Weather and geology have not been friendly to Zion National Park this summer, with heavy storms bringing floodwaters as well as mudslides to the park in southwestern Utah. The latest development is the closure of Hidden Canyon Trail due to a slide of sand and small rocks onto the trail.
The slide occurred late Friday afternoon, according to a park release. Two similar rockfalls occurred in the same area on July 2 and July 4, covering approximately 45 feet of trail in 1.5 feet of sand. Hidden Canyon Trail will remain closed until a hazard geologist examines the situation and the trail can be safely cleared.
Weeping Rock, East Rim Trail, Observation Point Trail, Cable Mountain Trail and Deer Trap are still open.
Angels Landing, Kayenta Trail, Upper Emerald Pools Trail, West Rim Trail from the Grotto trailhead to Cabin Spring, and the terminus of Lower Emerald Pools Trail, remain closed due to major rockfalls that occurred on July 11. Park staff and engineers continue to identify strategies to fix or re-route the trails safely. Closures are being enforced due to unstable and unreliable trail integrity.