Zion National Park closed Friday afternoon, unable to reduce visitation during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic/NPS file

After weeks of reducing services and trying to manage visitation during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Zion National Park closed to the public Friday.

The closure announcement came Friday afternoon after the Utah Department of Health recommended the park's closure. Upon receiving that request, Zion Superintendent Jeff Bradybaugh, with the support of the NPS Deputy Director, Operations, David Vela and Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt, made the decision to immediately close the park until further notice. 

"We appreciate the collaboration with state and local agencies and their expertise in steps to reduce the risk of the spread of COVID-19,” said Bradybaugh. “Zion has been carefully assessing our ability to provide a safe environment amid this crisis and making progressive changes to operations as needed. However, visitors are continuing to come to the park from all across the country at numbers difficult to maintain social distancing.”

State Route 9 (Zion-Mount Carmel Highway and Tunnel) and Kolob Terrace Road, the two roads through Zion National Park, will remain open for the safety and needs of local residents only. Stopping at pull-offs will be prohibited.

“I’m grateful to the Department of the Interior for recognizing the need to close Zion National Park as quickly as possible,” Utah Governor Gary Herbert said. “Even with stay home orders and directives in place across the nation, Zion still continues to receive a high number of visitors each day, which greatly increases the risk of infection to communities near the park. We look forward to the day that this pandemic draws to a close and we can once again welcome the world to Utah’s public lands.”