Zion News

Nothing against Mammoth Lakes, but Zion National Park is quickly becoming my favorite long-weekend hiking destination. After a failed attempt at conquering Angels Landing in May, we returned to the park a few weeks ago, this time to tackle the Virgin River Narrows — a.k.a. Zion Narrows. It definitely ranked as one of our all-time best hikes.

Pssst. Want to know a secret? Southern Utah, that geologic and scenic wonderland, is dazzling in every season — but in autumn the annual invasion of sightseeing visitors from around the world drops to a trickle. As desk manager Ron Stensfors notes from behind the service counter at Zion Lodge, seasoned (so to speak) American travelers, especially savvy locals from Utah and the rest of the West, know fall is a great time to take in Zion National Park.

Visual artists across the country are encouraged to apply by Saturday for a four-week artist-in-residence program at Zion National Park.

Mandatory shuttle service in Zion National Park has ended for the season but weekend visitors are still urged to use the shuttles on a voluntary basis. The park shifted to shuttle-only traffic for March-to-November visitors nine years ago to alleviate congestion and to benefit the environment.

There are not many people who find a place of employment that calls to them after they have quit working, especially after 50 or 60 years, but those who have worked in Zion National Park have. Park employees enjoyed their jobs so much that they've actually been holding reunions Friday and Saturday in the very places they used to serve as waitresses, bell hops and tour guides.

An ultralight-plane crash sent a man to the hospital with broken bones after he spent the night in Zion National Park Saturday night. The ultralight craft he was flying with his son crashed around 6:15 p.m., said park ranger Therese Picard. Neither their names nor hometowns were released. The father, who is in his 60s, broke his ankle and arm in the crash, and the son sustained minor injuries, said Ron Terry, Zion National Park public information officer.

It takes a lot to get me out of bed before the sun rises. So it was all the more surprising when I was the one to suggest the idea, as I invited my friend, Kelly, to hike Angels Landing at Zion National Park with me on a Saturday morning in August. We left early so we could reach the summit before it got too hot.

A highlight of America’s canyon country, Zion National Park is one of those magical places that visitors rarely forget. From multicolored sandstone cliffs to narrow canyons, the natural features of this Utah gem are awe-inspiring and teeming with opportunities to explore and be challenged.

There are many beautiful waterfalls in Zion National Park, but most visitors never see them because many are in rugged backcountry areas away from Zion Canyon. For the past several year's I've been hiking to and photographing the waterfalls, an interesting hobby that has taken me into beautiful areas far from established roads and trails.

Five family outings in Utah's parksHike the Narrows at Zion: Most school-age kids can handle wading up the Virgin River amid sheer rock walls. Turn back wherever you like -- the river meanders 16 miles north of the trailhead.

It never happened before, and it's not likely to happen again.

ZION NATIONAL PARK — The Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel on the east side of Zion National Park will be closed to vehicles for three hours on Aug. 26. The closure will be in effect from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. During this time, vehicles will not be able to drive through the park on Highway 9.

A few weeks ago I received a phone call at work from Alex Chamberlain, who works for GeoQuest Technologies in Hurricane.

The lightning-caused Horse Fire continues to burn in Zion National Park.The fire was first detected on Jul

For Zion Adventure Company co-founder Jonathan Zambella, downsizing led to his dream job.In 1995, he was working as a banker in Pennsylvania but lost his job due to downsizing, giving him the "opportunity to be unemployed." Zambella, an avid rock climber, knew he didn't want to stay in the financial sector.