Zion National Park, Utah
The most common soil here is Pinepoint, on about 9% of the land: a fine sand, loose sand that holds almost no water. Parkwash and Mathis come next.
About 65% of the land drains well.
USDA rates 64% of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and 57% very limited for homes with basements. That means extra cost or special design, not that it can't be done.
Worth knowing: bedrock lies within 40 inches under 90% of it.
Soils change over short distances, so look up an address below for the soil at that exact spot and the reasons behind each rating.
The soils you're most likely standing on
The biggest named soils in Zion National Park, Utah, each drawn five feet deep from its official USDA description, in its recorded colors.
Dots mark gravel; white flecks mark lime. Shares are by acres across the survey area, and each mapped patch usually mixes several of these soils.
The biggest mapped areas
The dominant drainage class is Well drained and the dominant hydrologic group is D (very slow infiltration, high runoff). The most common soil order is Mollisols — grassland soils with a thick, dark, fertile topsoil rich in organic matter. This report summarizes the major soil map units across the survey area to help you understand what to expect when buying, building, or gardening in Zion National Park, Utah. Search your address to find the exact soil composition, drainage, and series details at your specific location.
| Soil Map Unit | Acres | Drainage | Hydro Group | Dwellings | Septic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock outcrop-Parkwash-Pinepoint complex, 5 to 70 percent slopes | 51K | D | Not rated | Not rated | |
| Mathis Family-Paradox Family-Parida Family complex, 20 to 70 percent slopes | 18K | Well drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Tucupit-Metuck Taxadjunct complex, 20 to 70 percent slopes | 6K | Somewhat excessively drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Zillion Family-Detra-Kolob Taxadjunct complex, 20 to 70 percent slopes | 6K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Chinmoe-Tacan Family-Tucupit Taxadjunct complex, 5 to 60 percent slopes | 6K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Rock outcrop-Ojavan-Parkwash complex, 15 to 70 percent slopes | 6K | Somewhat excessively drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Pinepoint-Parkwash-Rock Outcrop-Ojavan, 5 to 70 percent slopes | 6K | Somewhat excessively drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Lithic Argiustolls-Rock outcrop-Fluventic Haplustepts undifferentiated group, 5 to 45 percent slopes | 5K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Pinepoint-Caval Taxadjunct complex, 2 to 15 percent slopes | 5K | Somewhat excessively drained | A | Not limited | Very limited |
| Paunsaugunt-Markagunt complex, 5 to 15 percent slopes | 5K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Paunsaugunt-Detra-Hogg complex, 2 to 25 percent slopes | 4K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Kinesava Taxadjunct-Calcic Haplustalfs-Paunsaugunt complex, 5 to 30 percent slopes | 4K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Dalcan-Hillery Family-Detra complex, 0 to 15 percent slopes | 3K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Hogg-Kunz-Kinesava-Paunsaugunt complex, 2 to 25 percent slopes | 3K | Well drained | C | Somewhat limited | Very limited |
| Paradox Family-Weska complex, 15 to 75 percent slopes | 2K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Menefee Taxadjunct-Tuces Family-Chinmoe complex, 5 to 45 percent slopes | 2K | Well drained | B | Somewhat limited | Very limited |
| Detra-Calcic Haplustalfs-Kolob Taxadjunct complex, 15 to 60 percent slopes | 2K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Bond-Bisoodi complex, 2 to 15 percent slopes | 2K | Well drained | C | Somewhat limited | Very limited |
| Dalcan-Rubble land association, 20 to 75 percent slopes | 1K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Aridic Ustifluvents-Abiquiu Family-Riverwash association, 0 to 5 percent slopes | 1K | Well drained | A | Very limited | Somewhat limited |
Soil Orders in This Area
The USDA classifies every soil into one of 12 soil orders. Here are the dominant orders found in this survey area.
What This Means
Building & Foundations
About 57% of soils are rated "very limited" for dwellings with basements. Specific challenges include shallow bedrock, steep slopes, flood-prone areas. A geotechnical assessment is recommended before building.
Septic Systems
About 64% of soils are rated "very limited" for septic absorption fields. Despite good drainage overall, limitations may stem from shallow bedrock, steep slopes, or seasonal conditions. Engineered or alternative systems are frequently required. Always get a professional perc test before purchasing land that needs septic.
Gardening & Agriculture
Well-drained soils on sloped terrain — good for most plants but watch for erosion. Terracing, contour planting, and mulching help retain moisture and topsoil. Drip irrigation is more effective than sprinklers on slopes.