After deciding to abort the mission to complete the hike on the Canyon Overlook Trail, I was set to leave Zion National Park and resign myself to a miserable experience — but before doing so, I checked once more whether the Scenic Drive was open to motor vehicles, as it was closed the last time I checked because of the maximum limit of 400 motor vehicles — and it was open!
The first stop was the Court of the Patriarchs in Zion National Park in Utah after the rangers of the park welcomed my rental car onto the Scenic Drive by waving me in.
Court of the Patriarchs Viewpoint in Zion National Park in Utah
The Court of the Patriarchs are sandstone cliffs which hold court over Birch Creek Canyon and one section of the Virgin River. A Methodist minister named Frederick Vining Fisher gave the religious names to the peaks in 1916 — and imagining how the grandeur of this view could inspire such reverence.
Named for three towering figures of the Old Testament, the Court of the Patriarchs are sandstone cliffs which hold court over Birch Creek Canyon and one section of the Virgin River — and each peak has a name.
From left to right are:
- Abraham Peak at 6,890 feet or 2,101 meters in elevation
- Isaac Peak at 6,825 feet or 2,081 meters in elevation
- Mount Moroni — with multiple small peaks — at 5,690 feet or 1,734 meters in elevation
- Jacob Peak — indicated by the lighter color — at 6,831 feet or 2,083 meters in elevation
Final Boarding Call
The shuttle service on Scenic Drive was not in operation that day; so the maximum limit of 400 vehicles on Scenic Drive was reached — and because of no shuttle service, I did not believe that I would have a chance to see much more of Zion National Park…
…but simply being encouraged by the rangers of the park to enter Scenic Drive indicated the change from what was to be chalked up as a miserable lost day to having the experience at Zion National Park salvaged after all — and that was only the beginning of what was to become an enjoyable day by the time it was done…
Zion National Park is open 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
Zion National Park
1 Zion Park Boulevard
Springdale, Utah 84767
435-772-3256
Credit cards are accepted.
All Weekly Passes are valid for seven days.
Weekly passes are non-transferable and are valid for seven consecutive days — including the date of purchase. Weekly passes may be upgraded to annual passes within seven days of purchase.
- Private Vehicle: $35.00. Admits private, non-commercial vehicle with a maximum capacity of 15 passengers and all occupants to Zion National Park — including both the Zion Canyon and Kolob Canyon areas.
- Motorcycle: $30.00. Admits one non-commercial motorcycle to Zion National Park — including both the Zion Canyon and Kolob Canyon areas.
- Per Person: $20.00. Admits one individual with no car to Zion National Park — including both the Zion Canyon and Kolob Canyon areas. This weekly pass is typically used for bicyclists, hikers, and pedestrians. Youth 15 years of age and younger are admitted free of charge.
- Non-Commercial Organized Groups. Organized groups such as Scouts, Rotary, Clubs, Youth Groups, Churches, Reunions, etc. that do not qualify for an Academic Fee Waiver are charged as follows:
- $35.00 Admits private, non-commercial vehicle with a maximum capacity of 15 passengers.
- $20.00 per person for non-commercial vehicles with a minimum capacity of 16 passengers. Fees will not exceed the commercial fee for the same-sized vehicle. Youth 15 years of age and younger are admitted free of charge. Individuals or families with any valid Annual or Lifetime pass may use their pass for entry at the per person rate. The pass and photographic identification must be present upon entry.
Please refer to the National Parks of Utah and Colorado: Itinerary and Master Guide article — which is still a work in progress — for links to other articles at The Gate With Brian Cohen which pertain to the national parks of Utah and Colorado.
All photographs ©2020 by Brian Cohen.
