Zion Park Scenic Byway

Hurricane

Begin in the town named after a violent 1863 windstorm that reportedly tore the roof from a church meetinghouse. Hear how Mormon pioneers battled leaking canals, crop-destroying grasshoppers, and relentless desert winds to build a community here.

Hurricane Mesa

Look toward the flat-topped mesa where the Air Force built a secret rocket-sled testing facility in the 1950s. Crash-test dummy “Hurricane Sam” was launched at enormous speeds to help engineers design safer aircraft ejection seats.

Sheep Bridge and Falls Park

Cool off along the Virgin River at a local favorite featuring sandy beaches, tubing rapids, swimming holes, picnic areas, and shade beneath cottonwood trees.

Grafton Ghost Town

Explore a genuine western ghost town that Mormon pioneers rebuilt after floods and abandoned during periods of conflict. The preserved schoolhouse, cemetery, and homes later appeared in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

Rockville Bridge

Cross the historic steel truss bridge built in 1924 to withstand the Virgin River’s destructive floods. Local residents successfully fought to preserve it when replacement was proposed decades later.

Zion Canyon

Enter the canyon carved by the Virgin River through ancient Navajo Sandstone. Towering red-and-white cliffs rise above the highway as the route passes through Springdale and the park’s southern entrance.

The Great Arch and East Temple

Stop at a roadside viewpoint for views of the enormous blind arch and the soaring East Temple, two of the most dramatic formations along Highway 9.

Zion–Mount Carmel Tunnel

Drive through the mile-long tunnel blasted through solid rock between 1927 and 1930. Its distinctive windows were originally created so workers could remove debris during construction.

Many Pools

Take an optional hike across slickrock filled with natural basins and small waterfalls after rainfall. The route offers a quieter alternative to Zion’s busiest trails.

Checkerboard Mesa

See Zion’s famous crosshatched sandstone dome, where horizontal ancient dune layers intersect with vertical cracks caused by repeated freezing and thawing.

East Zion

Experience the park’s quieter eastern side, where pale sandstone, open landscapes, and fewer crowds create a completely different atmosphere from Zion Canyon.