Large crowds have convinced Zion National Park officials to resume daily operations of shuttle buses through Nov. 8/Kurt Repanshek

As crowds continue to descend on Zion National Park in southwestern Utah, park officials have decided to resume daily shuttle operations to alleviate parking problems.

The shuttles were returning to service today, and would continue daily operations through November 8, a park release said. The shuttles will also run on weekends through November 22, and on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of Thanksgiving week.

Shuttle service routinely ends the last Sunday of October. However, on Monday there was far more traffic than the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, with its 400 or so parking spaces, could accommodate safely. At 10 a.m., once all the authorized parking spaces were filled, entry to Zion Canyon Scenic Drive was regulated to allow visitors to enter the Scenic Drive only as others departed. A number of people who were planning on visiting Zion Canyon were unable to due to the traffic safety, congestion and parking difficulties.

For Tuesday, park managers decided to open up some limited roadside parking in areas that did not create traffic or pedestrian safety issues, impede ambulance or fire vehicles, or cause resource damage. However, even those spots were not enough to alleviate the situation.

The park has arranged with the shuttle company, Parks Transportation Incorporated (PTI), to resume daily service today through November 8. Shuttle service in the park will operate between 7 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. This will be mandatory for access to the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, as is usual during shuttle season.  Visitors can board the shuttle in the usual locations within the park and on the Springdale Town route.  A single shuttle bus will run through Springdale starting at the Majestic Lodge at 9 a.m. The last town shuttle will leave the park’s pedestrian entrance at approximately 6:45 p.m.

Zion's visitation has increased by almost a million people over the past two years. The park has tried to adapt to the increase by starting the shuttle three weeks early in 2015, adding shuttles to the daily schedule, and providing weekend service in November and for the Thanksgiving holiday.

However, Zion National Park is faced with a capacity issue at more than a few frontcountry and backcountry locations. Visitors are having difficulty finding parking in the park and Springdale even when the shuttles are running. Overtaxed parking, traffic congestion and intermingled pedestrians has raised safety concerns along roadways, the park release said.

Overcrowding is occurring on some trails at peak times diminishing the extraordinary “Zion experience.” Park infrastructure, including roads, trails and facilities are seeing additional wear and tear accelerating their lifecycle maintenance replacement needs. Damage to the park resources, such as social trailing and human waste have increased dramatically.

“For years we have heard the expression ‘Zion is being loved to death,’” said park Superintendent Jeff Bradybaugh. “Together with our partners and nearby communities, we must address these problems.”

In 2016, Zion will begin a Visitor Use Management Plan. That process will help define the park’s capacity in key areas. Over the next two to three years, the park will test a number of adaptive management strategies to determine the most effective way to promote safe, enjoyable experiences, protect park resources, ease visitor crowding, and manage traffic and parking congestion as part of the planning process.