Zion National Park was Utah’s first national park and was established in 1909 as Mukuntuweap National Monument. It became Zion National Park in 1919. The name "Zion" meaning "place of refuge," was given to the canyon by Mormon pioneers.

The Virgin River has gnawed through native sandstone to create the incredibly scenery found in Zion Canyon. Massive canyon walls with a height of up to 2,500 feet ascend on both sides of the river, the cliffs range in color from cream, to pink, to red.