Zion National Park had over 30,000 visitors to the park this past memorial day weekend!

The Salt Lake City Tribune posted an article outlining discussions to have visitors reserve days to go visit the park because the crowds are too large and its just becoming overcrowded. Here are some of the highlights from the article:

“It’s overwhelming,” said park spokesman John Marciano. “It’s just going to be loved to death, and people aren’t going to have a good experience.”

Shuttles are running every five minutes — but even with 38 buses that hold up to 90 people, folks still are parking a mile...

Some commenters battled over whether an in-the-works plan to initiate a reservation system at Zion infringes on the National Park Service’s democratic mission to provide access for all residents to “the natural and cultural resources” of the United States. Some said limitations are necessary to preserve the space for “the enjoyment, education and inspiration of this and future generations.”

This is an interesting idea, essentially you would not be able to just drive up to the park, you would have to make a reservation like at a hotel, and if they are booked up you cant go...

What are your thoughts on this possible idea, should Zion limit the number of users who can attend the park on a given day, or should it be left open to the masses and be overrun with crowds?

I am one of the first to hate permit systems for trails, but I understand Zion is in a unique situation given its beautiful location.

During the summer you can not drive into Zion, you either have to park at the visitors center or in town once that is filled up and take a buss to a trail head to hike and explore. Or you could walk in I guess too, but you wont get to many trails then. As a result, the line to get on the busses is crazy and can be over an hour wait just to get to some of the trails.

I think a reservation system might work at Zion, but you better not have to pay to make a reservation, so its still equal chances for everyone.

    CaliHiker I think a reservation system might work at Zion, but you better not have to pay to make a reservation, so its still equal chances for everyone.

    What about if people don't make it and never cancel their reservation, do you have a "walk-in" system like they have for trail permits? A line of people waiting on standby to get into the park seems kind of interesting...

    Would there become a black market online for people selling reservations that they can not use?

    I too hate the crowds which is why I will not visit a National Park on a holiday weekend like memorial day. It stinks but I feel like I have to use vacation days to go visit a National Park during the week when the crowds are less. I haven't even been to Yosemite during the summer because I just don't think it would be an enjoyable experience with all the crowds...I have only gone in the winter snowshoeing in order to avoid the crowds.

    Should the parks be open to all?

      The article you linked to mentioned the mission of the National Parks system but didn't reference it so I did a little bit of Googling:

      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. The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world. - Source

      Its got to be a balancing act of preserving the "natural beauty" with the "enjoyment, education, and inspiration" of the people who visit the parks.

      A reservation system may be the only way to balance the "natural beauty" with the "enjoyment, education, and inspiration" its unfortunate but social media has definitely help make parks more popular

      17 days later

      More updates from the St George Utah News.

      Zion National Park has come up with three possible plans:

      1) No change - Park continues to operate as usual.

      2) Online Reservation System - The park would create an online reservation system for the front country area of the park. Currently, they are still determining what their capacity would be.

      3) Permits for most popular hikes - The park would not require permits for entry to the park, just for the most crowded hikes.

      Based on these three options I would not be surprised if the park implemented number 3. National Parks such as Yosemite are already requiring permits for popular hikes such as Half Dome. If people knew they could not get to Angels Landing or The Narrows Bottom-Up without permits than they might be turned away from the park altogether reducing the crowds.

      a year later