Las Vegas is known for its glitz and glamour, buy beyond the neon lays a swath of natural beauty—in less than an hour you can find yourself in some of the most spectacular places in the country. And it's not just the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area or the Valley of Fire State Part—although these places certainly at the top of the list—it's the trails and canyons on Mount Charleston, Sunrise Mountain and even teh El Dorado Dry Lake Valley.

If you’re willing to spend a little more time traveling, then Las Vegas really is the ultimate destination for an outdoor adventure. Death Valley is just a couple hours away (see the March 2007 issue of Casino Connection), as are the west edge of the Grand Canyon and Cathedral Gorge State Park. The most popular destination, however, is Zion National Park, just 160 miles away in the southeast corner of Utah.

The park attracts about 3 million visitors annually, with the majority of them coming in the summer months. While you won’t be able to escape the heat by heading there in the summer, and the crowds of tourists can be more than annoying, the runoff from afternoon monsoon storms often creates waterfalls that can’t be seen during other times of the year.

The 229-square-mile park was officially established in 1909, about 50 years after Mormons built a settlement in the region. Cultural artifacts discovered throughout the park suggest that human use of the area dates back at least 12,000 years.

Like many of the amazing geological features of the desert Southwest, the formations at Zion National Park represent hundreds of millions of years of sedimentation, cut away by lakes, ponds, streams and shallow, prehistoric seas. Tectonic activity has further aided in the creation of some of the most dramatic attractions in the park.

Choose your own adventure
What you do with your time at Zion National Park is entirely up to you. Being as large as it is, the park offers ample opportunity to do everything from hiking and camping to rock climbing, kayaking, biking or simple sight seeing.

To take advantage of everything the park has to offer, a little bit of moderate hiking is essential. You won’t need carabineers, harnesses, ropes or other special equipment for the easier trails, just some comfortable shoes. For other trails and longer hikes, the normal rules of the outdoors apply: comfortable shoes, high-quality socks, plenty of water and food, and if you don’t know what you’re doing, talk to somebody who does.

The main canyon of Zion is one of the most popular attractions. This area is accessible through free park-operated, propane-fueled shuttles that run April through October and carry visitors from the south (main) entrance near Springdale to the Temple of Sinawava at the end of the canyon. The shuttles help cut down on pollution and other disturbances during the summer months; the road is open to all vehicles from November through March.

The shuttles stop at a number of locations along the more than six-mile journey through the canyon, including scenic overlooks and trailheads. The main canyon is where the majority of the well-maintained trails are located, so for the less experienced hikers, those with special needs, those accompanied by children or those who simply prefer shorter and less-strenuous hikes, these trails are perfect.

Some of the easier, but no less impressive trails include the Emerald Pools Trail, Weeping Rock and the Riverside Walk. The Emerald Pools Trail is a two-hour hike that starts near the Zion Lodge. It is not very demanding, but during peak months (i.e. the summer) it gets very crowded. Weeping Rock is more of a walk than a hike, taking just 10 minutes to reach the alcove of lush vegetation and small waterfalls at the end. Similarly, the Riverside Walk is also quite easy, and is actually wheelchair accessible. This paved trail runs for one mile along the Virgin River.

One noteworthy trail begins at the Temple of Sinawava, the last stop for the shuttle. The Zion Narrows day hike begins where the Riverside Walk ends. Just get right in the water and proceed. You will make your way through water that normally ranges from knee- to waist-deep, although depending on the time of year and the recent weather, some sections may be chest-deep, or you may even have to swim a very short distance (if you’re bringing a camera, make sure it is in a waterproof bag or, better yet, bring a dry bag for all your valuables).

There are countless other hikes of increasing difficulty throughout the main canyon. Those who don’t mind breaking a sweat will receive some of the greatest rewards of solitude and absolutely stunning vistas along the more difficult trails.

One of the most recommended hikes is along the trail leading to Angels Landing. This hike can take anywhere between three and six hours, and it is not recommended for the faint of heart. It requires some scrambling and a cautious approach through some of the more exposed parts of the trail. It runs along the spine of a mountain, topping out at 1,500 feet above the canyon floor. Several people have fallen to their death on this trail, so it is definitely a hike to approach seriously. Those who have been to the top say the view is definitely worth the risk, which is actually quite moderate if you take your time and concentrate on what you are doing.

Another must-see sight in Zion is Kolob Arch. Located in the Kolob Canyons, the arch is one of the largest freestanding arches in the world at 310 feet long. However, it is not particularly easy to get to, requiring a minimum of 14 miles of hiking (those experienced with hiking will know that is a day hike that will take up to eight hours).

The La Verkin Creek Trail is the main way to get to the short, one-mile trail leading to the Kolob Arch. It is located at the northernmost entrance to the park, which is actually a fair drive from Springdale. To get to this part of the park—and hike in to see the arch—requires a stay of at least one night so you can get started early enough in the morning to make it out by sundown. The other option is to camp along La Verkin Creek and turn the hike into a two- or three-day trip. A permit, which can be purchased at the Kolob Visitors Center, is required to camp at any of the sites along the trail.

Call it a night
There are three main campgrounds in Zion National Park, and a number of other primitive campsites throughout the park. The campgrounds feature restrooms and drinking water, though none have showers or RV hookups. They usually fill up early, shortly after noon on holidays and weekends. During the peak summer months, campgrounds are full every night. Reservations are recommended, but if you can’t make a reservation, get to the park as soon as you can and hope for the best.

The South and Watchman campgrounds are located near the Springdale entrance. While the campground is situated alongside the Virgin River, there are few individual riverside sites. These areas tend to get extremely hot in the summer—upwards of 95 degrees—and there is little shade during the day. Sites at the south campground are $16 per night, while those at Watchman are $16 for sites without electricity, $18 for sites with electricity and $20 for riverside sites.

The Lava Point campground is on the Kolob Terrace, about an hour away from Zion Canyon. This site is also popular during peak months. It has no amenities whatsoever.

For those not looking for the complete outdoors experience, a number of hotels are situated in Springdale, near the main entrance to the park, while other people opt to stay as far away as St. George. For information on lodging outside the park, visit www.utah.com/lodging/zion.htm.


Getting There

Take I-15/ U.S. Hwy. 93 out of Las Vegas toward Salt Lake City. To access Springdale and the main canyon, take exit 16 and follow Utah State Route 9 west. Take I-15 to exit 40 to access the Kolob Canyon area of the park.

For more information, visit www.nps.gov/zion/


Entrance Fees

Zion Canyon
Private vehicle  Seven-day pass |  $25
Pedestrian/ bicycle/ motorcycle Seven-day pass | $12*

Kolob Canyon
Private vehicle Seven-day pass | $25*   

* Not to exceed $25 per family

By Greg Jones

Greg Jones is managing editor of Casino Connection Nevada, as well as associate editor of Global Gaming Business magazine.

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