ST. GEORGE — Temperatures are climbing along with increased visitation to Southern Utah state and national parks.

“Our visitation, overnight and day use, has definitely increased at Sand Hollow State Park with the warmer weather,” Jason Both, manager of Sand Hollow State Park, told St. George News. “All campgrounds have been full throughout the week and boating is starting to pick up.”

Both said he expects visitation to continue to increase at Sand Hollow State Park as the weather continues to warm and the summer tourism season begins. He said the off-highway vehicle use remains popular in the park and Sand Mountain. And a major event is on the horizon.

“The park will host the 2023 Ironman 70.3 North American Championship on Saturday, May 6,” Both said. “Athletes from all over the world will be pushing their limits for this triathlon.” 

Visitor numbers also are increasing at Zion National Park, with attendance higher on weekends and holidays. Park spokesman Jonathan Shafer said March 2023 saw visitation at 336,226 people, up from 130,478 in February and 114,117 in January. But compared with March 2022, visitation was slightly higher than the current year at 446,308 visitors.

Zion National Park’s South Entrance improvements to road drainage are almost complete. But Shafer said even with additional lanes open, visitors should always be prepared for lines and limited parking near the park’s South Entrance.

Shafer also cautions visitors who want to hike The Narrows to check the conditions before arriving. 

“A great deal of snow fell this winter, and as it melts, more water will flow through the Virgin River,” Shafer said. 

On Zion National Park’s website, he said people can monitor The Narrows and see the history of when it closed and opened due to snowmelt in past years. Shafer said making campground reservations far in advance is advised. The Watchman Campground is currently open. View the campground and make a reservation online.

Shafer said when the parking lots fill inside Zion National Park, there is parking in Springdale and a free shuttle into the park. The shuttle, pedestrian and bicycle entrance is located at the river entrance of the park. View Zion’s shuttle schedule at this link.

“Whether you have a camping spot or not, you can attend a free ranger program in the Watchman Campground Amphitheater this summer,” Shafer said. “Programs focus on subjects from geology to biology to human history.”

At Snow Canyon State Park, visitation continues to be erratic. Kristen Comella, Snow Canyon State Park manager, said they experienced colder than typical weather from mid-February through early April. 

“Warm days brought out lots of visitors; the cooler days were more sluggish,” Comella said. “When the weather finally warmed before Easter, it felt as though visitation was finally returning to normal. However, this past week has seemed slower than typical for this time of year.”

Comella said that might be because the waves of spring break have ended. She said Snow Canyon has no visitation or revenue comparison, so her comments are an observation. 

For Bryce Canyon National Park, even springtime brings snow, which impacts visitation. At 8,000 feet, Bryce Canyon can be 15 or more degrees cooler than its lower desert surroundings. 

“As spring arrives, that difference in climate often means we’re still receiving snow when nearby areas are seeing rain,” Bryce Canyon National Park spokesman Peter Densmore said. “While our weather can vary considerably from year to year, it’s not uncommon for us to see snow falling well into April.”

He said the park had received about 136 inches of snow this winter, well above the annual average of 90 inches.

Densmore encourages all park visitors to check the park website before arriving. Currently, the park’s website states the main road is open to Ponderosa Canyon and the roads to Fairyland Point and Paria View remain closed.

“With the persistent winter weather, the park still has a few seasonal road and trail closures in place, some of which will begin to lift as snowfall begins to taper off,” Densmore said. “Other areas, such as the Navajo Loop, will need some repairs before reopening.”

He said Navajo Loop was closed March 16 due to warming temperatures and melting snow. Densmore said there were unsafe conditions on that trail. The repairs for Navajo Loop will begin once the area thaws. The entire Navajo Loop and the 1.5-mile section of Rim Trail between Inspiration and Bryce Points are closed. All other front-country trails remain open for hiking. 

Bryce Canyon National Park’s website recommends winter and spring hikers employ an additional traction device on hiking shoes or boots, “mountaineering crampons or other, lighter options that fasten over your winter footwear. … We recommend wearing these devices throughout the park, especially in parking lots and other paved areas to avoid injuries from slipping and falling.”

And Densmore echoed the need for being aware of conditions.

“We are anticipating that some areas will slide further as they thaw,” Densmore said. “The park’s muddy limestones become unstable when saturated, so wet winters often result in some degree of spring trail damage. We intend to make every effort to have the Navajo Loop reopened as soon as possible.”

Densmore said 2023 marks 100 years since Bryce Canyon National Monument was first established. There will be special programs and events, including Utah Prairie Dog Day on May 11, a historical photo exhibit from April-November, a centennial ceremony and a free concert featuring The Piano Guys on June 8. Learn more about the park’s birthday celebrations at this link.

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