America's Favorite National Park

In 1882, Clarence Dutton, an associate of explorer John Wesley Powell, wrote, "Nothing can exceed the beauty of Little Zion Valley. In its proportions it is about equal to Yosemite, but in the nobility and beauty of the sculptures, there is no comparison. No wonder the fierce Mormon zealot who named it, was reminded of the Great Zion, on which his mind was bent - 'of a house not built with hands, eternal in the heavens'."

In 1909, the designation of Mukuntuweap National Monument by President William Howard Taft, came as a big surprise to most Washington County residents. The name of Mukuntuweap was unpopular locally and hard for visitors to say, so in 1918, the acting director of the newly created National Park Service changed the park's name to Zion and in 1919, the U. S. Congress changed the monument to a national park. Thus began a process which would eventually give Dixie its international reputation for scenic beauty and its largest industry - tourism.

Located at the junction of the Colorado Plateau, Great Basin, and Mojave Desert regions, Zion National Park's unique geography and variety of life zones allow for unusual plant and animal diversity. Numerous plant species as well as 289 species of birds, 75 mammals (including 19 species of bat), and 32 types of reptiles inhabit Zion’s 229-square miles (145,598 acres) of desert, riparian, woodland, and coniferous forest.

Zion National Park also includes the 1.1 mile Zion Mount Carmel Tunnel which was constructed in the late 1920's. At the time the tunnel was dedicated, on July 4, 1930, it was the longest tunnel in the United States. The Zion Tunnel's purpose (along with the Zion Mount Carmel Highway) was to create direct access to Bryce Canyon and Grand Canyon from Zion National Park.

In June 2009, a survey by TripAdvisor named Zion National Park as the #1 favorite national park in the country. The travel group questioned 3,000 vacationers all across America about their favorite parks and they put Zion on top.

Even if your plans will not allow you to spend extended time in Zion National Park, consider driving through on your way to or from the Utah Rotary District Conference, May 13-15, 2010. It may be a little out of your way, but is well worth the effort!