National Parks
Nations, Nature, & People
From towering snowcapped peaks to the howl of a lone wolf, from backwater swamps to soaring Sequoias, from sparkling Great Lakes to painted deserts, the United States National Park Service preserves 85 million acres (3.4%) of some of the most beautiful American landscapes. There are 63 National Parks spread out across 29 states and 2 U.S. territories. They offer insight to ancient creatures and lost continents, peoples who have lived on the land for millennia, and incredible biodiversity in some of the last remaining strongholds for wild and wonderful species across the United States.
National parks MAP
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The National Parks showcase diverse ecosystems and human histories. Navigate your way through the parks by checking out these books and movies:
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Shenandoah National Park
Find yourself in an endless series of the Blue Ridge or in a forest shrouded in mist. Shenandoah's charm lies in one of the last pockets of wildness in Northern Virginia. There is adventure around every bend on Skyline Drive.
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Location: Front Royal, Virginia to Waynesboro, Virginia. Located on land native to the Manahoac and Monacan Nations.
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Fun Facts:​
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Skyline Drive bisects the park 105 miles from north to south. This road allows visitors to cruise the upper ridge lines with plenty of scenic vistas of the surrounding Appalachians.
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Shenandoah has over 200 species of birds which are heard more often than seen due to the thick tree canopy. It also has one of the highest density of North American black bear in the United States. ​
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Shenandoah has the most Appalachian Trail mileage within National Park boundaries. There are over 100 miles of this famous thru hike throughout the park. You will find out why this trail is also known as the green tunnel from beneath the park's multilayered understory with shrubs like rhododendron. ​
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Not So Fun Fact:​
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The creation of Shenandoah National Park displaced at least 465 families living within the park's boundaries. Many of these people had roots dating back over 200 years in the region. They lived off the grid and were largely unaware of the government's plans until the decision had been made. Men, women, and children - more than 2,000 people in total - were forcefully relocated from their homes. This rarely publicized history can be seen in the abandoned settlements, the crumbling chimneys, and overgrown cemeteries hidden within plain sight.
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Washington, DC is just 70 miles from Front Royal, Virginia. Industry, automobiles, and a dense urban sprawl contributes to the air pollution in Shenandoah. Air pollution affects visibility and causes acid rain. Soil health, mountain streams, and aquatic species are all impacted by the increased acidity within the watershed.
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Trail to hike: Old Rag Trail
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Old Rag is one of the biggest and baddest of Shenandoah’s summits. You can reach its rocky top by a 10 mile hike from Skyline Drive. There are panoramic views in all directions.
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Want to learn more?
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Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Prairie dogs chirp across noisy colonies, the bison roam free, even wild horses can still be found
alongside sandy canyons and roaring rivers. Fall in love with the rugged Dakota landscapes that influenced
a young Theodore Roosevelt to later support American conservation.
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Location: Medora, North Dakota. Located on land native to the Cheyenne, Assiniboine, Mandan, and Sioux Nations.
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Fun Facts:​
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Teddy Roosevelt was one of the most pro-conservation presidents that has come into office. He created the United States Forest Service, established 150 National Forests, 51 Federal Bird Reserves, 4 National Game Preserves, 5 National Parks, and 18 National Monuments. U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt used to stay at the Maltese Cross cabin located on park lands.​
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Exposed rock reveals history of the landscape. The park's ecosystem has changed drastically over millions of years. This can be seen in the many vertical layers. Brown or tan layers come from the mountains that have eroded. Blue-gray layers came from the ash of far away volcanic eruptions. Black layers are coal veins and the red layers are called clinker which is formed when a coal vein catches fire and cooks the rock above it. One of the park's coal veins caught fire in 1951 and burned for 26 years. Visitors were able to roast marshmallows from the heat. ​
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There are over 400 plant species within the park, but the most common ecosystem is grasslands. A few of these grasses include saltgrass, western wheatgrass, needle-and-thread, and little bluestem.
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Not So Fun Facts:​
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Wild horse, burros, and long horn steer all live in this park. These iconic symbols are actually an invasive species that cause significant damage to native flora and fauna on the prairie. All three species can overgraze on native plants. As native plant species disappear, other invasive plant species colonize the area and can exacerbate the effects of climate change. Horse wallows can also destroy riparian zones. Horses also outcompete native species like bison, pronghorn, big horn sheep.​​
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There are very few national parks that protect grassland ecosystems. More than 97% of all native grasslands in the United States have been lost due to agriculture and development. And this isn't just in the 1800s and 1900s. In 2020, over 2.1 million acres of grassland disappeared in North America. The more grassland we lose, the more native species are disappear from North America, in some cases forever.
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Trail to hike: The Big Plateau Trail
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Take the loop from Peaceful Valley Ranch, across the Little Missouri River (you’ll have to ford knee to waist high waters), into a canyon, and then up on to the plateau. This plateau has spectacular views. Stay a respectable distance from all wild life, but the trail does meander within several feet of multiple prairie dog holes. I even saw two wild horses from this trail.
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Want to learn more?
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Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West
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The Heart of Everything That Is: The Untold Story of Red Cloud, An American Legend
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Virgin Islands National Park
Paradise awaits on the white sand beaches, beneath the palm trees, and in the tropical blue waters of the Virgin Islands. Coral reefs shelter a diversity of marine life. Snorkeling is one of the parks prominent activities.
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Location: St. John Island in the Caribbean Islands, east of Puerto Rico. Located on land native to the Ciboney, Kalinago (Carib), and Taino (Arawaks) Nations.
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Fun Facts:​
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Over 40% of the national park is underwater. There are over 300 species of fish found in the park.
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Three species of sea turtles nest on the islands. It takes 10-50 years for sea turtles to reach sexual maturity. Female sea turtles almost always return to the same beach on which they were born, often traveling hundreds of miles across the ocean just to reach their exact nesting spots. The sex of sea turtle babies is determined within the egg based on the temperature of the surrounding sand.
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The US Virgin Islands is the only place in the U.S. where traffic legally drives on the left side of the road, however, the steering wheel is also on the left side in many of the cars.
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Not So Fun Fact:
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The trans-Atlantic slave trade passed through the Virgin Islands. The islands were part of a vast network that provided European colonies, and eventually the United States, with slave labor.
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Many of the original Tribal Nations were cruelly exterminated or forced into slavery by early European powers. Christopher Columbus was among the cruelest conquerors – he directly killed many of the Arawaks and other native islanders after he mistakenly landed in the Caribbean Isles instead of the West Indies.
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Trail to Hike: Trunk Bay Underwater Trail, St. Johns
Trunk Bay is consistently rated among the world’s best beaches. Relax in the white sands or swim in clear Caribbean waters – however, the most unique trail is underwater. Interpretive signs are placed in linear fashion along the shallow shore for swimmers and snorkelers to explore. I recommend taking the 650-foot swim along one of our National Parks most unique trails.
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Want to learn more? Book Recommendations:
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Virgin Islands National Park (National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map
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Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument St. John - Snorkeling Guide
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The Tainos: Rise and Decline of the People Who Greeted Columbus
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Taíno Indian Myth and Practice: The Arrival of the Stranger King
Voyageurs National Park
Voyageurs presents a drastically different world depending on the season. Summer showcases pristine blue lakes, bogs, and boreal forest. Fall brings striking reds, yellows, and oranges among the ever present greens. Winter comes hard and heavy, freezing the many water ways and burying everything in snow. Spring begins the cycle anew.
Location: International Falls, Minnesota. Located on land native to the Anishinabewaki Nation.
Fun Facts:​​
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There are more than 30 lakes in Voyageurs. In fact, the four largest lakes (Rainy, Kabetogama, Namakan, and Sand Point) are 40% of the entire park. There are also innumerable streams, ponds, rivers, swamps, bogs, wetlands and other amphibious habitat.
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Gray wolves thrive in the ample back-country of Voyageurs. The timber wolf (gray wolf: Canis lupus) survived the onslaught of human killings in the 1800s - 1900s. People eliminated wolves from their native range that extends across the United States from Mexico to Canada. While iconic lands like Yellowstone lost their wolves, the species survived in this remote corner of Minnesota. May we always continue to hear the howls of wolfpacks from within these dense Northwoods.
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Voyageurs is one of the best locations in the continental United States to witness the northern lights. A dearth of cities along the Minnesota - Canadian border means that the skies are exceptionally dark. It is a great spot for stargazing, but I will tell you there is nothing quite like the ethereal undulations of the Aurora Borealis dancing across the sky!
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Not So Fun Fact:​​
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A new hybrid has arrived in Voyageurs - it is a mix between the native Broadleaf cattail (Typha latifolia) and the non-native Narrowleaf cattail (Typha augustafolia). This invasive hybrid multiplies quickly from a rhizome root and can create mats that are several feet thick and outcompete native plants. The National Park is taking steps to remove these cattails, especially given the importance of native wild rice species in the ecosystem. Native wild rice provides habitat for native animal species and has always been of great importance to the Anishinabewaki Nation..
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Snowmobiling is one of the most popular winter activities in the park .There is plenty of open space on the lake where ice is thick, as well as 110 miles of groomed trails within the park. Snowmobiling is plenty of fun, but also impacts wildlife. Animals are proven to avoid areas with high snowmobile activity. The engine noise also can be heard from great distances. It is important to find a balance between spaces for motorized recreation and sensitive wildlife (like wolves).
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Trail to Hike: Lake Kabetogama Trail
In a place of dramatic change this lake presents numerous opportunities. Take a paddle in the warm weather months, but in the winter drive one of the ice roads. These roads are only possible when the lake freezes several feet thick. The park service maintains snow plowed ice roads which you can take your car out onto the lake. You are advised to drive with your windows open in case you hear cracking. Always check with your local park ranger before driving onto the ice.
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Want to learn more? Book Recommendations:
White Sands National Park
Rolling white sand dunes stretch for miles beneath an open blue sky. The world's largest tract of gypsum sand dunes is unlike any other park within North America.
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Location: Northeast of Las Cruces, New Mexico. Located on land native to the Mescalero Apache and Tampachoa Nations.
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Fun Facts:
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These white sand dunes are made of gypsum, a mineral rarely found in the form of sand. There are no other gypsum dune fields of this size in the world.
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Gypsum is soluble. When rain falls on the surrounding mountains, the gypsum washes down the mountains. This high altitude basin is completely hemmed in, so when the water evaporates, the gypsum remains. Gypsum does not absorb the sun's heat in the way you might expect with other sand. This means you can comfortably walk barefoot despite intense summer heat.
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Over 3000 oryx call White Sands their home. They are the only wild population of this African creature in North America. They were purposely introduced in the 1970’s.
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Not so Fun Facts:
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The National Park is surrounded by the White Sands Missile Range. In fact, the missile range encompasses nearly 3,200 square miles compared to the 275 square miles of National Park land. The world's first atomic bomb was exploded here in 1945 as a test site. Trinitite is a green glassy substance found in the park and should not be touched. Sometimes roads are closed due to active missile testing. Be sure to contact the park headquarters before visiting.
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Miles and miles of white sand can be beautiful, but deceptively disorienting. It is easy to get lost without significant landmarks. Always travel with a map or compass and bring plenty of water.
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Trail to Hike: Hike anywhere on the bare dunes!
You are allowed to hike anywhere on the dunes without vegetation. Plan ahead to rent a sled at the visitor center for “sand tobogganing”.
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Want to learn more? Book / Movie Recommendation:
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Thunder Rides a Black Horse: Mescalero Apaches and the Mythic Present
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Apache Legends & Lore of Southern New Mexico: From the Sacred Mountain
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Wind Cave National Park
A whistle emanates from deep within. Air passes through visitors as if the cave is breathing. From rare boxwork to early lore, America's third largest known cave system will always conceal more than it reveals.
Location: Hot Springs, South Dakota. Located on land native to the Cheyenne and Lakota Sioux Nations.
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Fun Facts:
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Wind Cave plays a significant role in the origin stories of Sioux and Cheyenne Nations. These Nations believe that they once ascended from the cave of the whistling winds. Some say a portal to the Great Spirit Lodge exists from deep within the cave system.
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Wind Cave earned its name from the ethereal whistle that emanates from within the cave. One reason for the sound may be a difference in atmospheric pressure between the cave system and the outside air.
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This cave features the world's largest array of boxwork formation. 95% of all known boxwork is found in Wind Cave. The formation occurs when dissolved calcium carbonate crystallized in the surrounding rocks' cracks. The rest of the rock erodes away over time and leaves the patchwork outline of calcite crystals as boxwork.
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Not So Fun Facts:
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The Sioux consider the nearby Paha Sapa (Black Hills) to be sacred land. The 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie established the Great Sioux Reservation (including modern day Wind Cave National Park). Gold miners and Euro-American pioneers continued to settle this treaty land anyways. The U.S. Government attempted to buy the land, but Sioux leaders refused to sell. Less than 10 years later, the U.S. took these lands by force, removing the Sioux to reservations without choice or payment. 100 years later, the U.S. Supreme Court finally recognized that the U.S. Government illegally seized the Sioux lands. The court offered $106 million in settlement, which Sioux leaders have refused to take. Sioux Nations have still not been given legal ownership and their struggle continues today.
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White-nose syndrome was first documented at Wind Cave in 2021. This fungal disease has killed millions of bats across North America since its discovery in 2006. White-nose syndrome effects hibernating bats that rely on the cave system for shelter. The park asks visitors to clean their shoes on a mat with hydrogen peroxide as they enter the cave.
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Trail to Hike: Garden of Eden Cave Tour
Take a Ranger led hike into the cave system. The Garden of Eden Cave tour offers views of unique formations like boxwork and cave popcorn. It is a short 1/3 mile hike - well worth the opportunity to get into the cave.
Want to learn more? Book / Movie Recommendation:
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Lakota America: A New History of Indigenous Power (The Lamar Series in Western History)
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They Never Surrendered, The Lakota Sioux Band That Stayed in Canada
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In Whose Ruins: Power, Possession, and the Landscapes of American Empire
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Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West (Chapter 19)
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Wrangell St. Elias National Park
A park so vast that you will never fathom its secrets, not in a day, not in a week, not in a lifetime. All you can do is let the grandeur of immense snowcapped peaks, glaciers, forests, and coastline amaze and astound.
Location: Cooper Center, Alaska. Located on land native to the Ahtna and Upper Tanana Athabascans (interior of the park) and Eyak and the Tlingit (villages on the coast of the Gulf of Alaska).
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Fun Facts:
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Wrangell-St. Elias is the largest National Park. The park contains more than 13.2 million acres – bigger than New Jersey, Hawaii, Connecticut, Delaware, and Rhode Island combined!
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There are four major mountain ranges in the park – 9 of the 16 highest mountains in the United States exist within this park. Mt. St. Elias is the second highest mountain in the United States (18,008 feet) behind Denali.
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This National Park has the United States’ largest glaciers. The Malaspina Glacier is bigger than the U.S. state of Rhode Island. The Hubbard Glacier is 76 miles long, 7 miles wide and 600 feet tall and still growing!
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Not so Fun Fact:
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In 2019, three men were prosecuted as they provided illegal hunts inside of National Park lands. They also used an artificial sweetener at the bait sites which was poisonous to wolves and bears. It is a reminder to only hunt in legally designated areas and to use approved methods.​
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Trail to Hike: Root Glacier Trail
Hike this 4 mile round trip trail to enjoy and easily accessible and spectacular glacier. There are mountain views and old mining equipment, as well.
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Want to learn more? Book / Movie Recommendation:
Hiking Alaska's Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve: From Day Hikes To Backcountry Treks
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve
Haa Shuká, Our Ancestors: Tlingit Oral Narratives
Ahtna Travel Narratives: A Demonstration of Shared Geographic Knowledge among Alaska Athabascans
Walk about: Life in an Ahtna Athabaskan Village
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Yellowstone National Park
Steam rises from bubbling pits of mud and gas, boiling water shoots skyward, these surreal landscapes
lie between jagged mountain peaks and wild rivers. Iconic species like the bison and the gray wolf
once again roam the lands of our country's first National Park.
Location: Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Located on land native to the Crows, the Blackfeet, the Bannocks, and the Shoshones Nations.
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Fun Facts:
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Yellowstone was the first U.S. National Park, created in 1872 by President Grant.
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There are over 10,000 geothermal features in Yellowstone, including geysers, mudpots, hot springs, and fumaroles. The most famous is a geyser named Old Faithful that erupts at regular intervals around the clock. Yellowstone sits on top of a super volcano. The volcanic caldera measures 45 by 30 miles. It last erupted approximately 70,000 years ago and has a 600,000 to 800,000 year eruption cycle. The super volcano is unlikely to erupt in our lifetime.
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Yellowstone has the highest concentration of mammals of any national park in the lower 48 states. Some of the mega fauna include bison, elk, mule deer, wolves, coyotes, pronghorn, black bears, grizzly bears, moose, mountain lions, bighorn sheep, and mountain goats. Yellowstone is the only USA location where bison have thrived since time in memorial. Bison naturally travel in herds that ranged from hundreds to thousands or even millions of individuals (see not so fun fact). In Yellowstone, around 9% of the bison herd dies off in the hard winters naturally due to disease, age, or predation. A healthy bull bison can weigh 2,000 pounds.
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Not so Fun Facts:
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Humans completely killed off Yellowstone's wolf packs by 1926. Without wolves, prey species like elk overpopulated the ecosystem and overgrazed to the point of starvation. Elk overgrazed along riverbanks and drastically increased rates of erosion. The increased instability of the ecosystem also reduced habitat for other small mammals, bird, amphibian, and reptile species. Wolves were reintroduced back into Yellowstone in 1995. Wolves will eat the weaker elk, which makes the elk population more fit. With less elk around, native vegetation helped stabilize riverbank riparian zones and many other smaller species have rebounded as well.
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There were 30 - 60 million bison that roamed North American lands once managed by our Native Nations. Many native capitalized cultures depended on the bison. In an attempt to undermine Native sovereignty, the U.S. Government encouraged bison slaughter and pioneer settlement of the American West. There are nauseating photos of men standing atop mountains of nothing but bison skulls. North America's bison population dropped to just 541 individuals in the late 1800s. Even in the mid-1900s, Yellowstone only had 25 bison left. Today, there are now between 2,300 and 5,500 just in Yellowstone and more than 360,000 in all of North America. These numbers are only a fraction of former population numbers and many locations across the continent have still not recovered their bison populations, but we've got to start somewhere!
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The bison slaughter severely undermined Native autonomy on lands in and around Yellowstone. The United States further impacted Native Nations by removing them from their native land to reservations, which were often located on undesirable lands without fertile soils or game species - like the bison. Many Native American heroes fought against these injustices - including the likes of Crazy Horse, Red Cloud, Sitting Bull, Geronimo, and thousands of others. The establishment of Yellowstone as a National Park occurred during these wars. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee describes a chaotic screen of tourists admiring the geysers while a renegade band of Nez Perce fled persecution from the U.S. Army on the horizon.
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Trail to Hike: Upper Geyser Basin and Old Faithful Observation Point Loop
This 4.9 mile paved loop is a hike accessible to all. It traverses some of park's trademark geothermal features. You will pass several hot springs, but the most famous landmark will be the Old Faithful Geyser. Old Faithful is named for its punctual eruptions. It erupts around 20 times per day with a 90% certainty. The boiling water reaches up to 184 feet and can last as long as 5 minutes.
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Want to learn more?
Best Easy Day Hikes Yellowstone National Park
Mountain Spirit: The Sheep Eater Indians of Yellowstone
Frommer's Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks
Nature: Cold Warriors: Wolves and Buffalo
The Grand Lady of Yellowstone: & Other Yellowstone Wolf Stories
YELLOWSTONE: Journey to the Otherworldly
Big Mammals of Yellowstone – For Kids – Amazing Animal Books for Young Readers
The Heart of Everything That Is: The Untold Story of Red Cloud, An American Legend
People of the Wind River: The Eastern Shoshones, 1825–1900
Native American Tribes: The History and Culture of the Shoshone
From the Heart of the Crow Country: The Crow Indians' Own Stories
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (Chapter 13)
Dispossessing the Wilderness: Indian Removal and the Making of the National Parks
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Yosemite National Park
The granite monoliths of Yosemite Valley are the stuff of legends. Any climber has heard of El Capitan and Half Dome frequently serves as an icon for the U.S. National Park System. Come for more than just the views – there are miles of backcountry, wildlife habitat, spectacular falls, and solitude beyond the crowds.
Location: Fresno, California. Located on land native to the Ahwahnechee (Miwok or Mono Lake) Nations.
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Fun Facts:
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At 3,000 feet, El Capitan is the largest vertical cliff wall in the United States. It is one of the most coveted rock climbs on the planet – Alex Honnold climbed this entire cliff without a rope (known as a free solo) in just 3 hours and 56 minutes. ​
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Tis-sa-ack (Half Dome) formed when a husband and wife journeyed into Ahwahnee (Yosemite Valley). Tired after the long journey, the woman drank all the water in a nearby lake. Her furious husband struck her and she threw her basket at the husband. The Great Spirit punished the pair by turning them to stone. Tis-sa-ack still has the tears of the crying woman while her husband is forever separated across the valley as Washington Column. (An Ahwahneechee Origin story)
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Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La (El Capitan) formed when two bear cubs fell asleep on a boulder. The boulder rose many thousand feet into the sky. The rest of the animals called a conference to decide how to rescue the still sleeping bear cubs. They decided to climb the sheer cliff face of the rock. The mouse tried first, only to ascend a short way before falling. The rat, met a similar fate. The fox was cunning but could not get to the top. The puma used its power and intelligence to leap a great distance and climb from there – though he also could not reach the top. All the animals laughed when the worm offered to rescue the cubs. Slow and steady, he zigzagged his way to the summit. The exhausted worm woke these bear cubs and then slowly guided them back down the rock wall. The cliff was therefore named Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La in honor of the worm. (An Ahwahneechee Origin story)
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Not so Fun Facts:
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For those who believe that Yosemite Valley is a one of a kind natural wonder, they aren’t quite right. The nearby Hetch Hetchy Valley is equal to, or even more sublime. This geologic marvel is now a reservoir after the mayor of San Francisco chose to dam the Tuolumne River in 1913. This reservoir does provide San Francisco with nearly 25% of its drinking water.
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When Yosemite became a National Park in 1890, there was already a large settlement of Miwuk and Paiute citizens. The U.S. Federal government “allowed” these native residents to stay. However, over the next century, US. Government forced/coerced, or bribed these Native Nations to leave the Yosemite Valley. Their village was razed by the National Park Service in order to make more pristine park land.
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Trail to Hike: Half Dome Trail
This trail is spectacular on so many levels - from the very hike up, as well as the iconic summit of Half Dome. It’s probably best done as an overnight hike, but some rush to day hike the trail in 10-12 hours. Starting in the famous Yosemite Valley you will hike along the Merced River to the roaring waters of Nevada Falls. This is a hike worth doing in itself. But those adrenaline seekers will venture farther, well above the valley floor. The final 400 feet to Half Dome summit climb vertically up wooden boards nailed into granite as footholds and two metal cables for handrails. This part of the route is exceedingly dangerous and very busy during peak tourism months. You will need good luck with the weather and a permit from the ranger station. These permits are not easy to come by – you will need to enter the lottery months in advance. Thunderstorms are also a real danger, plus visitors have fallen from the route and died. But if you can survive all of this – the views are extraordinary. You will find yourself perched above the Yosemite Valley and you will never forget it.
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Want to learn more?
Ansel Adams in the National Parks: Photographs from America's Wild Places​
The Impossible Climb: Alex Honnold, El Capitan, and the Climbing Life
Yosemite: The Complete Guide: Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park (National Geographic Trails)
Who Pooped in the Park? Yosemite National Park: Scat and Tracks for Kids
Geology Underfoot in Yosemite National Park
The Miwok Of California (The Library Of Native Americans)
Dispossessing the Wilderness: Indian Removal and the Making of the National Parks
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Zion National Park
Steep canyon walls rise above a surprisingly lush canyon and its Virgin River.
Summit with the angels, ford the narrows, or take the subway through a serious of the park’s most spectacular features. There are numerous slot canyons, valleys, cliffs, and mesas - plenty of hidden treasures with always more to explore.
Location: Springdale, Utah. Located on land native to the Kickapoo, Peoria, Myammia, and Sioux Nations.
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Fun Facts:
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The famous Zion Canyon is known as Mukuntuweap in Paiute. It translates to straight canyon. The name Zion comes from one of the region's Mormon settlers who named the canyon a place of peace and refuge or sanctuary.
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The Grand Staircase between Bryce and the Grand Canyon is comprised of colorful rock within the Colorado Plateau. The rock that is at the bottom of Bryce forms the top of Zion and the bottom rock of Zion is the top layer of the Grand Canyon. ​​
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Not So Fun Fact:
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The Virgin River actively reshapes Zion's canyon walls. The main valley continues to get wider and deeper each year. Rains on the plateau above collect in the Virgin River and its tributaries - the rapid increase in water volume forces its way through the narrow canyon. These highly dangerous events are known as flash floods. Hikers have died when hiking the water based trails like The Narrows.
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The visitation to Zion has increased by 60% over the past decade. Similar to a multitude of National Parks around the country, these additional visitors place pressure on both national resources and park infrastructure. It goes without saying our National Parks are severely underfunded and this is all the more reason to respect the park rules and natural ecosystem. There are no private vehicles allowed in Zion Canyon during the summer and visitors should respect the permit system for popular hikes.
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Angels Landing is a popular hike (I recommend it), but is should be done safely. 13 people have died on this hike since the year 2000. Stay on the trail and use the metal chains and exercise caution.
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Trail to Hike: Angel’s Landing/The Narrows/The Subway
Ascend tall cliff Navajo Sandstone to reach the summit of Angel’s Landing. Note for those afraid of heights, there are several fin sections that have metal poles and chain to cling to as you climb. As of January 2022, you must now use a reservation system to get a permit to hike this trail.
The Narrows walks you up the Virgin River into an ever narrowing slot canyon. There are few experiences like fording the narrow river with high-rise cliffs above. Note that in winter months you’ll need a wetsuit.
The Subway trail descends via river, down an especially narrow slot canyon that may require some technical sections to pass over, under, or through obstacles. Don’t do this hike without proper safety gear and a permit.
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Want to learn more? Book / Movie Recommendation:
The Complete Guide: Zion National Park
Hiking Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks: A Guide to Southwestern Utah's Greatest Hikes
Water, Rock & Time: The Geologic Story of Zion National Park
History Of Utah's American Indians
Zion National Park Travel Journal & Activity Book for Kids
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