Zion National Park

🇺🇸 United States

🐏 Bighorn Sheep on Zion Slickrock

🌍 #178 Global · 3.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #28 in North America #11 in Desert & Scrub

Colorado Plateau, United States 572 spp. recorded

Zion 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

★

Gymnogyps californianus

Ovis canadensis

Odocoileus hemionus

Strix occidentalis

📊 Most Spotted

Otospermophilus variegatus

80–90% · Very likely

Endemic

Sceloporus tristichus

Tamias umbrinus

Corvus corax

Sceloporus uniformis

Turdus migratorius

Uta stansburiana

Dryophytes arenicolor

Pipilo maculatus

Sceloporus graciosus

Aspidoscelis tigris

Aphelocoma woodhouseii

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Ovis canadensis

Odocoileus hemionus

📊 Most Spotted

Otospermophilus variegatus

Tamias umbrinus

Lepus californicus

Urocyon cinereoargenteus

10–20% · Possible

Ammospermophilus leucurus

Sylvilagus audubonii

Cynomys parvidens

Bassariscus astutus

Procyon lotor

Puma concolor

Antilocapra americana

10–20% · With luck

LC Endemic

Canis latrans

Insufficient data

⭐ Iconic Species

★

Gymnogyps californianus

20–30% · Possible

★

Strix occidentalis

10–20% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Corvus corax

Turdus migratorius

Pipilo maculatus

Aphelocoma woodhouseii

Cathartes aura

Haemorhous mexicanus

Colaptes auratus

Catherpes mexicanus

Setophaga petechia

Polioptila caerulea

Setophaga coronata

Meleagris gallopavo

📊 Most Spotted

Endemic

Sceloporus tristichus

Sceloporus uniformis

Uta stansburiana

Sceloporus graciosus

Aspidoscelis tigris

Aspidoscelis velox

Sceloporus magister

Pituophis catenifer

Crotaphytus bicinctores

Crotalus oreganus

Thamnophis elegans

Sonora semiannulata

📊 Most Spotted

Dryophytes arenicolor

50–60% · Likely

LC Endemic

Anaxyrus microscaphus

Anaxyrus punctatus

Ambystoma mavortium

Spea intermontana

Lithobates pipiens

Anaxyrus woodhousii

Animal Events

🦅

California Condor Soaring Season

AugSepNov

Condors from the recovery program congregate and soar on thermals along Zion's high cliffs, most often seen above Angels Landing and Kolob Terrace.

Gymnogyps californianus

20–30% · Possible

🐏

Bighorn Sheep Viewing

DecMar

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.

LC Endemic

Ovis canadensis

70–80% · Very likely

🦉

Mexican Spotted Owl Nesting Season

MarAprMayJun

Owl season runs when the owls mate and nest in Zion's cool, shaded slot canyons — the period they are most active and detectable.

Strix occidentalis

10–20% · Possible

🐸

Canyon Tree Frog Chorus

AprMayJun

During the spring breeding season a loud chorus of canyon tree frogs sounds from pools and streams in Zion's side canyons.

Dryophytes arenicolor

50–60% · Likely

LC Endemic

Anaxyrus microscaphus

40–50% · Likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Species Total

40–50

50–60

60–70

50–60

60–70

50–60

40–50

30–40

California Condor

40–50

10–20

20–30

30–40

20–30

30–40

10–20

Bighorn Sheep

70–80

80–90

70–80

40–50

60–70

70–80

80–90

60–70

80–90

Mule Deer

90–100

80–90

90–100

Spotted Owl

20–30

10–20

20–30

10–20

Rock Squirrel

60–70

70–80

80–90

90–100

80–90

90–100

80–90

60–70

Plateau Fence Lizard

20–30

30–40

60–70

80–90

70–80

80–90

30–40

40–50

Uinta Chipmunk

40–50

70–80

80–90

60–70

50–60

60–70

70–80

80–90

20–30

Common Raven

70–80

60–70

70–80

60–70

50–60

60–70

70–80

80–90

70–80

60–70

Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard

10–20

60–70

70–80

60–70

70–80

60–70

0–10

10–20

American Robin

50–60

60–70

70–80

60–70

40–50

30–40

50–60

70–80

Common Side-blotched Lizard

10–20

60–70

70–80

60–70

50–60

40–50

60–70

20–30

10–20

Canyon Tree Frog

30–40

10–20

40–50

70–80

50–60

60–70

70–80

50–60

10–20

Spotted Towhee

50–60

60–70

50–60

60–70

50–60

20–30

30–40

40–50

Sagebrush Lizard

10–20

0–10

20–30

60–70

70–80

60–70

50–60

40–50

50–60

0–10

10–20

Western Whiptail

10–20

0–10

20–30

40–50

70–80

60–70

50–60

10–20

0–10

10–20

Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay

40–50

60–70

40–50

50–60

40–50

50–60

40–50

60–70

Animal Events

🦅 California Condor Soaring Season

🐏 Bighorn Sheep Viewing

🦉 Mexican Spotted Owl Nesting Season

🐸 Canyon Tree Frog Chorus

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Good

🐏 Bighorn Sheep on Zion Slickrock

🦜

Biodiversity

Very good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg

4.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Species by taxon

🦅 Birds

389

🐒 Mammals

115

🦎 Reptiles

🐸 Amphibians

572 Total Species

841 Global average across 280 parks

21 Threatened 90 Endemic

🔭

Sighting

Good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg

3.1 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

🎯

Top-12 Avg Probability

62% Global avg

68%

📊

Coverage (145 species at ≥5% of 572 in the inventory)

24% Global avg

25%

🔀

Taxon variety in top 12 (4 mammal, 4 reptile, 3 bird, 1 amphibian)

47% Global avg

94%

🔭

Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)

132 Global avg

🌟

Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)

14 Global avg

⭐

High-prob species (>40%)

26 Global avg

Explore Other Parks

📍 145 km 🦅 California Condors Over the Canyon

Zion National Park

Wildlife

⭐ Iconic Species

California Condor

Bighorn Sheep

Mule Deer

Spotted Owl

📊 Most Spotted

Rock Squirrel

Plateau Fence Lizard

Uinta Chipmunk

Common Raven

Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard

American Robin

Common Side-blotched Lizard

Canyon Tree Frog

Spotted Towhee

Sagebrush Lizard

Western Whiptail

Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay

⭐ Iconic Species

Bighorn Sheep

Mule Deer

📊 Most Spotted

Rock Squirrel

Uinta Chipmunk

Black-tailed Jackrabbit

Gray Fox

White-tailed Antelope Squirrel

Desert Cottontail

Utah Prairie Dog

Ringtail

Common Raccoon

Mountain Lion

Pronghorn

Coyote

⭐ Iconic Species

California Condor

Spotted Owl

📊 Most Spotted

Common Raven

American Robin

Spotted Towhee

Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay

Turkey Vulture

House Finch

Northern Flicker

Canyon Wren

Yellow Warbler

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Wild Turkey

📊 Most Spotted

Plateau Fence Lizard

Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard

Common Side-blotched Lizard

Sagebrush Lizard

Western Whiptail

Plateau Striped Whiptail

Desert Spiny Lizard

Gopher Snake

Desert Collared Lizard

Western Rattlesnake

Western Terrestrial Garter Snake

Ground Snake

📊 Most Spotted

Canyon Tree Frog

Arizona Toad

Red-spotted Toad

Western Tiger Salamander

Great Basin Spadefoot

Northern Leopard Frog

Woodhouse's Toad

Animal Events

California Condor Soaring Season

California Condor

Bighorn Sheep Viewing

Bighorn Sheep

Mexican Spotted Owl Nesting Season

Spotted Owl