Floor of the Valley Road facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Floor of the Valley Road
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Zion Canyon and road near Observation Point
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 Location in Utah
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Springdale, Utah |
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| Built | 1932 |
| Architect | Civilian Conservation Corps; Carnes, W.G., et al. |
| MPS | Zion National Park MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 96000048 |
| Added to NRHP | February 16, 1996 |
The Floor of the Valley Road, also known as the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, is a special road inside Zion National Park in Utah, USA. It follows the beautiful North Fork of the Virgin River through Zion Canyon. This road helps visitors explore the park's amazing natural sights. The road starts at the park's south entrance and goes all the way to a place called the Temple of Sinawava.
Contents
Designing the Road for Nature
The designers of the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive wanted it to blend in with the park's natural beauty. They used materials found right there, like red sandstone. They also used a building style called "rustic construction." This means the structures look natural and fit the wild feel of the park. This was a popular way to build in national parks during the 1930s.
Blending with the Landscape
The road surface itself is coated with red rock. This helps it match the canyon's colorful cliffs. A special bridge on this road, the Cable Creek Bridge, is a great example of this natural design style. Some parts of the road near the park's south entrance have been rebuilt over time. These sections might look a bit different from the original 1930s design.
Building the Scenic Drive
The very first version of this road was a simple dirt path. It was built in 1916 by a park engineer named W.O. Tufts. This early road went as far as the Weeping Rock parking area.
Improvements Over Time
In 1925, a new gravel road replaced the dirt path. This improved road was called the "Government Road." It stretched all the way to the Temple of Sinawava. The road you see today was mostly built between 1931 and 1932. This was during the Great Depression, and building the road was a public works project. This means it was a government project that created jobs for many people.
Help from the CCC
More construction work happened on the road from 1933 to 1942. This work was done by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The CCC was a program during the Great Depression. It hired young men to work on conservation projects in national parks and forests.
Managing Traffic in the Canyon
Zion Canyon is quite narrow. By the 1990s, too many cars were causing traffic jams. This made it hard for visitors to enjoy the park.
Shuttle Bus System
To solve the traffic problem, Zion National Park started a public transportation system in the year 2000. They use special shuttle buses powered by propane. These buses help reduce pollution and traffic. From April through October, private cars are not allowed on the scenic drive in Zion Canyon. During these months, visitors ride the shuttle buses to explore the canyon.
