River of Zion

The 162-mile-long Virgin River created Zion Canyon and continues to carve it deeper into the Earth. The river usually seems placid, but spring runoff and rainstorms fill the waters with abrasive sandstone particles. Catastrophic floods can occur in the canyon where rain melts the snow at the river's headwaters, which lie less than 25 miles above the main canyon. Within the Zion Narrows, this flooding can be swift and deadly. Inside the park, the river is home to four healthy populations of native fish species. Willows and cottonwoods grow along its banks, where mule deer can be seen coming down for a twilight drink. The popular two-mile Riverside Walk is a great way to experience this lush riparian habitat.