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Zion National Park
Center for the State of the Parks: Park Assessments
Published July 2005
Zion National Park is home to deep canyons that were cut through multi-hued sedimentary rock by the erosive power of free-flowing rivers. The park is one of the few places left in the American Southwest where unfettered rivers are continuing the erosion processes that produced the spectacular landscapes preserved in the region’s parks. A variety of park trails enables visitors of all hiking abilities to discover the hanging gardens, scenic vistas, ancient peoples’ rock art, and natural arches that are still part of Zion’s dramatic landscape. People have lived in Zion’s landscape for at least 8,000 years. And, rock art, prehistoric dwellings, tools and artifacts, historic homesteads, logging facilities, and irrigation ditches tell the stories of the area’s previous inhabitants. But, NPCA’s assessment of Zion National Park reveals that the park is insufficiently staffed to tell these stories to the more than 2 million visitors to the park each year. The park’s interpretive staff, who educate visitors about the park’s resources, human history, and help to instill an appreciation and understanding of the park and its importance to American heritage, is comprised of eight full time employees, ten seasonal employees, and one volunteer—roughly 105,263 visitors for each interpretive staff member.
