Editor's Note: This news item was retrieved and first published through Travel and Leisure's website.
There are some places in the U.S. that are just a bit more jaw-dropping than the rest — corners of the country with landscapes that have us reaching for our phones and habitats that support life not found just anywhere. One of these magical places is Zion National Park. Utah’s first and oldest national park, Zion encompasses 232 square miles and boasts narrow sandstone canyons, soaring red cliffs, and pockets of lush vegetation in otherwise desert-like terrain. Thanks to the park’s 5,000 feet of elevation change — from Coalpits Wash at 3,666 feet to Horse Ranch Mountain at 8,726 feet — the terrain is varied, offering something for everyone, including serious rock climbers and casual day hikers.