 Prior to the completion of a Federal Land Survey in 1908, the magnificence of Zion National Park was experienced only by a few privileged Native Americans and early Mormon pioneer settlers. The survey findings of 1908 were so impressive that they were taken to President William Howard Taft. In July 1909, Taft declared more than 15,000 acres of the main canyon through Zion a National Monument called Mukuntuweap. During the first ten years of being National Monument the park had fewer than 1000 visitors. This was due to the parks remote locations and underdeveloped roads. While Zion Canyon was reported to be magnificent, visitors to the area found the trip into Zion Canyon difficult. The observations of these early visitors along with several informal reports commissioned by the federal government, helped in the effort to create the National Parks Service in August 1916. By March 1918 the monument had grown to more 76,000 acres and the name was changed to Zion National Monument . By November of 1919 the federal government had upgraded the area to National Park status. However, the new National Park still did not see an increase in the number of visitor’s willing to make the difficult journey. During this time, Stephen Mather was the director of the National Parks Service. Mather was awed by the beauty of Zion National Park and visited Zion at least once each year from 1919 to 1929. Mather often brought influential traveling companions along on his annual pilgrimage to Zion Canyon . During his trip in 1921, his companions included a writer from the Saturday Evening Post and a famous naturalist. The three began discussions of a tourist circle during a visit to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park . The tourist circle, which came to be known as the Grand Circle , takes visitors from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon to Bryce Canyon National Park, Cedar Breaks National Monument and Zion Canyon.
 Mather began working with the people from several communities located in the Zion National Park area to get the nearby roads paved. He also worked with a local photographer who took and colorized photographs of Zion Canyon for use in advertising. Mather also worked to get a 5,613 foot tunnel built through the sandstone cliffs of Zion Canyon . The Zion/Mt. Carmel Tunnel and highway created a viable roadway to be used for touring of the Grand Circle .
The Union Pacific Railroad also saw the potential of the Southern Utah/Arizona area and created a subsidiary business called Utah Parks Company. The Utah Parks Company spent more than $1,700,000 to improve the area in and around Zion National Park. Some of these improvements included laying a railroad track to Cedar City and constructing a railway station, purchasing extensive advertising in popular magazines and creating a bus-touring service that transported visitors from Cedar City to Zion National Park as well as the other stops along the Grand Circle . However, the most significant improvement was the construction of the Zion National Park Lodge and 46 additional rental cabins in the heart of the park. In 1966 the lodge was lost to a devastating fire. The Utah Parks Company quickly rebuilt the lodge. However, the rustic charm of the original building was left out of its replacement. During a 1990 restoration, much of the design from the original lodge was added to the building. The Zion National Park Lodge and rental cabins are still available to park visitors, but reservations must be scheduled at least one year in advance.
 Today Zion National Park receives over 2,000,000 visitors each year and now provides Park Shuttles from several locations within the park and the local town of Springdale . The park offers many trails that are easy walks and are accessible by wheelchair. There are also many intermediate and expert hiking trails available within Zion National Park. Zion has also become very popular for rock climbing and canyoneering.
The Mukuntuweap campground is located within Zion Canyon . Local communities offer many camping, lodging and dinning choices as well as a host of evening entertainment options.
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