Zion National Park sets visitor record

ST. GEORGE, Utah — Zion National Park set a visitation record in the first 11 months of 2017, a milestone that highlights concerns about overcrowding at the iconic red-rock landscape.

Nearly 4.4 million people visited the park through the end of November, an increase of about five per cent over last year, The

Spectrum in St. George reported. Attendance at Zion has risen steadily over the past decade and is up 70 per cent since 2010, when there were 2.7 million visitors for the year. The numbers come as park officials weigh a first-of-its kind reservation system and the U.S. National Park Service considers hiking fees to $70 US per car during the peak summer season at several popular parks, including Zion.

The plan announced in October would more than double the entry fees at 17 national parks that now charge $25 or $30 per vehicle.

Officials say the higher fees are needed to address an $11-billion maintenance backlog that’s built up as park funding stayed flat.

Zion officials say their shuttle system is overcrowded, the line of cars waiting to enter regularly backs up into neighbouring Springdale, and visitors have cut more than 50 kilometres of their own trails.

Other Utah parks, including Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef, are also setting records.