Zion National Park records second busiest year

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Do you like visiting national parks? Well, you're not alone.

Zion recorded 4,692,417 visits to the park in 2022, the second busiest on record. This is more than 200,000, greater than the total number of visits recorded in 2019.

Park officials said Zion hosted record-high numbers of visits in six of the last 10 years.

The park also shared the following statistics:

• Zion hosted more than 5 million shuttle boardings – up more than 20% from 2021.
• Zion recorded more than 82,000 visits over Memorial Day Weekend in 2022. About one-third of all national parks – more than 150 – recorded fewer than 82,000 visits in all of 2022.
• Zion maintenance staff provided nearly 2,000 miles of toilet paper in park restrooms. This is nearly enough to stretch from Zion to Washington, DC.
• Park rangers responded to more than 120 calls that required search and rescue operations in 2022.
• Park rangers answered more than 26,000 phone calls and emails – an average of more than 70 every day of the year – to share information about visiting Zion.

If you would like to join the millions that have visited Zion National Park, they suggest you follow some basic tips:

• Have a plan...and a backup plan.
• Enjoy the unexpected. Just because you planned to visit a particular trail doesn't mean it's a good idea on the day you visit. Take advantage of the opportunity to discover something new if conditions aren't right to do what you planned.
• Check the forecast before you hit the trail. Know the likelihood of extreme heat or cold and flash flood potential.
• Wear layers to be ready for changing weather conditions.
• Drink water and bring food to eat. Be sure to pack out what you bring with you on the trails.
• Bring a flashlight in case you end up on the trail longer than you expect.

According to park officials, conditions at Zion can change quickly, and you need to prepare before you visit the park.

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If you need some guidance, free tools are provided by the National Park Service on nps.gov and the NPS App.