Why Zion National Park is so special and what to know before you go

It’s no secret. Zion National Park is one of America’s most spectacular national parks.

It’s also one of the most popular, coming in second or third in visitation each year in recent years, according to National Park Service numbers. And it’s easy to see why.

“Zion National Park encompasses some of the most scenic canyon country in the United States,” said Jorge Hernandez, education supervisor at Zion.

Unlike the Grand Canyon , which most visitors approach at rim level, visitors begin exploring Zion from the canyon floor.

“You look up, and you see these massive Navajo Sandstone cliffs on either side of you. And as you start going into the canyon, you start to see those walls becoming narrower and narrower, which I think is really fascinating,” Hernandez said. “Also, Zion National Park is located in the juncture of the Colorado Plateau , the Mojave Desert and the Great Basin ecoregions, and that creates a very unique environment for a variety of lifeforms and ecosystems here at Zion. Zion also preserves a plethora of human history .”

Here’s what else travelers should know about visiting Zion, the final park in USA TODAY’s yearlong series .

Where is Zion National Park?

Zion is located in southwestern Utah and the most visited of the state's Mighty Five national parks .

The other four parks are Arches , Bryce Canyon , Canyonlands and Capitol Reef .

The closest airport with commercial service is St. George Regional Airport , but the closest major airport is Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, 176 miles away from Zion Canyon Visitor Center.

How much time do you need to spend at Zion National Park?

Hernandez recommends spending at least a couple hours in the park to take in sights along the free park shuttle and maybe a short hike. However, many visitors choose to spend multiple days exploring Zion.

Do you need a reservation for Zion?

Reservations are not required to enter Zion.

Permits are, however, required to hike popular Angels Landing as well as the 16-mile through hike of the Virgin River Narrows . They’re also required for activities like backcountry camping and technical canyoneering.

Can I take my car into Zion?

Yes, but Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is only open to private vehicles for a few months each winter.

Visitors are prohibited from driving along Zion Canyon Scenic Drive during the Zion Canyon Shuttle ’s operating season, from March through November.

The entry fee is $35 for cars, $30 for motorcycles and $20 for snowmobiles. Entry costs $20 for individuals over age 15 arriving without a vehicle.

Where to stay in Zion National Park

There is one hotel inside the park, Zion National Park Lodge , which is operated by a third-party concessionaire and open year-round. There are also three campgrounds : Watchman, South and Lava Point. However, South Campground is closed for rehabilitation work. Backcountry camping is also allowed with a permit.

What is the best month to visit Zion National Park?

It depends on what visitors are looking for. For instance, Hernandez said summer offers blue skies and green foliage but also hotter weather and sometimes monsoons.

“Winter offers cold temperatures, of course, but in the winter, when it snows, sometimes you see snow-capped sandstone cliffs, which I think is really beautiful,” he said. “There's no bad time to visit Zion. Depending on the season, you'll see Zion completely different.”

What is the most visited national park? Answers to your biggest park questions

How to avoid crowds at Zion

“Arrive early in the morning or later in the day,” Hernandez said. Parking lots can fill up before 8 a.m. during the summer.

The park’s main visitor center is open every day, and park rangers can help suggest places to get away from crowds.

“In a very busy place like Zion, there are spaces where one can find solitude and reflect and connect with natural and cultural resources we have here,” Hernandez added, noting that the park is 84% wilderness.

Who are the Native people of Zion?

At least 37 Native tribes and nations have historic ties to the land. Those include but are not limited to:

• Chemehuevi Indian Tribe of the Chemehuevi Reservation, California
• Confederate Tribes of the Goshute Reservation, Nevada and Utah
• Hopi Tribe of Arizona
• Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians of the Kaibab Indian Reservation, Arizona
• Las Vegas Tribe of Paiute Indians of the Las Vegas Indian Colony, Nevada
• Moapa Band of Paiute Indians of the Moapa River Indian Reservation
• Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico & Utah
• Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico
• Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah
• Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah - Cedar Band
• Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah - Indian Peaks Band
• Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah - Kanosh Band
• Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah - Koosharem Band
• Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah - Shivwits Band
• Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico
• Pueblo of Cochiti, New Mexico
• Pueblo of Isleta, New Mexico
• Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico
• Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico
• Pueblo of Nambe, New Mexico (Nanbe Owingeh)
• Pueblo of Picuris, New Mexico
• Pueblo of Pojoaque, New Mexico
• Pueblo of San Felipe, New Mexico
• Pueblo of San Ildefonso, New Mexico
• Pueblo of Santa Ana, New Mexico
• Pueblo of Santa Clara, New Mexico
• Pueblo of Tesuque, New Mexico
• Pueblo of Taos, New Mexico
• Pueblo of Zia, New Mexico
• San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe of Arizona
• Santo Domingo Pueblo
• Skull Valley Goshute General Council
• Southern Ute Indian Tribe of the Southern Ute Reservation, Colorado
• Ute Indian Tribe of the Unitah & Ouray Reservation, Utah
• Ute Mountain Ute Tribe
• White Mesa Ute
• Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Zion National Park is so special and what to know before you go