Zion Canyon
Sheer, vividly colored cliffs tower above you as you follow the road along the floor of Zion Canyon. This narrow, deep canyon is the centerpiece of the park. It awed early visitors like Frederick Vining Fisher, a Methodist minister who named the Great White Throne, Angels Landing, and many other monoliths.

Today the canyon continues to spark wonder and disbelief in those who come and stand beneath its 2,000- to 3,000-foot high walls. Along the bottom of the canyon flows the Virgin River, a river with the looks of a creek and the muscle of the Colorado. This small watercourse has single-handedly carved the profound rock gorge of Zion Canyon. It began its downcutting more than 13 million years ago and continues its work today.

You may witness the river's power during a flash flood, when it turns muddy and violent, carrying cottonwoods and boulders along like so many twigs and pebbles.

Permit Information
$5 permits are required for overnight backcountry use. These permits are available at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center beginning at 8 a.m. up to one calendar month prior to the date of the hike.

Directions
From Springdale, drive north on Hwy. 9 to the South Entrance.

Information Center
The Zion Canyon Visitor Center is located on Hwy. 9 near the South Entrance.

Activities