Zion Canyon

Zion National Park is a 229 square mile National Park in Washington County that includes Zion Canyon, which contains towering red rock cliffs that have been carved out by the Virgin River.

The first Anglo-European settlers, Mormon pioneers, arrived in the area in the late 1800's and named the area Zion, which is ancient Hebrew for sanctuary or refuge. The first Mormon resident of Zion Canyon was Isaac Behunin and his cabin was near today’s Zions Lodge site. 

In 1872, after settlement by Mormon pioneers, Major John Wesley Powell visited Zion on the first scientific exploration of southern Utah. Mukuntuweap is the name originally given to Zion Canyon by Powell. The name was believed to be a Paiute name meaning straight canyon.

Zion Canyon was originally set aside as Mukuntuweap National Monument in 1909 by President William Howard Taft before being enlarged to its current boundaries and designated as Zion National Park in 1929.

Zion National Park falls within the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Nuwuvi (Southern Paiute) Pueblos.