Utah UNITED STATES Historic Events DEPARTMENT of the 1776 Father Escalante in Search of Route to ZION INTERIOR Pacific Crossed Virgin River Near Hur Ricane
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Zion NATIONAL PARK ... Utah UNITED STATES Historic Events DEPARTMENT OF THE 1776 Father Escalante in search of route to ZION INTERIOR Pacific crossed Virgin River near Hur ricane. NATIONAL PARK Harold L. Ickes, Secretary 1826 Jedediah Smith, fur trader, with a UTAH party of about 16 men exploring the region, traversed Virgin River. 41 1847 Brigham Young and his band of Mor OPEN ALL YEAR '9 mons founded Salt Lake City and be gan the colonization of Utah. 1858 The colonization of Utah's "Dixie" be THE SENTINEL. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE gun by the Mormons. Newton B. Drury, Director 1858 Zion Canyon discovered by Nephi C OO^TEo\TS Johnson, a Mormon scout. 1861 Joseph Black explored the canyon and ION NATIONAL PARK, with slowly deepened its channel and ex The Three Patriarchs . Cover 1 or 2 years later was followed by an area of about 135 square tended it headward until its original a few settlers who farmed in the can Z miles and located in the heart shallow valley has become a long nar yon, which they called "Little Zion." Formation of Zion Canyon . 3 of the spectacular desert and canyon row trench between towering walls. Wildlife 6 1872 Maj. John Wesley Powell visited the country of southern Utah, has as its Though now deeply entrenched in the region and gave name "Mukuntuweap" chief feature the great multi-colored rocks of the Kolob Plateau, the river Park Season 6 to north fork and "Parunuweap" to gorge, Zion Canyon. The sandstone maintains substantially its original pat east fork of Virgin River. How to Reach Zion .... 6 cliffs, rising sheer to form the canyon tern. It flows in the same direction, and 1909 Mukuntuweap National Monument es walls and encircle the valley, are awe the curves and straight stretches of its Roads in the Park .... 8 tablished by Presidential proclamation. some; but it is the vivid coloring which present walls duplicate the meanders of most amazes. The deep red of the Ver The Trail System .... 10 1914 Frederick Vining Fisher visited Zion the stream when it flowed some 5,000 Canyon and gave names to many of milion Cliffs is the prevailing tint. Two- feet above its present level. Administration 13 the outstanding formations, such as thirds of the way up these marvellous For many thousand years the Vir Great White Throne and Angels Land walls and temples are painted varying Educational Service .... 13 ing. gin and its tributaries have been busy shades of red; then, above the reds, with two tasks, namely, deepening their Museum 13 1917 Wylie Way Camp, first tourist accom they rise in startling white, sometimes channels and transporting material modations, constructed. surmounted by a cap of brilliant red. Accommodations and weathered from the canyon walls. At Expenses 13 1918 Monument enlarged and the name FORMATION OF ZION CANYON present the Virgin carries away from changed to Zion by Presidential procla Zion Canyon, the best known ex the park each year about 3,000,000 Free Public Campgrounds . 15 mation. ample of a deep, narrow, vertically tons of ground-up rock at an average Post Office and Communi 1919 Monument changed to a national park walled chasm readily accessible for ob rate of 180 carloads a day. For such cation Service 15 by act of Congress. servation, was made by the north fork effective work the many-branched river Miscellaneous Services . 15 1923 President Warren G. Harding visited of the Virgin River, the stream which seems incompetent. But though rela the park on June 27. now flows through it. Before the Vir tively small in volume, this stream sys Transportation 15 1930 East Rim road and tunnel completed gin began to flow there was no can tem falls from 50 to 70 feet per mile Saddle Horses 15 and dedicated. yon. During the long period since (nine times the fall of the Colorado in its course was established the river has Grand Canyon) and is at work on Zion National Par\ * Utah 3 2 Zion National Par\ * Utah rock, chiefly sandstone, that disinte Zion Canyon unique. The walls are re grates with exceptional ease. Many trib treating in consequence of ground water utaries are on bare rock, little retarded which emerges as springs and seeps, by vegetation, and are fed by short but rain which falls directly into the can violent showers. Consequently, they are yon, water that spills over the rim, brought to flood stage not only sea frost and tree roots which pry off slabs, sonally but with each period of heavy and chemical agencies which weaken rainfall. Because they flow only in re the rock by the removal of the cement sponse to showers, the smaller tribu about individual grains. Continuous taries are unable to cut channels as sapping at or near the contact of the deep as the perennial master stream. porous Navajo sandstone and the more From their mouths high on the canyon impervious underlying beds has devel walls, they descend as waterfalls. oped alcoves in the canyon walls at Though they are primarily responsi Wiley Retreat, the Stadium, Weeping ble for the depth and position of the Rock, Emerald Pool, Birch Creek, Oak canyons, the Virgin itself and the other Creek, and elsewhere. streams heading on the adjoining In the development of the amazing plateaus are only incidentally concern variety of architectural features on the ed with the detailed carving that makes canyon walls, the composition and Geological sketch of Zion National Par/( by H. E, Gregory GENERALIZED SECTION OF SEDIMENTS IN ZION AND BRYCE CANYONS. THE GREAT WHITE THRONE. 4 Zion 'National Park^ * Utah Zion National Park\ * Utah 5 structure of the Navajo formation have forms typical of areas of heavier rain served as controlling guides. In addi fall. The rare water ouzel can be tion to the bedding planes—horizontal, numbered among the latter. oblique, and curved surfaces—the Probably the most absorbing of all to Navajo has developed parting planes those who are acquainted with them (joints) that extend downward for are the many types of lizards, such short distances or pass through the for as the scaly lizard, the Bailey collared mation from top to bottom. These bed lizard, and the rare leopard lizard. ding planes and joints determine the PARK SEASON shape and size of the blocks that spall Each season of the year is distinctive off from the towering cliff walls. Un in Zion. In winter, the colored cliffs like that of humid regions, this type stand out in startling contrast to the of erosion progresses from below up snow-covered levels and slopes; in ward; it causes the canyon to widen spring, melting snows cascade over the and still retain its vertical walls. cliff faces in foaming white waterfalls. WILDLIFE Summer brings with it the greens of Visitors to Zion National Park will the valley as a foreground for the color be surprised at the interesting and ful formations; and in autumn when varied forms of wildlife to be found the skies are deepest blue, the trees there. The common large game ani of the valley floor and slopes take on mals are the Rocky Mountain mule variegated hues. deer. They are quite numerous and Although Zion Lodge is open only can often be seen by park guests, though between May 30 and September 30, in the summer they usually range the the South Entrance Camp, with cafe rims of the canyons. Bighorn are pres teria, store, and housekeeping cabins, ent, but spend most of their time in and the public campground at the south the most inaccessible portions of the entrance are operated the year round. higher country, hence are seldom seen. The Grotto Campground is open from At rare intervals motorists report small May 15 to October 1. bands along the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway near the tunnel. Signs of HOW TO REACH ZION mountain lion are often found in the Zion National Park is reached from park and occasionally a glimpse of the Cedar City, Utah, on the Union Pa animal is caught. Bobcat tracks are fre cific System. From this point motorbus quently observed in mud or snow; the service is provided by the Utah Parks cats, however, are rarely visible. Many Co. small animals, such as porcupines, mar Busses of the Burlington Transporta mots, chipmunks, and gray squirrels, tion Co. and Interstate Transit Lines are abundant and can be seen almost operate from Salt Lake City and Los everywhere. Angeles to Cedar City, where passen Bird life is interesting and the visitor gers may transfer to the busses of the will find most of the arid or semiarid UtahParks Co. for the park. On prior types in Zion, together with a few notice, connections can be made with ZION NATIONAL PARK ZION CANYON AREA. 6 Zion National Par\ * Utah Zion National Par\ * Utah 7 the Santa Fe Trails System at Mount ROADS IN THE PARK Carmel Junction. There are 20 miles of improved roads Motorists on the Arrowhead Trail, in Zion Park. One road leads from United States Highway No. 91, from the park's entrance to the Temple of the north may turn off at Anderson Sinawava, a distance of 8 miles. No Junction, 33 miles south of Cedar City, one has really seen Zion Canyon until and those from the south may turn he has made a trip over this road, and off at Harrisburg Bench Junction, 10 visitors driving in closed cars should miles north of St. George, and reach make frequent stops so that they may Zion over State Route No. 15. Motor get out and enjoy the magnificent view.