If you love stunning, towering monumental rock features, then both Zion and Yosemite National Parks are two of your must-see National Parks. Located in Utah and California, both National Park are filled with their own unique awe. But with many similarities in their natural monuments, majestic towers, their lore and myth, their powerful majestic rivers, and their huge tourist industries; to compare them is fitting.
So, then, is Zion is the Yosemite of the Southwest? Or is Yosemite is the Zion of the West Coast? I’ll let you decide. But one thing is for sure, they have mother nature’s best spectacular displays on this continent.
Now, we love each National Park across America for its own unique landscape and history. So it would be incredibly difficult to name our very favorites. But one thing is sure, Zion and Yosemite both are sure at the top of the top of the list. I’ll tell you why.
Both Zion and Yosemite Have Guardians
The Watchman of Zion, and El Captain (the Captain) of Yosemite both guard their National Parks well. It is magical that they both allude to some sort of strong protective presence. I imagine that these lands were held so sacred by First Nation People’s for many reasons, but one of them must have been the guardians of the land. The name Zion itself is a Hebrew word for refuge, which invokes that same sense of safe landing.
It is definitely worth getting a campsite at the Watchman Campground at Zion to bask in its presence.
Both Have Towering Rock; Zion’s Red and Yosemite’s Granite
Both the Southwest’s out-of-this-world red rock features and the Sierra’s magnificent granite rock features leave a lifetime impression of the grandeur of nature. Now, the rock itself that shapes the landscapes are incredibly different in form.
Zion has sedimentary rock, with many layers including the Navajo Sandstone. The red rock is shifting and crumbling at a rate visible to eye. Check out more of the geology of Zion on it’s National Park website. There is such a different grip at Yosemite. Its igneous rock, including its beautiful quartz seems ancient and solid. Check out more of the geology of Yosemite on it’s National Park website.
Both National Parks Have Many Beautifully Varied Eco-Systems
Far from just iconic rugged rock features, at both of these parks you can explore green lush and brightly flowered spaces. Zion has five ecosystems, and Yosemite has seven ecosystems. So both are a festival of life in all the climatic and ecological change you can imagine. Zion’s Virgin River flows through the park, with its North Fork shaping much of the experience along Zion’s main drag. I was surprised that only buses, no vehicles, are allowed most of the year at Zion’s main viewpoints.
At Yosemite, it is rich with both lakes and rivers. The two most prominent, the Merced River in the South, and the Tuolumne River to the East. The two rivers really mark the two distinct zones of Yosemite: the Merced River in its Valley, and the Tuolumne River in its High Sierra. Both are also teeming with magnificent groves of ancient giant sequoias. To me, this is what features Yosemite’s main prominence over Zion. Our favorite is Mariposa Grove, which makes for a great bike ride with kids.
Other Travel Notes for Both of These Majesties
That said, Zion is in Utah, which makes for the best travel fun all around. The National Parks near Zion, such as Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef, all have fantastic dispersed camping. Utah is by far the most welcoming Van Life state, especially for families, to wayfind.
An important mention, both Zion and Yosemite have varied landscapes of extreme harsh winter climate, so anytime you are visiting these magical parks, preparation for absolutely any weather condition is essential. Check the forecast before you drive, and know which entrances and areas are closed. At Yosemite, Tuolumne Meadows in the high Sierras is completely closed every winter.
Another plug for why a van is the superior choice for camping in any season, you can visit these places and sleep soundly with the right heat and insulation with minimal effort. Plus, with a van, you can catch a better view of any peak from the rooftop lounge.
