article on zion national park. (plus others) restricting tourism and camping

[bheisser]

http://www.cntraveler.com/story/zion-national-park-may-start-limiting-tourists

 

[scrubjaysnest-TMO]

Not a surprise, when we were there in 2010 the CG filled by noon. The shuttle buses were filled including standing in the isle.

 

[kempert]

To paraphrase Yogi Berra - Nobody goes there anymore, it's too crowded.

Zion is a beautiful place but I consider it overrated due to the crowds. It's major handicap is that it's too close to Vegas. I spent a week in St. George, UT (the gateway to Zion) back in April and never ventured in that direction. There are lots of very beautiful places in the area if you get off the beaten path.

I hosted at Bryce Canyon back in '11 and Zion was a quick and easy trip on my days off (4 on & 4 off). I only went to Zion twice because of the congestion. The campgrounds were maxed out. If you did get a site, there were times when you needed a gas mask for all of the low lying smoke. I tried taking several hikes but got frustrated by having to walk like a penguin. Even the lesser known trails were packed.

I had lots of tourists tell me that they had encountered the same thing. I recommended the campground in Red Canyon (USFS) just a few miles outside of Bryce. It's better (IMHO) than the campgrounds in either of the NPs and remember that I was a host in BCNP.

 

[RottieMom-TMO]

I went on a two-week trip to Utah last month and went to Arches, Canyonlands, Dead Horse Point, Bryce, Zion and Kodachrome. And, Kodachrome State Park was my favorite. I don't think that many folks are familiar with it and it's a beautifully well-maintained park, with awesome geological formations and great hiking trails.

 

[Gwenne & Len]

To paraphrase Yogi Berra - Nobody goes there anymore, it's too crowded.

Zion is a beautiful place but I consider it overrated due to the crowds. It's major handicap is that it's too close to Vegas. I spent a week in St. George, UT (the gateway to Zion) back in April and never ventured in that direction. There are lots of very beautiful places in the area if you get off the beaten path.

I hosted at Bryce Canyon back in '11 and Zion was a quick and easy trip on my days off (4 on & 4 off). I only went to Zion twice because of the congestion. The campgrounds were maxed out. If you did get a site, there were times when you needed a gas mask for all of the low lying smoke. I tried taking several hikes but got frustrated by having to walk like a penguin. Even the lesser known trails were packed.

I had lots of tourists tell me that they had encountered the same thing. I recommended the campground in Red Canyon (USFS) just a few miles outside of Bryce. It's better (IMHO) than the campgrounds in either of the NPs and remember that I was a host in BCNP.

We are planning to go to Zion around March 15......do you how the crowds are then? We went there years ago, and camped at the Ferber campground in Springdale, on the river.....it was great. I'd like to go there again......but since they don't allow reservations until jan 1, I'm thinking of making contingent reservations at the Zion RvCampground......on the high road east of the Park. Any suggestions? We loved Zion, and hope to do several hikes.....and then day trips to Bryce and Capital Reef etc.......

 

[fourteener-TMO]

Being proudly employed by the NPS I have to take a moment to reply. Our Mission states: "The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations." Please keep in mind that these are your Parks, and you are all lucky enough to be in a country that had the forethought to set these wonderful plots of land aside for YOU! Your children and your children's children! The NPS is in the midst of wrapping up its centennial year, and with it a record breaking year of visitation - Thank You!

So, yeah, we are loving our parks to death. Although, I don't really think it is that bad, as I believe strongly that our people will work towards creative solutions so that our parks will last another 100 years!

It will take all of us cooperating, and I won't say that it will be easy. Heck there may even be challenges and expected change along the way. It wasn't that long ago that we actually allowed the feeding of wildlife (yes, even bear) in our parks. The days of throwing the kids in the car for a spur of the moment camping trip, may now require a bit more pre-trip planning? With rec.gov camping reservations, the internet, smart phones, and now self-driving cars, I think one should expect some change.

All I hope for, is that we are all able to continue to experience our urban, county, and state parks, and every unit (currently 413 units covering in excess of 84 million acres) of the National Park Service!

 

[kempert]

We are planning to go to Zion around March 15......do you how the crowds are then? We went there years ago, and camped at the Ferber campground in Springdale, on the river.....it was great. I'd like to go there again......but since they don't allow reservations until jan 1, I'm thinking of making contingent reservations at the Zion RvCampground......on the high road east of the Park. Any suggestions? We loved Zion, and hope to do several hikes.....and then day trips to Bryce and Capital Reef etc.......

Sorry about the slow reply. I don't check the site on a regular basis.

I think Zion would be better in mid-March. You'll probably beat the crowds of us "old folks" who try to beat the younger families. As I recall, there are several places on the east road that looked good but I never stopped there as Bryce Canyon was fairly close.

Day trips to Bryce and beyond will lead to a lot of time in a vehicle and not much time for hiking. The views into the Bryce Amphitheater are just the "tip of the iceberg". Hikes into it are priceless.

I consider UT12 between Bryce and Capitol Reef one of the top three drives on paved roads in the contiguous states. I've done it about 20 times and it never gets old. The varied scenery has many "WOW!" moments. There's a gastronomical treat in the town of Boulder (UT). The Burr Trail Grill serves the best burger that I've ever had (and my family raises 100% grass-fed beef).

I consider Capitol Reef one of the best kept secrets (due to its location) of the NPS system. I consider its campground one of the top five in the entire nation. (My reasoning would take way too much time to explain here. Let me know if you want more.)

 

[Gwenne & Len]

Thanks for your reply.....sounds like we should stay at Zion, then move on to Capital Reef and Bryce, and spend time there, too. thank you very much for this! What do you think about the weather there in mid march? might there be snow? Would it be better to go in mid april? We'll be leaving Yosemite then, and plan to drive back down south to drive up through Utah......destination Salt Lake, where I have relatives. We could detour to Bryce and go on to Capitol Reef......we will go south from Yosemite because I want to spend more time in Utah, but we also don't want to do the high mountain passes in the snow pulling our TM!

 

[kempert]

your plan looks interesting.

The weather will primarily depend on your altitude. Zion and Capitol Reef should be good in mid-March. Bryce is at 8,000' feet so you could easily get snow. (It snowed as late as Father's Day during my hosting time there.) The drive from Bryce to CRNP on UT12 takes you over Boulder Mountain where I've encountered flurries in July. I've never desired to tow with snow on the pavement (this was reinforced when I was in a 60 vehicle pileup at Vail Pass) so I watch the weather daily and plan around it.

I take it you don't plan to use Tioga RD (CA120) to get from CA to UT. It's usually closed until late spring. It's been closed recently due to snow and rock debris on it. I consider it one of the top drives in the US. BTW - There are a couple of USFS campgrounds just outside the east entrance of YNP that I like a great deal.