Zion National Park
🇺🇸 United States
🐏 Bighorn Sheep on Zion SlickrockZion National Park sits on the Colorado Plateau in southwestern Utah. Its landscape is a maze of deep canyons, towering sandstone cliffs and desert‑dry scrub that hugs the Virgin River corridor, setting it apart from the broader forested parks of the region.
37.286° N 113.022° W
Wildlife
⭐ Iconic Species
★ 
California Condor
Gymnogyps californianus
★ 
Bighorn Sheep
Ovis canadensis
★ 
Mule Deer
Odocoileus hemionus
★ 
Spotted Owl
Strix occidentalis
📊 Most Spotted
Rock Squirrel
Otospermophilus variegatus
Plateau Fence Lizard
Sceloporus tristichus
Uinta Chipmunk
Tamias umbrinus
Common Raven
Corvus corax
Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard
Sceloporus uniformis
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
Common Side-blotched Lizard
Uta stansburiana
Canyon Tree Frog
Dryophytes arenicolor
Spotted Towhee
Pipilo maculatus
Sagebrush Lizard
Sceloporus graciosus
Western Whiptail
Aspidoscelis tigris
Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay
Aphelocoma woodhouseii
⭐ Iconic Species
📊 Most Spotted
Rock Squirrel
Otospermophilus variegatus
Uinta Chipmunk
Tamias umbrinus
Black-tailed Jackrabbit
Lepus californicus
Gray Fox
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
White-tailed Antelope Squirrel
Ammospermophilus leucurus
Desert Cottontail
Sylvilagus audubonii
Ringtail
Bassariscus astutus
Common Raccoon
Procyon lotor
Pronghorn
Antilocapra americana
Mountain Lion
Puma concolor
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
Callospermophilus lateralis
Cliff Chipmunk
Tamias dorsalis
⭐ Iconic Species
📊 Most Spotted
Common Raven
Corvus corax
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
Spotted Towhee
Pipilo maculatus
Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay
Aphelocoma woodhouseii
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
Canyon Wren
Catherpes mexicanus
Yellow Warbler
Setophaga petechia
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Polioptila caerulea
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
Northern Yellow Warbler
Setophaga aestiva
📊 Most Spotted
Plateau Fence Lizard
Sceloporus tristichus
Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard
Sceloporus uniformis
Common Side-blotched Lizard
Uta stansburiana
Sagebrush Lizard
Sceloporus graciosus
Western Whiptail
Aspidoscelis tigris
Plateau Striped Whiptail
Aspidoscelis velox
Gopher Snake
Pituophis catenifer
Desert Spiny Lizard
Sceloporus magister
Desert Collared Lizard
Crotaphytus bicinctores
Western Rattlesnake
Crotalus oreganus
Western Terrestrial Garter Snake
Thamnophis elegans
Ground Snake
Sonora semiannulata
📊 Most Spotted
Canyon Tree Frog
Dryophytes arenicolor
Arizona Toad
Anaxyrus microscaphus
Red-spotted Toad
Anaxyrus punctatus
Western Tiger Salamander
Ambystoma mavortium
Great Basin Spadefoot
Spea intermontana
Northern Leopard Frog
Lithobates pipiens
Woodhouse's Toad
Anaxyrus woodhousii
Recent sightings in Zion National Park
LIVEiNaturalistAnimal Events
1California Condor Soaring Season
Condors from the recovery program congregate and soar on thermals along Zion's high cliffs, most often seen above Angels Landing and Kolob Terrace.
2Bighorn Sheep Viewing
Desert bighorn descend to lower, visible slickrock on the east side in the cooler months — early winter is the documented prime viewing window after the autumn rut.
3Mexican Spotted Owl Nesting Season
Owl season runs when the owls mate and nest in Zion's cool, shaded slot canyons — the period they are most active and detectable.
4Canyon Tree Frog Chorus
During the spring breeding season a loud chorus of canyon tree frogs sounds from pools and streams in Zion's side canyons.
Sighting Calendar
Average chance of spotting the park's most-spotted species, month by month
- 1California Condor Soaring Season
- 2Bighorn Sheep Viewing
- 3Mexican Spotted Owl Nesting Season
- 4Canyon Tree Frog Chorus
Sighting Zones
Warmer areas are where all species together are recorded most often.
Essentials
Climate
What visitors saw
On the way, we spotted bighorn sheep up on a ledge.
The switchbacks going up/down to Scout’s Lookout When we made it to the end of Scout’s Lookout, we were pleasantly surprised to see a family of deer grazing amongst the shrub!
While we were there, we saw an incredible number of mule deer.
We hiked there from Kayenta Trail and were lucky enough to see 3 deer crossing the Virgin River: The fresh new leaves of the cottonwood trees made me hungry for salad!
Quick answers
What animals can you see in Zion National Park?
The most likely sightings are Mule Deer (seen by about 90% of wildlife watchers), Rock Squirrel (seen by about 90% of wildlife watchers), Plateau Fence Lizard (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Bighorn Sheep (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers), Uinta Chipmunk (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers) — among 572 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.
When is the best time to visit Zion National Park for wildlife?
April has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.
Can you see California Condor in Zion National Park?
Yes — about 20% of wildlife watchers report a California Condor sighting in Zion National Park, based on 976 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Bighorn Sheep in Zion National Park?
Yes — about 70% of wildlife watchers report a Bighorn Sheep sighting in Zion National Park, based on 400 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Mule Deer in Zion National Park?
Yes — about 90% of wildlife watchers report a Mule Deer sighting in Zion National Park, based on 1,064 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Spotted Owl in Zion National Park?
Yes — about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Spotted Owl sighting in Zion National Park, based on 24 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Where Wildlife Score
How good is this park for seeing wildlife?Biodiversity
Very goodHow rich is the wildlife?
Sighting
Very goodHow likely to see animals?
Experience
GoodHow easy and pleasant is the visit?
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