By Lisa Swann

Zion National Park in southwestern Utah is celebrating its 105th anniversary tomorrow, and there is a lot to celebrate! With deep, sandstone canyons, pinyon-juniper and conifer woodlands, hanging gardens and waterfalls, the park is a delight to visitors. Some 207 types of birds can be found in the park. This rich tapestry of habitats and species make it one of the most visited sites in Utah.

The park includes Horse Ranch Mountain, at 8,726 feet and desert, riparian and woodland communities and neighbors the Mojave Desert, the Great Basin and the Rocky Mountains. One of the more unique features within Zion National Park’s 229 square miles is a series of narrow sandstone canyons.

More than 1,000 species of plants can be found in the park, from tall cottonwoods growing along the river to towering pines and firs shading the higher elevations. Some plants in the park, such as prickly pears, cholla and yucca are adapted to the desert climate. In the hanging gardens, one can find colorful Zion shooting-stars, scarlet monkey flowers, and Western and golden columbines.

A variety of wildlife find food, shelter and nesting places in Zion. From the Endangered Species list, California condors fly above the cliffs of the park. Zion’s canyons are also home to the highest density of the threatened Mexican spotted owl — a species whose habitat American Forest has been restoring in New Mexico through our Trigo Reforestation Global ReLeaf project. But that’s not all. The park is home to approximately 67 species of mammals, 29 species of reptiles, seven species of amphibians, and nine species of fish. For all their sakes, we wish Zion National Park a very happy birthday.