Zion National Park is certainly one of the most beautiful places in Utah. In fact, this national park was named one of the top 10 most beautiful national parks in the world. You’ve probably visited at least once, and if you haven’t, this is the national park to visit in Utah SOON. Even if you’re a park regular, you might not know all of these facts about Utah’s most visited national park. To help you out, here are 18 fascinating tidbits about one of the best parks in Utah.

If you’re planning a visit to this incredible national park, there’s no better time to visit than during National Park Week. Learn all about this celebration of America’s great outdoors — including fee-free days throughout the year!

1. Before it was Zion National Park, it was Mukuntuweap National Monument.
Joe Parks/flickr
President Woodrow Wilson designated it a national monument in 1909.
2. Zion National Park was established on November 19, 1919.
Alan English CPA/flickr
It’s Utah’s oldest national park and when planning the best national park to visit in Utah, it must be on your bucket list.
3. The first Zion Lodge burned down.
Carl/flickr
The lodge was built in 1925 but destroyed by a fire in 1966. It was rebuilt the following year.
4. The Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway was completed in 1930.
Don Graham/flickr
This scenic drive enables visitors to travel through Zion and into Bryce Canyon National Park.
5. The Mt. Carmel Tunnel is more than a mile long.
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This tunnel was a true feat of engineering. Workers blasted out of the mountain with dynamite between 1927 and 1930.
6. The park encompasses 148,733 acres.
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It would take you several weeks to thoroughly explore the entire park. Most visitors stick to the popular trails during their visit.
7. The canyon was carved over a million years by flowing water.
Steve Corey/flickr
Unlike the Grand Canyon, which you experience from the top, at Zion, you look up at the towering cliffs above the Virgin River and valley.
8. You can hike along more than 100 miles of trails in Zion National Park.
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Zion National Park has some of the best hiking trails in Utah. Here are nine of our favorite hikes in this national park. Just make sure to take plenty of water in the summer!
9. If you prefer something more accessible, stroll along 15 miles of paved walkways.
Tom Simpson/flickr
The park offers something for everyone and you don’t have to be a hiking expert here.

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10. Kolob Arch is one of the world’s largest freestanding arches at 287.4 feet long.
Kurt Repanshek/flickr
Impressive, right? This arch is tucked away in the Kolob Canyons District and you can find it on the LaVerkin Creek Trail.
11. “Walter’s Wiggles,” the zig-zag switchbacks on the trail to Angel’s Landing, is named for Walter Reusch.
baka_san/flickr
Reusch was the park’s first custodian. He also helped construct the West Rim Trail. If you have been on this hiking trail in Utah, you'd know what an engineering marvel Walter's Wiggles is in this national park.
12. Angel’s Landing got its name from a man named Frederick Fisher in 1916.
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He took one look at the peak and proclaimed, "Only an angel could land on it."
13. Angel’s Landing is 5,785 feet above sea level.
Kevin Lau/flickr
From the peak, you’ll be about 1,500 feet above the valley below. And did you know that more than 300,000 people climb this remarkable hiking trail in Utah every year?
14. Angel’s Landing is scary, but it’s not Zions’ most deadly hike.
Arizona Traveler/flickr
More deaths have been reported at Emerald Pools, where conditions at the middle and upper pools can be slippery (and deadly) if you venture past the chained-off area.
15. The shuttle is the only way to tour the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive during the park's high season.
TJfrom AZ/flickr
Due to an overwhelming number of visitors, the park eliminated vehicle traffic on the 6.5-mile scenic drive. Visitors during the off-season can still drive their own cars but must take the Zion Canyon Shuttle System during the shuttle season.
16. The Narrows is the park's most popular hike, but most people don’t finish it.
Srini Sundarrajan/flickr
The Narrows "bottom-up" hike begins at the Temple of Sinawava. Most people hike in as far as Wall Street, then turn back. Serious hikers do the "top-down" hike, which is 16 miles long and much more strenuous. The Narrows Trail is one hike that is on many visitors' bucket lists but it isn't for everyone. Plus, you need a permit to access this trail, which can be more difficult to receive than the hike itself.
17. Climbers love Zion.
subindie/flickr
Climbers come from all over the world to scale the 2,000-foot-tall cliff walls.
18. Nearly 3 million people visit the park annually.
Srini Sundarrajan/flickr
Utahns who want to experience some solitude usually try to visit during the off-season. This is one of the busiest national parks in the country.

Are you searching for a national park to visit in Utah this year? What do you think are the best parks in Utah to explore? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments! 

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National Park to Visit in Utah

Courtnie Erickson | February 18, 2022

What are some of the best parks in Utah to visit?

From the northern part of the state, all the way down to St. George, you will find some of the best parks in Utah that deserve your attention. For example, in southern Utah, you will want to add Snow Canyon State Park to your bucket list. This remarkable state park features 7,400 acres. While you search for the best things to do outside in Utah, you will see gorgeous red rock landscapes, unique lava flows, and more at this park. You can drive right through this state park or explore the 38 miles of hiking trails.

In the northern part of the state is the beautiful Bear Lake State Park. Here, you will find sandy beaches and some of the bluest water in the Beehive State. This is the perfect place to camp, swim, boat, or even scuba dive during the summer. In the winter, come to this state park for ice fishing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. This is one of the best parks in Utah no matter the time of year.

When searching for a national park to visit in Utah, Bryce Canyon National Park is spectacular. This national park was not only named one of the most beautiful in the entire world, but it is also home to some of the best hiking trails in Utah. Peek-A-Boo Loop is one of the more challenging hiking trails in Bryce Canyon, but it is one of the most scenic trails and gives you unique views of hoodoos and cliff walls. It was named the best hiking trail at Bryce Canyon National Park and is definitely worth your time to explore.

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Zion National Park, UT, Springdale, UT, USA