One of the fabulous canyons that are part of the great Colorado Plateau. All these canyons have a connection to the Colorado river that has shaped the landscape over millenia, but each canyon we have visited has its own subtle uniqueness.
Fun Fact: Zion was named by the Mormon settlers of the area after Mt. Zion beacuae they felt they had finally found their perfect place.
At Zion we were treated to a different perspective as the road into the canyon is at the base of the cliffs. At the other canyons we visited, the roads run along the top. Looking up at the massive jagged peaks is just as awe inspiring.
We camped right in the park with towering cliffs all around. The town of Springdale is within walking distance of the campgrounds and it has all the touristy stuff, restaurants and inns, etc. Best part (like the Grand Canyon) Zion has a free shuttle bus that runs from Springdale to all of the stops in the canyon where you can take in the sites or hike, or just ride the bus. There are also other, more primitive parts of the canyon that can be accessed, but would be best in warmer months.
It was raining and cloudy during our visit which meant we were able to see some great ‘of the moment’ waterfalls, and the green river was flowing quite full. Because of the snow melt and rain there were some trails closed for safety, but this also kept the crowds down a lot which was nice.