Zion National Park, Utah

Checkerboard Mesa, Zion National Park, Utah, Highway 9 -Zion Mt Carmel Highway

Most of the rocks in Zion National Park are sedimentary rocks –made of bits and pieces of older rocks that have been weathered, eroded, and deposited in layers. These rock layers hold stories of ancient environments and inhabitants very different from those found in Zion today. In this distant past, Zion and the Colorado Plateau were near sea level, and were even in a different place on the globe—close to the equator. The rock layers found in Zion today were deposited between approximately 110 –270 million years ago –only in recent geologic time have they been uplifted and eroded to form the scenery of Zion National Park.

Checkerboard Mesa, Zion National Park, Utah, Highway 9 -Zion Mt Carmel Highway

Zion National Park, Utah, Highway 9 -Zion Mt Carmel Highway

Zion National Park, Utah, Highway 9 -Zion Mt Carmel Highway

Layers of stone, Zion National Park, Utah, Highway 9 from Mt.Carmel

Tunnel, Zion National Park, Utah, Highway 9 - Zion Mt Carmel Highway

Tunnel, Zion National Park, Utah, Highway 9 - Zion Mt Carmel Highway

On July 3, 1930, the work was completed and the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway and Tunnel was officially dedicated and opened to the public. Two years and ten months after the project began, visitors traveled along the new scenic route in the comfort of an automobile and enjoyed views of the high desert landscape along the way. The once imagined "Grand Circle Tour" of Zion, Bryce, and Grand Canyon National Parks was now a reality.

Zion National Park, Utah, Highway 9 - Zion Mt Carmel Highway

Arch, Zion National Park, Utah, Highway 9 - Zion Mt Carmel Highway

Lizard, Zion National Park, Utah, Highway 9 - Zion Mt Carmel Highway

Angels Landing, Zion National Park, Utah, Highway 9 - Zion Mt Carmel Highway

Sunset, Riverside Walk, Temple of Sinawawa, The Narrows, Zion National Park, Utah

Riverside Walk by Virgin River Temple of Sinawava 1.5 hour 2.2 mi / 3.5 km 57 ft / 17 m Paved trail follows the Virgin River in a deep canyon. First 0.4 miles is wheelchair accessible but may be sandy.

Sunset, Riverside Walk, Temple of Sinawawa, The Narrows, Zion National Park, Utah

Riverside Walk by Virgin River Temple of Sinawava 1.5 hour 2.2 mi / 3.5 km 57 ft / 17 m Paved trail follows the Virgin River in a deep canyon. First 0.4 miles is wheelchair accessible but may be sandy.

Sunset, Riverside Walk, Temple of Sinawawa, The Narrows, Zion National Park, Utah

Riverside Walk by Virgin River Temple of Sinawava 1.5 hour 2.2 mi / 3.5 km 57 ft / 17 m Paved trail follows the Virgin River in a deep canyon. First 0.4 miles is wheelchair accessible but may be sandy.

Sunset, Riverside Walk, Temple of Sinawawa, The Narrows, Zion National Park, Utah,

Riverside Walk by Virgin River Temple of Sinawava 1.5 hour 2.2 mi / 3.5 km 57 ft / 17 m Paved trail follows the Virgin River in a deep canyon. First 0.4 miles is wheelchair accessible but may be sandy.

Sunset, Riverside Walk, Temple of Sinawawa, The Narrows, Zion National Park, Utah

Riverside Walk by Virgin River Temple of Sinawava 1.5 hour 2.2 mi / 3.5 km 57 ft / 17 m Paved trail follows the Virgin River in a deep canyon. First 0.4 miles is wheelchair accessible but may be sandy.

Sunset, Riverside Walk, Temple of Sinawawa, The Narrows, Zion National Park, Utah

Riverside Walk Temple of Sinawava 1.5 hour 2.2 mi / 3.5 km 57 ft / 17 m Paved trail follows the Virgin River in a deep canyon. First 0.4 miles is wheelchair accessible but may be sandy.

Sunset, Riverside Walk, Temple of Sinawawa, The Narrows, Zion National Park, Utah

Riverside Walk Temple of Sinawava 1.5 hour 2.2 mi / 3.5 km 57 ft / 17 m Paved trail follows the Virgin River in a deep canyon. First 0.4 miles is wheelchair accessible but may be sandy.

Sunset, Riverside Walk, Temple of Sinawawa, The Narrows, Zion National Park, Utah

Riverside Walk by Virgin River Temple of Sinawava 1.5 hour 2.2 mi / 3.5 km 57 ft / 17 m Paved trail follows the Virgin River in a deep canyon. First 0.4 miles is wheelchair accessible but may be sandy.

Sunset, Riverside Walk, Temple of Sinawawa, The Narrows, Zion National Park, Utah

Riverside Walk by Virgin River Temple of Sinawava 1.5 hour 2.2 mi / 3.5 km 57 ft / 17 m Paved trail follows the Virgin River in a deep canyon. First 0.4 miles is wheelchair accessible but may be sandy.

Canyons or Cathedrals? - The Great White Throne on the right back, The Organ at the front, Zion National Park, Utah