Zion 2026 Large Vehicle Rules

Above, the east entrance into the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The last time I drove into Zion National Park was in 2015. My daughter and I took a trip to Yellowstone National Park and on the way home we took a detour and drove into Zion.

We took SR-9 through the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel.

Zion National Park is implementing new large vehicle size restrictions not only for the tunnel, but for the road itself. RVers should be aware of this.

RV Life posted an article on these restrictions and begin it with:

Heading to Zion National Park this summer? If you are planning to drive a motorhome, tow a trailer, or travel in a larger vehicle, here is what you need to know.

Beginning June 7, 2026, Zion National Park will fully enforce vehicle size and weight limits on the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway (Utah State Route 9) between Canyon Junction and the East Entrance. Vehicles that exceed the posted limits will no longer be allowed to travel this section of SR-9.

These restrictions apply to the entire stretch of highway between Canyon Junction and the East Entrance, not just the historic 1.1-mile-long Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel.

To read more, go here. 

Zion National Park’s New Discovery Center Opening in 2026

Above, Zion's Great White Throne. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Over the years, I have been to Zion National Park several times. The most recent was in 2015. We entered the park from the east entrance (Zion-Mt. Carmel road).

Next year, a new Discovery Center will open in 2026 near the east entrance.

According to RV Travel:

If you’re planning a trip to Zion National Park in 2026 (or beyond), there’s a new reason to consider the park’s less-visited east side. That’s because if work stays on schedule, the new Zion National Park Discovery Center should open in late 2026.

Why build a Discovery Center?

Zion Canyon’s main South Entrance gets most of the traffic during peak seasons. This often means overcrowding on trailheads, shuttles, and parking. The new Discovery Center was planned to give visitors a place to slow down, learn, and launch adventures from the quieter east side.

The National Park Service (NPS) aims for the new building to balance visitor traffic and ease pressure on the canyon. Running educational programs at the crowded rim is difficult, so the NPS hopes the Discovery Center will attract visitors and reduce congestion.

The Discovery Center project also includes plans for a transit hub and EV-shuttle connections so visitors can start their Zion day from the east rather than funneling into Springdale.

To read more, go here.

Zion National Park To Ban Large Vehicles From Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway In 2026

Above, the east entrance into the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the big attractions of Zion National Park is the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway that includes a mile-long tunnel. 

The last time I drove the highway was in 2015 while heading home from Yellowstone National Park.

According to SF Gate, the tunnel has seen too many problems with large vehicles, including vehicles getting stuck and crashes. 

They wrote: 

Zion National Park’s Zion-Mount Carmel Highway and its historic bridges and tunnel offer the fastest route between Zion, Bryce Canyon and Grand Canyon national parks. The famous tunnel was the longest of its kind in the United States when it was completed in 1930, but for the past three decades, it’s been plagued with congestion, crashes and oversized vehicles becoming stuck. Now, big changes are in store.

Beginning in mid-2026, large vehicles will be required to skirt the 11.9-mile Zion-Mount Carmel Highway and its tunnel. Matthew Fink, a spokesperson for Zion National Park, told SFGATE that the park service doesn’t have an exact date for when the change takes effect. But once it does, visitors traveling in recreational vehicles, tour buses and other oversized vehicles will be ushered toward alternate routes, extending their travel time by 10 to 45 minutes. 

The National Park Service policy will be: 

Vehicles exceeding 11’4” tall, 7’10” wide, 35’9” long, or 50,000 pounds cannot pass through Zion National Park’s Zion-Mount Carmel Highway safely and will be rerouted in 2026.

Above, the clearance of the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel is 13'1". Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My Class C motorhome is within the future limit as it is exactly 11' tall.

To read more, go here.

RV To Utah National Parks

Above, inside Zion National Park in 2015. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Utah is not too far away from home. It is home to several national parks. I've been to a couple of them: Bryce Canyon and Zion. 

Utah is also ideal for RV travelers. Do It Yourself RV has posted an article on unforgettable RV adventures in Utah national parks.

It begins with:

As work campers who love exploring different parts of the country, my husband and I found ourselves itching to spend some time in the western U.S. So, after a summer gig in Colorado, we packed up the RV and headed to Utah for nearly a month. It was the perfect chance to unwind, explore, and celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary. And let me tell you—we were not disappointed. If you’re planning a trip, here’s our take on some of the Utah national parks we visited, with a few tips thrown in for good measure.

To read the full article, go here. 

Guide To Zion National Park

Above, Checkerboard Mesa at Zion National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My first visit to Zion National Park was in August 1969 with my parents. We camped in an umbrella tent that was my grandfather's at the Watchman Campground. It was there we heard on the radio of the Sharon Tate murders in L.A.

Back in those days, there were no crowds and getting a campsite in the park wasn't difficult.

USA Today has posted a guide to Zion National Park as part of their yearlong series on national parks.

They begin it with:

It’s no secret. Zion National Park is one of America’s most spectacular national parks.

It’s also one of the most popular, coming in second or third in visitation each year in recent years, according to National Park Service numbers. And it’s easy to see why.

“Zion National Park encompasses some of the most scenic canyon country in the United States,” said Jorge Hernandez, education supervisor at Zion.

Unlike the Grand Canyon, which most visitors approach at rim level, visitors begin exploring Zion from the canyon floor.

“You look up, and you see these massive Navajo Sandstone cliffs on either side of you. And as you start going into the canyon, you start to see those walls becoming narrower and narrower, which I think is really fascinating,” Hernandez said. “Also, Zion National Park is located in the juncture of the Colorado Plateau, the Mojave Desert and the Great Basin ecoregions, and that creates a very unique environment for a variety of lifeforms and ecosystems here at Zion. Zion also preserves a plethora of human history.”

Here’s what else travelers should know about visiting Zion, the final park in USA TODAY’s yearlong series.

To read more, go here.

Need-To-Know In Visiting Bryce Canyon National Park

Above, Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It has been awhile since I was last at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. It was in the mid-1980s. Since it has been that long, I can't tell anyone what they need to know about it.

Fortunately, RV Travel has posted what people need to know on visiting Bryce. It is 72 miles north of Zion National Park.

They begin it with:

Last year nearly two-and-a-half million people made Bryce Canyon National Park a destination. The popularity of this Utah gem makes planning your visit important. Here’s the need-to-know on visiting Bryce Canyon this year.

Visiting Bryce Canyon and camping

Happily, you don’t need to make an entrance reservation to get into Bryce. For RVers, though, if you’re planning to bring your rig and overnight, here’s the lowdown.

To read further, go here. 

Utah "Tourist Traps" and Alternatives

Above, Checkerboard Mesa at Zion National Park in Utah. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The state of Utah is one beautiful state. 

It is home to several national parks and scenic views can be found everywhere. As this is the case, it draws a lot of people. 

TheTravel has posted an article on Utah "tourist traps" and alternatives to them. I have to disagree about some, like Zion National Park, being a tourist trap. While it is true that it and other places get very crowded during the vacation season, crowds can be avoided if one can vacation during the off-season. Zion is often described as "Yosemite in color" and is worth visiting.

One place listed, Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, isn't as crowded as it is made out to be. But if one has a phobia against crowds, I recommend visiting in late September or early October. 

Still, the alternatives do have merit. 

The begin the article with:

Those who travel to the Beehive State, be it for pleasure, via any of the scenic bucket list road trips in Utah, by plane, or train, are generally doing so to see the natural wonders this stunning state offers. Unfortunately, some of those places that have become extremely popular with visitors have also become overrun or overhyped. As such, those who travel to Utah for just a short time may be disappointed with their trip if each stop is nothing more than an overpriced tourist trap where an alternative would do just as nicely, if not better.

Of course, some areas in the state just need to be seen; many of the top tourist attractions in Utah, like Zion National Park and its epic hikes, are unmissable, even if they often see crowds. It's not just Zion, though, as there are a great many tourist traps in Utah with alternatives instead. Because of this, when visiting the Beehive State for the first or umpteenth time, knowing where Utah's tourist traps are located and what alternatives might just provide equally gorgeous scenery, fewer crowds, and better entertainment, even at lower costs in some cases.

For off-the-beaten-path experiences, discover the popular tourist traps in Utah to avoid and alternatives to visit instead, from Zion National Park to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park and many more.

To read more, go here. 

Rockfall Near Zion's Weeping Rock

Above, Weeping Rock from the trail. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Here's a name I hadn't heard or thought of for quite a while. Weeping Rock.

The Weeping Rock trail at Zion National Park is one I've walked several times. The last time was around 2000 with my mom and daughter.

According to the St. George News, there was a rockfall yesterday near Weeping Rock.

They wrote:

SPRINGDALE — At approximately 3:40 p.m. on Tuesday, Zion National Park received a report of rockfall near Weeping Rock. Park rangers immediately responded and encountered a dust cloud on the road.

According to a press release on Nov. 14, the dust interrupted shuttle bus service until about 5 p.m. Shuttles returned to normal operations thereafter.

To read more, go here. 

The National Parks' Lodging Problem

Above, how does $600/night to stay at Yellowstone's Old Faithful Inn sound to you? Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Years ago, my family and I stayed at Zion National Park Lodge and Bryce Canyon National Park Lodge. At the time, I never heard any complaints of any high lodging prices from my parents.

But that was then.

Today, concessionaires who run national park hotels and lodges seem to be gouging the public with outrageous prices of accommodations.

The National Parks Traveler reported:

There are, across the National Park System, rising lodging rates that likely block a wide segment of Americans from experiencing a night or two in the some of the system's most iconic lodges and cabins. Places like Lake Hotel and the Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone, El Tovar at the Grand Canyon, the Ahwahnee in Yosemite, Cavallo Point at Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Jenny Lake Lodge in Grand Teton, the Many Glacier Hotel in Glacier.

These are places where nightly rates can quickly climb past $400, with some approaching and surpassing $1,000 a night, depending on the season and occasion. And with the National Park Service's willingness to allow concessionaires to charge whatever the market will bear for some accommodations, rates will only go higher.

But where do you — can you? — strike a balance between a company's right to make a profit and the right of Americans to visit the national parks their tax dollars help support?

That question surfaces in the wake of a story from WyoFile, a nonprofit news organization in Wyoming, that looked at the cost of spending a night in one of the historic lodges in Yellowstone National Park. In roughly half the lodging rooms in the park, at the Old Faithful Inn, Lake Hotel, and Canyon Village, the Park Service lets concessionaire charge whatever they can get. That approach has led to dizzying nightly rates that have climbed above $400 a night — a 55 percent increase in just the past five years — at the historic Old Faithful Inn, according to WyoFile.

"Sadly the average American will be priced out of our national parks," wrote one Traveler follower on Facebook after reading the Wyofile story.

The practice to let concessionaires charge whatever they like for some lodgings dates at least to 2017, when it surfaced at Yellowstone as part of an unannounced five-year pilot project.

To read more, go here. 

Guide to Utah's Five National Parks

Above, The Narrows at Zion National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The first time I visited any of the national parks in Utah was in August 1969 with my parents. We camped in Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park.

The reason I remember the month and year so well was due to the news coming from Los Angeles of the Sharon Tate and La Bianca murders by the Manson Family while we were camping at Zion's Watchman Campground.

Back in those days, the parks weren't crowded at all. Nowadays, they are very crowded and reservations need to be made in some.

The Salt Lake Tribune has posted a guide to Utah's "Mighty Five" national parks.

They begin it with:

Even if you didn’t know very much about Utah before moving here, one aspect you likely are fairly well acquainted with are its national parks. A tourism campaign launched in 2013 put Utah’s “Mighty 5″ on the national landscape — some would say too well. Visitation increased by half a million visitors, on average, during each of the three years after the campaign launched. They now rank among some of the country’s most visited national parks, drawing between one and five million visits each year.

But how well do you really know Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zion national parks?

If you think the attractions are all in the names — arches, canyons, heavenly views — think again. While all five are well-stocked with those, there’s plenty more to see. Check out the rivers, stars and even orchards.

To read more, go here. 

15 Reasons To Visit Utah This Fall

Above, sunrise in Monument Valley was one of the reasons given. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Autumn may be fast approaching, but that doesn't mean one can't continue to travel and explore this great country.

USA Today 10Best has posted an article on 15 reasons to visit Utah during the fall.

They begin it with:

Summer brings hordes of campers to Utah's national parks and mountain bike lovers to Moab's slickrock trails. In the winter, Snowbird and Park City are paradise to skiers and snowboarders. However, those in the know head to Utah in the fall, when visitors can avoid the heat and explore the best places to visit with less crowds, to include the state's "big 5" national parks and noteworthy state parks. You can even enjoy some fall foliage, thanks to the quaking aspens and bigtooth maples. Here are 15 best reasons to visit Utah this fall.

To see what are the reasons given, go here. 

16 Million RVers To Hit The Road This Weekend

Above, The Beast at Zion National Park in Utah. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Although I am staying put at home and my motorhome is safely tucked away in its garage, a survey found that 16 million people will be on the road in their RVs over this Labor Day weekend.

That's a lot of people out there!

According to SGB Media:

Of the 95 million leisure travelers in the U.S. planning to travel over Labor Day weekend, 16 million intend to do so in an RV, according to a recent survey conducted by Cairn Consulting for the RV Industry Association. And while summer is most often considered peak time for RV travel, over 19 percent of leisure travelers intend to stay in an RV sometime during the fall—an increase over the 14 percent who planned to stay in an RV this summer.

To read more, go here. 

Camping Fees May Be Raised At Bryce and Zion National Parks

Above, The Watchman at Zion National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The last time I camped at Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks was in 1969. My parents and I camped in my grandfather's old umbrella tent. In fact, it was while we were camping at the Watchman Campground at Zion that we heard the news of the Sharon Tate murders.

RV Travel has reported that both national parks may be raising their camping fees and a new fee structure for dump station usage at Zion. 

They begin with:

Two of the “Mighty Five” national parks, Zion and Bryce Canyon, may see fee increases that could affect RVers. Campground fees at both would be raised, and a new fee structure could be implemented at dump stations in Zion. What are the potential changes, and how can you make your feelings known about them? Read on.

 To read on, go here.

"National Lampoon's Vacation" 40 Years Ago

Above, the Durango train at High Line. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is hard to believe that it was 40 years ago (July 29, 1983 to be exact) that National Lampoon's Vacation was released. 

That summer, I took a vacation trip to the Southwest/Four Corners region that included Grand Canyon National Park; Durango, Colorado (I took my first ride on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad); Four Corners Monument; and Zion National Park.

After I got home from the trip, I went over to the theaters in Manhattan Village to see the movie. The scene outside of the El Tovar Hotel at the Grand Canyon caught my attention as I was at that spot only days before. 

Time sure does fly!

Zion National Park: Things To Know

Above, the mountain peaks above the Watchman Campground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Utah's Zion National Park is not a large national park, yet it draws thousands of people there annually.

I first visited Zion in 1969 with my parents. We camped in an umbrella tent at the Watchman Campground. I spent much of my time floating on an air mattress on the Virgin River. It was there that we heard on the radio of the Tate-LaBianca murders by the Manson Family.

The last time I was there was in June 2015.

Since so many people are visiting Zion, there are things that people should know when visiting.

KSL NewsRadio posted an article on those things.

They begin with:

SALT LAKE CITY — As the summer months are approaching, visiting places, such as Zion National Park, become front and center for most people.

And as such, national parks are getting ready for an influx of visitors. Jonathan Shafer, public affairs officer for Zion National Park, joined KSL at Night with hosts Leah Murray and Scott Simpson on Tuesday. They discuss what visitors can expect when they visit the park.

To read more, go here. 

National Parks Requiring Summer Reservations

Above, The Watchman at Zion National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There's nothing wrong with the U.S. national parks. Well, except some have infrastructure issues due to funding neglect stretching over years. The problem rests with the stark fact that there's just too many people wanting to visit them.

The problem increased during the pandemic as they were seen as a way to get out of government-imposed restrictions and quarantines.

The National Park Service had to take action and implement reservation systems to control crowds.

There are some national parks requiring reservations this summer and Travel + Leisure has posted an article on which.

They it begin with:

Nothing says summer like being in the great outdoors, and a trip to a national park is one of the best ways to do that. This year, several popular national parks are implementing reservation systems to control crowds. (For reference, there were more than 311 million visitors to U.S. national parks last year alone, according to the National Park Service.)

From Acadia National Park in Maine to Haleakalā National Park in Hawaii, national parks are increasingly rolling out these advanced reservations and building on the success of similar systems in past years. 

These are the national parks that will require a reservation this summer, and how to make one.

To read more, go here. 

Monument Valley, Totem Pole and Clint Eastwood

Above, Totem Pole (center) as seen during my 2016 tour of Monument Valley. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During his heyday as an action film star, Clint Eastwood often pushed the envelope to deliver the goods for his movies when outdoors doing action scenes.

One such time was in The Eiger Sanction (1975) in which Eastwood plays a college art professor who is also a retired secret agent for a secret government spy agency that specializes in eliminating (called sanctions) enemies. He is called back into service, reluctantly, by the agency head who is a full-fledged albino (played by Thayer David of Dark Shadows fame). 

Above a view of Totem Pole taken last October. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

He is charged to sanction someone connected with an international climbing team of Switzerland's Eiger mountain for murdering a fellow agent who was also a friend. He proceeds to Utah for his pre-climb training under the wing of George Kennedy. Scenes of his training include Zion National Park (Checkerboard Mesa, the Zion Lodge pool (now gone)) and Monument Valley Tribal Park, where Eastwood became the last person to legally climb the 400 foot tall Totem Pole. Scenes of his Totem Pole climb are spectacular, particularly when Eastwood and Kennedy pop open some beer while sitting atop it. While Eastwood climbed the world's tallest spire himself, Kennedy was airlifted onto it by helicopter.

During recent years, I took two tours of Monument Valley with Goulding's Lodge Tours and saw Totem Pole from two distant vantage points. 

Best National Parks To Visit During Winter

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

People generally visit national parks during the peak summer season, but there are some national parks that are welcoming to visitors during the winter.

Deseret News has posted a list of the best national parks for winter visitation. I have been to about half of them on the list.

They begin with:

You don’t have stay to holed up inside all winter. This is the best time of year to get some hikes and nature in at some of the nation’s most iconic national parks.

Here’s a list of some of the best national parks to visit during winter.

To read more, go here. 

Colorado & Utah: Most Dangerous National Parks

Above, Checkerboard Mesa at Zion National Park. 43 deaths have occurred in Zion. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last week, a woman froze to death in The Narrows of Zion National Park in Utah. But her death has not been the only one at Zion. In fact, there have been several deaths there and in other national parks in Utah and Colorado.

KOOL 107.9 FM has posted a list of "dangerous national parks" in Colorado and Utah.

They begin with:

While America's National Parks can be some of the most beautiful places on Earth, they can also be some of the most dangerous places to visit.

57 deaths have occurred inside Colorado's National Parks. 71 deaths have occurred inside Utah's National Parks. Scroll on to find out which National Parks saw the most fatalities.

To read more, go here. 

Woman Dies During Hike At Zion National Park

Above, the Narrows at Zion National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A tragedy took place in Zion National Park on Wednesday when a couple who were hiking overnight in the Narrows experienced hypothermia. 

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal:

A woman hiker is dead and her husband is recovering after being injured during a 16-mile overnight hike at Zion National Park in Utah.

Zion National Park shuttle drivers reported that visitors found an injured man and a non-responsive woman in the Narrows on Wednesday morning, according to a news release.

Zion rescue team members found the man on Riverside Walk. He was taken to the Zion Emergency Operations Center. Farther up the Narrows, rescuers found a non-responsive woman near the Virgin River. First responders administered emergency aid, but they determined she was deceased.

The 33-year-old man and 31-year-old woman, a married couple, had started their permitted 16-mile trip through the Narrows from the top-down on Tuesday. The man told rescuers that they became dangerously cold overnight and experienced symptoms consistent with hypothermia.

 To read more, go here.