Greatheart Press

America’s National Parks

Puzzle 41 · The Colorado Plateau · Page 63 in print

Zion

Kaibab Paiute speaker Benn Pikyavit calls the canyon Mukuntuweap, meaning “straight up land.” Settler Isaac Behunin named it Zion in 1864, using a Hebrew name that Mormon settlers understood as a place of safety and refuge.

Jump to a word
A man stands in a river at the bottom of a narrow canyon.

Walking within the Narrows places the river at the centre of the canyon.

NPS Photo · Public domain (U.S. federal government work) · Original record
Image changes

Resized and converted to JPEG for display; no subject alteration.

A group of hikers cross a bridge over a river. In the background, Angels Landing stands in view.

Hikers cross a bridge in Zion Canyon with Angels Landing beyond.

NPS Photo / Wil Marischen · Public domain (U.S. federal government work) · Original record
Image changes

Resized and converted to JPEG for display; no subject alteration.

The words

  1. Angels Landing

    Angels Landing, the high viewpoint reached by a steep canyon trail.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  2. Checkerboard

    Checkerboard Mesa, the sandstone feature with a checkerboard pattern.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  3. Emerald Pools

    Emerald Pools, the series of pools in Heaps Canyon.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  4. Kolob Arch

    Kolob Arch, a named natural arch in Zion National Park.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  5. Mukuntuweap

    Mukuntuweap, the Paiute name for Zion Canyon.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  6. Narrows

    The Narrows, the narrow Virgin River gorge in Zion Canyon.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  7. Patriarchs

    The Court of the Patriarchs, the three named sandstone peaks in Zion Canyon.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  8. Slot Canyon

    A slot canyon, the narrow type of gorge represented by the Virgin River Narrows.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  9. Springdale

    Springdale, the town beside Zion National Park.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  10. Subway

    The Subway, a named narrow canyon feature in Zion.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  11. Virgin River

    The Virgin River, the river that carved Zion Canyon.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  12. Watchman

    The Watchman, the named peak near the entrance of Zion Canyon.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  13. Weeping Rock

    Weeping Rock, the spring-fed rock face supporting hanging gardens.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  14. West Temple

    West Temple, the high rock formation in Zion Canyon.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  15. Zion

    Zion National Park, the protected canyon landscape in southern Utah.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

Sources

  1. Shuttle Narration - Zion National ParkNational Park Service
  2. Zion National Park Official Centennial Newspaper: A Century of Sanctuary, 1909–2009National Park Service
  3. Freestanding Arches - Zion National ParkNational Park Service
  4. The Narrows from the Top Down - Zion National ParkNational Park Service
  5. Zion Canyon Shuttle System - Zion National ParkNational Park Service
  6. Left Fork (Subway) - Zion National ParkNational Park Service

How we choose sources and photographs