the detailed and structure of the Navajo forma carving that makes Zion Canyon tion have served as controlling unique. The walls are retreating in guides. In addition to the bedding consequence of ground water which planes —horizontal, oblique, and emerges as springs and seeps, rain curved surfaces—the Navajo has de which falls directly into the canyon, veloped parting planes (joints) that (Union Pacific Railroad photo) Generalized section of sediments in Zion and Bryce Canyons. The Sentinel viewed from the West Portal of the Mount Carmel Tunnel. 4 5 extend downward for short distances the brush-covered slopes, while the or pass through the formation from Boyle's kingsnake and wandering top to bottom. These bedding planes gartersnake are to be found in the and joints determine the shape and dense vegetation near the river. size of the blocks that spall off from the towering cliff walls. Unlike that of humid regions, this type of erosion Park Season progresses from below upward; it Each season of the year is distinc causes the canyon to widen and still tive in Zion. In winter, the colored retain its vertical walls. cliffs stand out in startling contrast to the snow-covered levels and slopes; Wildlife in spring, melting snows cascade over With the lower reaches of the park the cliff faces in foaming white water extending into the desert regions to falls. Summer brings with it the the southward, and the northernmost greens of the valley as a foreground portions reaching into the spruce- for the colorful formations; and in covered highlands, Zion offers the autumn when the skies are deepest visitor a wide variety of wildlife blue, the trees of the valley floor and forms. Among the larger mammals, slopes take on variegated hues. the mule deer are especially numer Zion Lodge and the Camp Center, ous and can frequently be observed with cafeteria, store, and cabins, are along the floor of Zion Canyon in open only during the summer season. late evening. Other mammals, such The public campground near the as the mountain lion, bobcat, coyote, south entrance is operated through and fox, are resident within the park, out the year, and all types of facilities but are rarely encountered because of and accommodations may be secured their timidity. Ground squirrels and at Springdale, V2 mile outside the chipmunks are numerous and fre park. quently tame. It is wisest to enjoy them without actual contact, how How to Reach Zion ever, for some rodents have been Zion National Park is reached from known to carry dangerous diseases. Cedar City, Utah, on the Union Several species of birds are resident Pacific Railroad. From this point on the floor of the canyon, the best motorbus service is provided by the known being the spurred towhee, Utah Parks Co. to Zion National robin, canyon wren, and yellow Park, as well as to Bryce Canyon and warbler. Among the ponderosa pines Grand Canyon (North Rim) Na back of the canyon rims are such tional Parks and Cedar Breaks Na colorful songsters as the western tional Monument. Passengers travel tanager, Audubon's warbler, and ing on main bus lines may transfer western warbling vireo. to Utah Parks Co. buses at Cedar Of absorbing interest are the many City. On advance notice, connections varieties of harmless reptiles in the can be made with the Santa Fe Trails canyon. Lizards, such as the blue- System at Mount Carmel Junction. bellied swift and brown-shouldered Motorists on the Arrowhead Trail, Roads connecting Bryce Canyon, Zion, Grand Canyon, and Cedar Breaks uta, are commonly observed around United States Highway No. 91, from 6 7 the north may turn off at Anderson ern Air Lines, with stops at Las Junction, 33 miles south of Cedar Vegas, Cedar City, and Salt Lake City, and those from the south may City. turn off at Harrisburg Bench Junc tion, 10 miles north of St. George, Roads in the Park and reach Zion over State Route No. 15. Motorists on United States High There are 20 miles of improved way No. 89 should turn off on State roads in Zion National Park. One Route No. 15 at Mount Carmel Junc road leads from the park's entrance tion, entering Zion by the east en to the Temple of Sinawava, a distance trance. of 8 miles. No one has really seen United Air Lines serves Salt Lake Zion Canyon until he has made a trip City, and from there passengers may over this road.

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