Zion lies at the western edge of the Colorado Plateau and is known for its colourful sandstone canyons, rocky desert, and forested plateaus.

The main canyon—named Zion by Mormon pioneers—was carved by the Virgin River. Its towering red and white sandstone cliffs rise up to 762 metres (2,500 feet), with ferns, grasses, and wildflowers growing from water seeping through rock crevices.

Juniper and pinyon pine cover the sunny slopes; higher elevations are home to ponderosa pine, fir, and aspen. Spring through summer, wildflowers such as columbine, Indian paintbrush, sacred datura, and sunflowers bloom throughout the park.

In 1956, Kolob Canyons—at a higher elevation and closed in winter due to snow—were added to the park as a separate section.

© 2014 Gaetano Antonini