Zion NPS

In addition to Zion, NPS sites in southern Utah include Bryce Canyon, Cedar Breaks and Grand Staircase-Escalante

Zion is the most popular National Park Service (NPS) administered site in the state of Utah. Annually, approximately 2.5 million visitors flock to the 229-square-mile park to enjoy its breathtaking scenery, which includes narrow canyons, forested plateaus and enormous stone monoliths that reach heights thousands of feet above canyon floors. Besides its picturesque natural formations, Zion is a showcase of biodiversity, the greatest of any other NPS location in Utah with more than 1,000 species of plants, approximately 291 bird species and 78 species of mammals. Zion features everything from harsh desert environments to lush, hanging gardens.

In addition to Zion, NPS-administered scenic attractions in southwestern Utah include Bryce Canyon National Park, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and Capitol Reef National Park. If you travel to the area to visit Zion, take advantage of its close proximity to other nearby scenery and make your trip a multiple national park vacation. You will not regret seeing Bryce Canyon and Cedar Break’s colorful hoodoos, Grand Staircase-Escalante’s slot canyons or Capitol Reef’s sandstone domes.

If you plan to vacation in Zion, other NPS attractions are within only a few hours. One great option would be to make your lodging headquarters Panguitch, Utah. Bryce Canyon and Cedar Breaks are only 24 and 32 miles from Panguitch, respectively. Zion and Grand Staircase-Escalante are both approximately 75 miles from Panguitch, making them easy day trips. Capitol Reef is approximately 145 miles from Panguitch on Scenic Byway 12, Utah’s only All-American Road, which passes near state parks and over Boulder Mountain. When you need the latest information about southwestern Utah, contact the Garfield County Travel Council. Our friendly staff will answer any of your questions and help you build your itinerary for an exciting multi-national park vacation!