Getting Oriented

The heart of Zion National Park is Zion Canyon, which follows the North Fork of the Virgin River for 6½ mi beneath cliffs that rise 2,000 feet from the river bottom. The Kolob area is considered by some to be superior in beauty, and because it's isolated from the rest of the park, you aren't likely to run into any crowds here. Both sections hint at the extensive backcountry beyond, open for those with the stamina, time, and the courage to go off the beaten paths of the park.