Zion National Park

Tour buses, RVs and trailers that exceed size limits won’t be allowed on the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway as of June 7.

The new Zion Discovery Center is under construction on Zion National Park’s less-crowded east side. The park hopes it will relieve congestion in Zion Canyon and offer visitors a different experience.

The shutdown hasn’t stopped the crowds at the very popular Zion National Park. But keeping it open has required tens of thousands from state funds and donations.

An executive order from President Donald Trump calls on the National Park Service to increase entry fees for visitors from abroad. In Utah, international tourism is big business, but local officials believe higher fees are unlikely to keep people away.

“If I can bring something beautiful to them, it tells them they matter,” said music thanatologist and Zion National Park artist-in-residence Catharine DeLong. “It tells them that they are alive.”

The Temple of Sinawava dam, built in 1957, kept native fish like flannelmouth suckers pinned downstream on the Virgin River.

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.

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

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.