Zion National Park Biology and Geology

This national park is located in southwestern Utah. Zion attracts visitors because of its phenomenal red rock formations, canyons, towering cliffs, and unique hiking opportunities. This part of Utah took the form that we see today over millions of years..

Navajo Sandstone:

There is plenty of Navajo Sandstone in Zion National Park. It's one type of sandstone that often looks red in appearance. It makes up most of the great cliffs and steep rock faces in Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah. The color of this sandstone comes from the presence and various amounts of iron oxide contained within the stone. While this type of sandstone is primarily red, Navajo Sandstone can be white, gold, light pink, brown, or even black. The Virgin River has cut its way through the Zion National Park's Navajo Sandstone and has played a very significant role in the present day landscapes, canyons, and towering cliffs of the park.

Uplift and Tectonic Activity:

Upliftment of the Colorado Plateau is also a major player in the landscapes that exist both in and outside the park. Most of the high formations resulted from uplift in the tectonic plates of the Colorado Plateau.

Zion has a diverse variety of animal life. The following is a list of some the most interesting or most commonly seen throughout the park:

Mule Deer: The deer reside in the low and high areas of Zion National Park. They favor the Virgin River and are frequently seen quenching their thirst there or lying on meadows throughout the park. 

Bighorn Sheep: Bighorn sheep are usually found inhabiting mountainous parts in the Western United States. It is known that much of a bighorn sheep's time is spent in the high-elevation, rocky, cliffy areas in the park. It is the type of land that provides them with habitat requirements such as food, shelter, water, and security from predators. One common location the sheep are seen is on the drive from the main canyon or south entrance to the east entrance of the park on Scenic Highway 9 - they love to negotiate steep cliffs and rock formations found there.

Mountain Lions: These seldom seen, often night hunting animals, usually stay away from the activity of the Main Canyon and are most likely to be seen in the Kolob Canyon or backcountry of the park. Even as top predators in the area there have been no attacks on humans.

California Condor: The California Condor is an endangered species. California condors have been reintroduced to the southwestern United States;  Zion National Park has been involved with the California Condor Recovery Program, which is a collaborative effort by the federal and state agencies, non-profit organizations, and private partners that are working together to release captive-bred condors into suitable habitats and to monitor progress in the wild.

Winter is one of the best times to spot these wonderful birds; they are often seen this time of year, riding the thermals above the cliffs, or resting in trees.

Golden Eagles: Probably the most common distribution of the Golden Eagle can be found in the Western United States. These large creatures spend much of their time patrolling very high in the sky. During winter months, it is not unusual to see Eagles that have moved south from Canada or Alaska.

Rock Squirrels: if you're going to be in Zion at all, you'll undoubtedly see a cute little squirrel. Remember not to feed them or any of the other animals.

Collared Lizard: This is a very impressive looking lizard that is just right for desert living. They are mostly distributed down low in the areas of Zion National Park.

Western Rattlesnake: This is a poisonous snake that does inhabit the park, though very few sightings and reports have been made. A rattlesnake can be identified by its tail, a distinctive rattle making rattling sounds when they shake it. One would most likely come across rattlesnakes along the more remote trails and upper plateaus of the park.

Ringtail: This nocturnal mammal is related to the familiar raccoons. It often ventures out at night to look for some fun. Since few people visiting Zion National Park do so little exploring of their own during the night, few get a glimpse of a ringtail.

Coyote: While coyotes are rarely spotted within the densely human-visited area of the main canyon, coyotes are not an uncommon sighting in the more distant and less inhibited areas of the park.

Hanging Gardens:
The Hanging Gardens of Zion National Park add wonderful green color and an oasis-like feel to the landscape. A Hanging Garden consists of lush vegetation that develops on vertical sandstone cliffs and is fed from water that seeps down from above. Ferns, mosses, and other moisture-loving plants hang down and create a striking contrast with red rock throughout the park.

Ponderosa Pine: These are large evergreen trees that are common in the higher elevations of Zion National Park.

Utah Juniper: Juniper does well in most of the different elevations in the park. These trees provide good food and cover for many of the animals of the park.

Fremont Cottonwood: Along the Virgin River, which passes through the park, beautiful cottonwood trees are found. They leaf out bright green in the spring, turning to the wonderful autumn shades of yellow and gold in the fall. Cottonwoods in their different seasons add uplifting colors and rich contrast to the picture of the canyon.

Pinyon Pine: Another great species of pine tree found in the park, the pinyon pine is more resistant to the aridity of this area.

Big Sagebrush: This aromatic shrub is a commonly found in many of Utah's landscapes and certainly does well in Zion's environment.

Indian Paintbrush: These wildflowers come in a variety of colors—red, orange, and pink—adding a splash of stunning color across the landscape of Zion. In their entirety, wildflowers are a popular adornment of the landscape for visitors. Wildflowers are usually in bloom from April into June.

Claret Cup Cactus: This cactus, which lives in the desert areas of the park, is a wonderful sight when in bloom.

Cryptobiotic Soil: While not a plant, this living soil crust plays a critical role in preventing erosion to the park environment. It is important to know what it looks like and try to avoid damaging this critically important living soil.

Claret Cup Cactus (Echinocereus triglochidiatus): Found in the desert areas of the park, this cactus produces brilliant red flowers.

Cryptobiotic Soil: While not a plant, this living soil crust is crucial for preventing erosion to the environment of the park. It is important to be aware of what it looks like and refrain from causing any harm to this critically important living soil.