tourism

Zion National Park’s staff numbers haven’t kept up with rising visitation, and the Trump administration’s federal hiring freeze hasn’t helped. Park officials say visitors should help prevent search and rescue operations by planning ahead.

The iconic Ironman triathlon introduced southwest Utah to the world of endurance athletes. But population growth, high costs and “Ironman fatigue” led local leaders to cut ties with the race after 2025.

Unlike other Utah cities, St. George’s growth isn’t driven by people moving from abroad. That could create future problems for filling local jobs.

Landslides triggered by 2023’s wet winter damaged the original bridge. The relocated bridge will better accommodate shifts in the Virgin River.

Park City Mayor Nann Worel doesn’t know why Sundance passed on the joint Salt Lake City and Park City bid but acknowledged politics could have inadvertently injected itself into the discussion.

Colorado, like Outdoor Retailer before, has lured away another Utah institution. The film festival has called Utah home since 1978.

The new signs reduce speeds by up to 15 mph as drivers enter Moab on State Route 191 in southeast Utah. Advocates hope it’s a first step toward curbing dangerous crashes between vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians.

All but one of Utah’s Mighty Five national parks had an increase in visitors from the previous year. At the same time, concerns linger about how federal job cuts might impact park crowds.

An estimated 1,000 National Park Service employees have been fired so far. That includes at least 20 rangers, by one unofficial count, from Utah’s popular and busy national parks.

The February mass firing of National Park Service employees has hit parks in southern Utah, including Zion and Bryce Canyon. That’s spurring worries about long lines and crowds as the parks’ busy season ramps up.

Utah’s national park lands see over 15 million visitors each year, and that number continues to grow. Zion National Park is the country’s third-most visited park.

Film wasn’t the only thing on people’s minds at Sundance this year. The effects of the wildfires in Southern California loomed large, as did the bittersweet knowledge that this year will be the second to last Sundance based in Park City.