Crowds Expected At Zion National Park This Weekend

Above, the Great White Throne at Zion National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It's a good thing that I am staying close to home this Labor Day weekend. If I do anything, I'll be going to the Bi-County Fair in nearby Prewitt, New Mexico.

Zion National Park would be the last place I would go to these days on Labor Day weekend. We went there in 2003 on Labor Day weekend and stayed at a motel in Springdale, Utah. Even then, the crowds were beginning to grow, but nowhere near the levels of today.

National Park Traveler posted a press release on Zion, which reads in part:

Zion National Park in Utah has grown notorious for crowds, so you shouldn't be surprised that park staff are expecting a very busy Labor Day Weekend. 

Visitors to Zion should expect some queues and congestion within the park. Those with flexible plans are encouraged to visit before Friday or after Monday to avoid crowds. 

Both campgrounds in Zion Canyon are on a reservation system and are already fully reserved for the weekend. Campground and lodging options are available in the gateway communities surrounding the park. Zion Canyon Visitor Center and other parking areas in the park fill by 9 a.m. Additional parking is provided in the gateway community of Springdale. 

Zion Canyon shuttle runs from 6 a.m. through 9:15 p.m. The shuttle leaves the Visitor Center every 4 minutes with a capacity of 68 visitors. Wait times are expected to be between 30 minutes to 1.5 hours. 

Several Zion Canyon trails and the Weeping Rock area (Shuttle Stop 7) remain closed due to rockslides. Upper and Middle Emerald Pools, Hidden Canyon, Weeping Rock, and East Rim/Observation Point via Weeping Rock shuttle stop are all closed. The trail connector between Kayenta Trail and Lower Emerald Pools is partially opened, only accessible via The Grotto area (Shuttle Stop 6).

To read more, go here.