Zion National Park crews respond to road damage after destructive storms

SPRINGDALE — National Park Service crews are responding to rockfalls on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive and road damage on Kolob Canyons Road. These weather events are the most recent of several similar but smaller events experienced along park roads and trails this winter.

Work to address rockfall and road damage may affect visits to Zion. More information about how the roads are affected can be found below.

Zion Canyon Scenic Drive

A single lane is open near the work area, and the Zion Canyon Shuttle System is operating. The road may temporarily close and delay shuttles while repairs are happening.

Engineers and maintenance staff are assessing methods for road repair and repairing a damaged sewer cover and the vertical pipe that connects it to the sewer line. Crews are also completing work with a utility company to repair damaged buried electrical lines.

Road damage caused by rockfall at Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, Zion National Park, Utah, March 21, 2023 | Photo courtesy of the National Park Service/Sam Harvey, St. George News

Electrical service to Zion Lodge was interrupted from late Tuesday until Wednesday afternoon.

Kolob Canyons Road

The road has been closed to all use at the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center since March 15. This closure applies to drivers, hikers and bikers.

Engineers and maintenance staff are monitoring road conditions and assessing options to reopen the road.

Maintaining infrastructure in Zion

The National Park Service has a crew of highly trained professionals who maintain roads, trails and other facilities throughout Zion.

Engineers and maintenance staff measuring road damage on Kolob Canyons Road, Zion National Park, Utah, March 2023 | Photo courtesy of the National Park Service/Juan Galindo, St. George News

According to the park, these heavy equipment operators, tradespeople and laborers are responsible for hosting millions of drivers, hikers and bikers every year.

Zion maintains many buildings and infrastructural systems that are essential to visitors and to staff. These include the following:

  • More than 110 buildings.
  • More than 90 miles of trails.
  • Nearly 90 miles of paved and unpaved roads.
  • Ten water supply systems.
  • Nine wastewater management systems.
  • Three developed front-country campgrounds and many more backcountry campsites.

The latest information about visiting the park can be found on the Zion National Park website.

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