The Sentinel in Zions National Park

One of Zions' famous national park rock formations is the Sentinel, a massive monolith that is just one of a few famous ones that draw in visitors from across the planet. In fact, most people rarely get the chance to see it any closer than from the main park road or nearby vantage points. Others take the grueling hikes down to the canyon floor to get up close and personal.

Getting close to the hoodoo type monoliths of Zions' national park is something that only some hikers dare to do. In fact, this massive piece of towering sandstone has been a point of fascination for even ancient natives, many thousands of years ago. However, not everyone wishes to get so close or walk the long trails to see them, but they, like the well-know Sentinel can be seen easily from varied spots.

The Sentinel sits in the southern section of Zion. The Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway traverses passed varied points, including massive cliffs, finally leading to a viewpoint where the famous monolith and its similar rock formations can be seen. It is just one of six major sandstone formations that create a strange mysticism for most people.

A couple of trails lead from the main road down into the canyon floors. Hikers may need to use some grit and clamber down steep slopes, but the rewards are incredible. Though it is not possible to get right to the monoliths, they are a short distance away from the main trails; it is close enough to get a taste of their massive size and height. However, as with most trails, off-trail hiking is not permitted because park authorities are trying to prevent further erosion of the already continually eroding sites.