Zion National Park is sandstone cliffs, meadows, canyon narrows, weeping rocks and waterfalls only a short road trip away from the Las Vegas Strip. Mormon settlers discovered this place in the mid-1800s, naming it "Zion".
Along the drive crossing the Mojave Desert northward, journey through Nevada's history – past Native lands, old mining towns and mountain ranges with gemstones, gold, and silver. Gaining elevation approaching the Colorado Plateau and like a sentinel of stone, the Virgin River Gorge guards the entranceway to Utah's scenery.
Enter the national park going through a maze of mesas and slot canyons, winding down to the Mount Carmel Tunnel. The tunnel was an engineering feat of the 1920s to produce the "Grand Circle" linking Zion with Bryce and the Grand Canyon. Small windows in the tunnel wall show off the monumental opulence, but only on the other side Zion Canyon is seen. After lunch in the center of the valley, you will explore the trails, viewpoints, and scenic sights.