Zion National Park was established in 1919 to protect Zion Canyon and its surrounding area. The canyon walls are made of Navajo Sandstone; the stone was first named in the 1917 U.S. Geological Survey because it was found in what was historically referred to as Navajo country.

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) played a significant role in the development of Zion National Park. Much of their original work is still part of the Park’s infrastructure, like the Riverside Walk and the stonework of the park entrance monuments. Their efforts were crucial in shaping the park’s landscape and facilities.

The Visitor Center uses only wind, water and sun for heating and cooling.

The main feature of the visitor center’s passive solar energy system is what’s called a Trombe wall, a masonry wall located behind a pane of glass with a black selective coating. It absorbs solar radiation during the day and stores it, releasing the heat into the building later in the day and evening.

The trees and grasses around the visitor center require surprisingly little water or maintenance. Just as the building was designed for minimum environmental impact, the surrounding plants were selected to conserve energy and to restore the original landscape. The native plants help blend the structures into the canyon’s natural landscape and attracts local pollinators and other wildlife.

The Canyon

Navajo sandstone is a porous rock formed millions of years ago by sand dunes. The range of colors depend on the amount of iron oxide present in the stone. The top portion of some of the rock formations are white because they lack iron oxide.

The Zion Canyon Scenic Drive

The Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is a 6-mile route that starts near the  visitor center and follows the Virgin River deep into the canyon. For most of the year the route is closed to private vehicles; a free hop-on, hop-off shuttle makes 9 stops at trailheads for further exploring.

The shuttle service is such a great idea. It makes getting through the canyon easy. When we visited the Smoky Mountains, their scenic drive was so congested with bumper to bumper traffic it was nearly impossible to enjoy the scenery.

The Riverside Walk, at Stop #9

We explored the Riverside Walk, a mostly paved trail, most of it sand swept. The trail takes you close to the river. It was a very busy stop.