Tips from a Park Ranger

"One of the most spectacular places on earth," is how Ron Terry, Zion National Park's chief of interpretation and visitor services, describes the park. "Its beauty and grandeur are overpowering. You cannot visit Zion without being inspired and awestruck by the immensity of the towering sandstone cliffs and deep, narrow canyons."

However, even though Zion is the most visited national park in Utah, Terry says it is still possible to find solitude in its numerous out-of-the-way places.

"One of Zion's lesser-known but stunningly beautiful areas is Kolob Canyons," Terry says. "The Kolob Canyons Scenic Drive includes numerous pullouts providing a chance to get out of the car and drink in the beauty of the red sandstone cliffs and hanging valleys of the Finger Canyons of the Kolob," he says.

"The hike up the Middle Fork of Taylor Creek to Double Arch Alcove is well worth the trip, as is the more strenuous hike to Kolob Arch," Terry says. He advises that visitors should be sure to stop first at the Kolob Canyon Visitor Center for current hiking information.

Choosing the right time to visit Zion National Park can also enhance your experience. "If you visit Zion in March, April, October, or November you will be sharing the park with fewer people and still have access to most of the park's trails," Terry says.

"October and November are particularly beautiful," he adds. "The yellow and gold leaves of the trees along the Virgin River and in its side canyons contrast wonderfully with the reddish colored sandstone of the canyon walls."

Your first stop in the park should be at a visitor center, Terry suggests, to get current weather and flash-flood potential information, purchase any needed backcountry permits, and get advice from rangers on which trails and attractions are best for you.

Attending one of the park's ranger naturalist programs will also enhance your park experience, according to Terry, who adds, "The time spent attending one of these programs is time well spent." During warmer months there are nightly programs in the campgrounds and at Zion Lodge; plus there are daily talks and ranger-guided shuttle tours.

Terry also suggests a visit to the Zion Human History Museum, which opened in 2002 and features exhibits on how humans have interacted with the geology, water, plants, and animals of the park. An informative orientation film is shown in the museum auditorium.

Although the vast majority of Zion's visitors have a thoroughly enjoyable experience with no serious problems, the park does have some very serious potential dangers.

The Narrows hike, in which hikers spend most of their time in the water, is one of the most popular hikes in the park, but also one of the most potentially dangerous, according to Terry. Before attempting this or any hike in a narrow canyon, visitors need to check at the visitor center for weather forecasts and flash-flood potential, he says.

"Cold and swift water, slippery and uneven walking surfaces, potential flash flooding, and potential hypothermia are all factors to be considered when planning for this hike," Terry says. "Good footwear with ankle support is a must. A walking stick to provide greater stability and better balance will make the experience much more enjoyable."

Also very popular at Zion are canyoneering and rock climbing, according to Terry. "Canyoneering is a strenuous activity involving traversing narrow slot canyons usually requiring rappelling equipment and skills," Terry says, and "climbing the towering vertical cliffs in the park is a high-risk activity that should only be attempted by expert climbers."

The soft sandstone of Zion's cliffs and the prohibition of drilling into the rock make climbing in the park doubly dangerous, according to Terry, and climbers who are not experts should obtain their experience in other less extreme conditions.

"Zion is in a desert environment and the summer sun can be very hot," Terry says. "Whatever activity you are participating in should include carrying and drinking plenty of water. Hats and sunscreen are also a must. Know your limits and don't be afraid to end an activity and return another day."