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Top 10 Most Visited National Parks in the US
5. Zion National Park
Photo by Tom Fear
Zion National Park locates in southwestern counties of Utah with 232 square miles of high plateaus, a maze of narrow, deep sandstone canyons running along the Virgin River and its tributaries. Though the Virgin River is relatively small, it is incredibly steep. The river drops roughly 7,800 feet in the 160 miles it travels. This water erosion continues to carve and shape Zion. Zion has 2,000-foot Navajo sandstone cliffs, pine- and juniper-clad slopes, and seeps, springs, and waterfalls supporting lush and colorful hanging gardens. With an elevation change of about 5,000 feet-from the highest point at Horse Ranch Mountain (at 8,726 feet) to the lowest point at Coal Pits Wash (at 3,666 feet), Zion's diverse topography leads to a diversity of habitats and species. To fully experience the enchanting beauty of Zion, you should plan to hike the same paths where the pioneers walked on, gazing up the clear blue sky to see the impressive color imprints of sandstone cliffs. In 2016, there are roughly 4.3 million visitors came to the park to witness this magnificent display of nature beauty.
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