Ah, Zion. A place named for its ties to sanctuary - after all, its meaning in Hebrew is just that. But how did that name come about, and when? Clearly it is easy to hear the name, see the splendor of the surroundings, and relate the two - but it actually was not always called Zion. Today is it one of the top 3 national parks to visit in the US according to the number of visitors in recent years. Whether you camp or drive an RV, you’ll need a home base for Zion visits - and with popularity rising, it’s smart to plan ahead! As the area has sustained steady growth in popularity, Zion is making changes to the way visitors can access the park and how they can accommodate some of these larger influxes of visitors.

Mukuntuweap National Monument

The original “name” of the national park, which came about in the 1870s from a surveyor who intended on naming it in reference and honor to the Southern Paiute population native to the region. It might be translated to “straight river” or “straight canyon” according to some sources, but others have stated that this name could be interpreted in many different ways.

Others more commonly referenced the name some Mormon settlers had given it when they came upon the area - calling it Zion in their community, and referencing SLC as the City of Zion. While the leader of their church (Brigham Young) was not keen on the name, the sitting president at the time (Taft) had actually named it Mukuntuweap National Monument after all in 1909.

National Parks Service & Zion National Park

Influenced by one of the leaders in establishing the National Parks Service, the change of name came along with the help of Horace M. Albright. After visiting the area, he was shook with its beauty and took notice of the locals around the area using the name “Zion” when they spoke of the place. His goal was to make the small monument much larger, and draw more people to see the splendor by changing the name to what it was commonly called - and it’s apparent that strategy worked! The name was officially changed just 9 years later in 1918 to Zion National Monument by President Woodrow Wilson - a year later altered again to Zion National Park. Since then of course, it is a very well-known and popular national park in the US.

Zion is ranked as the third busiest park in the country with 4.5 million visitors in 2017 according to the St. George News - The Spectrum. The highest ranking are Great Smokey Mountains National Park (TN) and the Grand Canyon. The park itself is now implementing new methods of managing such high volumes of visitors by enacting limits, using an online reservation system, and other ways like changing park fee structures. Regardless of how visitors will get there or when, the fact remains that Zion is an incredible sight to behold.

Lesser Known Beauties

If you’re planning a trip to visit Zion - it's always best to plan your accommodations well in advance. WillowWind RV Park in Hurricane, UT is the perfect place for you to rest your head, whether you are camping or traveling in an RV. Catch some of the less populated parks nearby - like Red Cliffs National Conservation area - only 15 miles from WillowWind, boasting many awesome sights to see like archaeological sites, trailheads, creeks, old mining ruins, horseback riding, and more. Another site to incorporate into your trip to see Zion could be a visit to Snow Canyon State Park - part of the 62,000 acre Red Cliffs Desert Reserve. Snow Canyon will show you a surprising amount of bright color on the sandstone cliffs in this desert environment, and it is only a short 26 mile drive from WillowWind.

Whether you are making your way to Utah specifically to see Zion, or you are traveling on a summer road trip through some of this country’s amazing parks and conservations, start making moves on your accommodations - just like Zion, reservations fill up quickly! At WillowWind, we have amenities to help your stay feel comfortable and provide a relaxing space to return to after a long day of hiking and venturing out into nature. Our facilities have laundry, a full kitchen in our clubhouse, a pool table, teepees and more. WillowWind was also rated number one of the top 10 campgrounds and RV parks in Utah by RVshare. Our staff is friendly and accommodating - and one of the top reasons listed by many of our guests for staying at WillowWind is the proximity to so many different natural wonders and parks.

So start the planning process now! Make a reservation request to plan your stay with us.

Looking for more information about the area or things to do while staying at WillowWind? Things to do in the area are a-plenty, and we’ve got a list of options for your perusal. Stay informed of some of the recent news and highlights in the area, along with helpful tips and RV topics from our blog! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to get a glimpse of what you might experience here at WillowWind, with cookouts, games, and communal events like hot dogs and horseshoes. Looking forward to meeting you, Zion adventurers!