Zion National Park is a mind-blowing place to visit, but the National Scenic Byway (
State Highway 9) between Zion's main canyon and Mount Carmel, Utah is a stunning way to cover a lot of amazing ground. Highlights include swirling, otherworldly rock formations, mounds, towers, hoodoos, and hilltops. Layered strata of rusty red, orange, cream, yellow and brown color the landscape that is dotted with desert pines, sagebrush, and wildflowers. Over millions of years, water, wind and ice have shaped this landscape into the spectacular scene it is today.

Zion National Park is a southwest Utah nature preserve distinguished by Zion Canyon’s steep red cliffs. Zion Canyon Scenic Drive cuts through its main section, leading to forest trails along the Virgin River. The river flows to the Emerald Pools, which have waterfalls and a hanging garden. Also along the river, partly through deep chasms, is Zion Narrows wading hike.

Mount Carmel Junction and Mount Carmel are unincorporated communities located 12 miles east of Zion National Park and 17 miles north of Kanab in Kane County, Utah, United States. They lie in close proximity to the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park.