Arches National Park figures to be extremely busy this Memorial Day Weekend/Kurt Repanshek file

Arches and Canyonlands national parks in Utah, and no doubt many other units of the National Park System, are preparing for a busy Memorial Day weekend, and are advising visitors to expect heavy traffic, crowded trails, and limited parking.

At Arches in Utah, you should plan ahead and have a back-up plan if you are not able to enter the park during the busiest hours of the morning and early afternoon.

“Memorial Day weekend is typically our busiest weekend of the year,” said Superintendent Patty Trap. “We recommend planning ahead and having alternative activities and places to visit in the Moab area for visitors to have an enjoyable holiday weekend.”

Visitors arriving at the parks between 9 a.m. MT and 2 p.m. MT should expect long lines at park entrance gates that could last up to an hour or longer. Parking lots and trails inside the parks will be very crowded. If the parks become full, staff will delay vehicles from entering until space opens to accommodate more people and vehicles. When this happens at Arches many visitors travel up to the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park next door, where they might experience up to two-hour waits to enter that part of the park.

“To avoid being caught in an entrance delay at Arches, we recommend people come to the parks early in the morning or late in the afternoon,” Trap said. “There are many great hikes along the river corridor in Bureau of Land Management areas, as well as local museums like Moab Giants or the Moab Museum. These are good alternative activities while waiting to enter the parks.”

Park rangers ask that vehicles waiting in line at the entrance gate keep pace with traffic in the line and have payment ready. Credit cards are preferred. Current pass holders and returning visitors should have passes and identification ready. There are no toilet facilities or drinking water along park entrance roads. Only park vehicles in designated spaces and not unsafely or anywhere that damages park plants or soils.

Visitors should plan for their safety by packing water and snacks and wearing sturdy shoes and sun protection. People who are not fully vaccinated (less than two weeks past your final dose) must continue to wear masks inside all park buildings and in crowded outdoor spaces, such as narrow/busy trails, overlooks, visitor center patios, and other congested areas.

Visitors are encouraged to check the parks’ websites or Twitter accounts for current entrance gate information and road conditions prior to driving to the park.

If you plan to hike Angels Landing in Zion this weekend, expect to stand in line for the privilege/NPS file

At Zion National Park on the other side of Utah, Memorial Day Weekend is a time to honor the sacrifice of those who have fallen serving the country. It marks the unofficial start of summer and is also Zion’s busiest weekend, with more than 85,000 visitors expected during the four-day weekend. 

While the park is increasing staff, visitors should expect crowded conditions and long lines. Parking typically fills by 8 a.m. MT, so visitors entering later should plan on parking in Springdale and walking or taking the free town shuttle to the Pedestrian Entrance walk-in gate. Once parking is full, vehicle admittance into the park will be metered based upon availability.

The Zion Mount Carmel Highway may be closed to through traffic periodically when parking has filled in order to safely relieve congestion both east and west of the large tunnel and to restore traffic flow. Alternative routes include: Utah Highway 59 /Arizona Highway 389, Utah Highway 14, and Utah Highway 20. 

Visitors who can be flexible with their schedule are encouraged to visit Friday or Monday rather than Saturday or Sunday, as well as consider arriving early or starting their visit after 3 p.m. to avoid the greatest crowding.

“Visitors should come prepared, both for crowded conditions, and for the activities they are planning,” said Superintendent Jeff Bradybaugh. “With a great many people visiting, please show additional patience with others and respectful trail etiquette. And remember that safety is your responsibility, so please avoid unsafe behaviors and risk-taking. Multiple emergencies are common during busy periods, stretching the availability of search and rescue, emergency medical and fire-fighting capabilities.” 

The temporary shuttle ticket system for the Zion Canyon portion of the park is in effect. Advance tickets are sold out, but additional tickets will go on sale at Recreation.gov at 5 p.m. MT each night for the next day (Example: tickets for Friday will be released on Thursday at 5 p.m. MT). See the park website for more information on shuttle tickets and additional opportunities in the park.   

This year, as in 2019, park staff will also be managing the queue that forms at Scout Lookout for visitors wanting to hike Angels Landing. Visitors will queue in the Grotto area and be metered on to the trail. This will reduce crowding on the chains section and allow visitors to wait at the Grotto where there are restrooms, running water and shade.

Lines of several hours are possible, so hikers should be prepared. Hikers who want to stop at Scout Lookout or continue up the West Rim Trail without hiking the chain section to Angels Landing will not be required to wait at the Grotto. Park visitors are reminded to “Know before you go”; research the park and the activity you plan to do and potential hazards you may encounter, be realistic about your limits and of those traveling with you, identify the right equipment for your trip and test it and/or try it out before you go.

The West Rim Trail from the Grotto to Lava Point is approximately 14 miles long with 3,800 feet of elevation gain. Visitors should be prepared to hike in the heat, with plenty of water, and proper footwear. 

Park visitors are reminded to recreate responsibility and plan ahead. This includes knowing the local fire restrictions. Beginning May 26, no campfires are allowed in Zion National Park. Firefighters are responding to increasing numbers of human caused wildfires across the region and increasing fire danger is expected for the summer months.  

The NPS requests the public’s cooperation utilizing Leave No Trace (LNT) practices throughout Zion National Park. Following these LNT principles and tips helps to protect the natural and cultural resources of Zion National Park during your visit. The park also encourages visitors to take the Zion National Park Pledge. The Zion Pledge is a personal promise you can make to protect yourself and the park. Please share your #ZionPledge story on social media and encourage family and friends to do the same.