There is ample parking in the visitor center parking lot.
No entrance fee is required as long as you don’t go any
further into the park.
The Colorado Plateau is a geomorphologic feature that covers
parts of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. About 15 to 20
million years ago the entire Colorado Plateau began being uplifted
in one relatively undisturbed mass. This particular fault can be
traced about 155 miles south to the other side of the Grand Canyon.
In many places faults at its edge created sheer cliffs as the
Plateau was uplifted. In the area of the park, the Colorado Plateau
has been pushed up about 3,600 feet. Erosion has removed much of
that material.
This uplift significantly increased the erosive power of the
rivers and streams of the park. The water in these rivers was now
flowing down from a higher elevation and as a result cut down into
the underlying rock faster. Here in Zion and Kolob Canyons, the
surrounding bedrock is cohesive so as the rivers erode down steep
walled canyons are formed.
Logging requirements:
Send me a note with :
- The text "GC17E2K The Hurricane Fault" on the first line
- The number of people in your group.
- A second result of movement along the fault that contributed to
the formation of the canyons (on the NPS display)
- Is the fault active and explain how you know
- Travel south on the 15 toward St. George and identify the
feature(s) of the Hurricane Fault visible from the freeway
- Advanced Question
What kind of fault is the Hurricane Fault
The above information was compiled from the
following sources:
- Miek, Robert F., et. al., Geology of Zion
National Park, Utah in Geology of Utah’s Parks and Monuments, 2003
Utah Geological Association Publication 28 (second edition) D.A.
Sprinkel, T.C. Chidsey, Jr. and P.B. Anderson, editors
- NPS Informational Panel
Placement approved by the
Zion National Park