You can travel far away to seek out some epic corners of this Earth, but you’d be hard-pressed to find pockets of nature beauty more bewitching than some of the U.S. National Parks. Zion, located in Southwest Utah, is one of those parks. Red mountains jut out of the Earth in the most dramatic fashion, magnificent canyons give way to sheer sandstone cliffs, and waterfalls unfold into enchanting emerald pools.
This national park is perhaps most famous for its reddish brown rock, called Navajo sandstone. Millions of years ago, light colored quartz sand (like you see at the beach) was covered in iron oxide (hematite mineral). Over time, oxidation occurred and the rocks of Zion essentially just rusted!
The majestic peaks and deeps chasms seemingly create the park’s own micro-climate. Driving through in winter, you’ll find sandy desert terrain on one side of a mountain then snow-covered rocks and totally different plant life on the other side.
Try and give yourself a full day or two (or maybe even camp out!) to explore Zion. However, luckily for the folks like us only driving through, a wonderful highway snakes through the middle of the park. The Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway is one of the most jaw-dropping drives on the planet. Come along on the drive with us now…
With dramatic and diverse terrain, a rich cultural history with Native Americans and Mormon pioneers, and a maze of scenic trails and highways, Zion offers it all. Happy travels!
