Heading to Zion National Park for Memorial Day? Expect long lines, large crowds and possible entrance closures

SPRINGDALE, Utah (ABC4) — Last year, close to 100,000 people visited Zion National Park over Memorial Day weekend. This year, large crowds are again expected at Utah’s busiest national park.

“Pack your patience,” Jonathan Shafer, the park’s spokesperson said in a news release. “We want you to enjoy your visit, and we want to be realistic about what to expect.”

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Those planning a Memorial Day trip to the southern Utah park should brace for the following: long lines at entrance stations, visitor centers, restrooms, and trailheads; long waits for shuttles; and intermittent closures at the east and south entrances.

“We may temporarily limit vehicle entry to reduce crowding and traffic congestion,” Shafer said, noting that the park’s pedestrian and bicycle entrance will remain open throughout the weekend.

As for those hoping to hike the popular Angels Landing trail, know that hikers need to apply for a permit the day before. Everyone who hikes the trail needs to have a permit, and they’re advised to arrive early so as not to miss their start time.

Hikers throughout the park are also urged to drink plenty of water. Average daytime temperatures in the southwest desert reach the upper 80s in late May. People could suffer health emergencies if they don’t stay hydrated.

Last Memorial Day weekend, Zion had more than 96,000 visitors, park officials said in the news release. That’s more people than many national parks see in an entire year.

Zion is the third most popular national park in the country, surpassed only by Grand Canyon National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

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