Expect crowds at Zion National Park this weekend/Rebecca Latson file

The last big holiday weekend in the National Park System likely will be a busy one in many parks. Staff at Zion, Acadia, and Sequoia/Kings Canyon national parks are saying crowds can be expected in their parks this coming weekend.

Zion National Park

At Zion in Utah, visitors should expect some queues and congestion within the park. Those with flexible plans are encouraged to visit before Friday or after Monday to avoid crowds. 

Park visitors are reminded to recreate responsibly and plan ahead. Parking in Zion typically fills by 8 a.m. Mountain, so visitors arriving later should plan on parking in Springdale and walking or taking the free town shuttle to the Pedestrian Entrance walk-in gate.  

The first Springdale shuttle leaves the Majestic View Lodge at 7 a.m. and the last shuttle leaves the Zion Canyon Village at 9 p.m. The first Zion Canyon shuttle leaves the visitor center at 6 a.m., the last shuttle leaves the visitor center at 6 p.m., and the last shuttle out of the canyon from the Temple of Sinawava leaves at 8:15 p.m. Once parking in Zion 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.  To avoid park traffic use alternative routes such as: Utah Highway 59/Arizona Highway 389, Utah Highway 14, and Utah Highway 20. 

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 the limits of those traveling with you, identify the right equipment for your trip and test it and/or try it out before you go. Everyone who hikes Angels Landing needs to have a permit, more information available at go.nps.gov/AngelsLanding. Visitors should be prepared to hike in the heat, with plenty of water, electrolytes, and proper footwear. Check the weather forecast -- an excessive heat warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for the park -- or stop by park Visitor Centers for up-to-date information. Your safety is your responsibility.  

Acadia National Park likely will be crowded this weekend/NPS, Kristi Sugg

Acadia National Park

At Acadia in Maine, visitors should arrive with a plan and a back-up plan  in case parking is unavailable. Go to nps.gov/Acadia  to learn about places to go and things to do in the park before you arrive. Download the  NPS App  to help guide your visit to Acadia and select “save this park for offline use.” Park only in designated parking spaces. Parking illegally is unsafe and adds to the traffic congestion.

Leave your car parked at your place of lodging and ride the fare-free Island Explorer bus, which connects the park with the surrounding communities on Mount Desert Island and the Schoodic Peninsula. The Island Explorer is operating on its reduced fall service schedule. Download the  myStop® app to view real-time bus locations and next available buses.

Visitors 16 and older are required to have a  park entrance pass, which can be purchased online at  Recreation.gov  or in person at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center. Vehicles must display a park entrance pass through the windshield. Entrance fees help enhance the visitor experience and protect resources at Acadia National Park.  

Vehicle reservations are required for Cadillac Summit Road through October 22 and must be purchased online at  Recreation.gov  before arriving. Print or download the ticket with the QR code for validation. Reservations are not available for purchase in person. Vehicle reservations are not required for other locations in the park or for visitors who enter the area by foot, bicycle, or taxi.

Camping reservations are required for  park campgrounds and can be purchased on  Recreation.gov. Same day or walk-up reservations are not available. Backcountry camping, campfires and overnight parking are prohibited outside of designated campgrounds.

Hikers should know the difficulty of the park’s trails and select those that match their abilities (many of Acadia’s hikes are more challenging than they seem). Carry a detailed trail map with topography and don't rely on cell connectivity for trail navigation. Seventy percent of injuries to hikers in Acadia are due to slips, trips and falls. Wear sturdy footwear and beware of loose gravel, slippery rock, steep climbs and uneven surfaces.

Depending on CDC guidelines and the COVID-19 community level in Hancock County, Maine, masks may be required to enter park buildings, including the Hulls Cove Visitor Center, regardless of vaccination status.

Crowds, congestion, and sold-out campsites are expected this weekend at Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks/NPS

Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks

Expect congestion and lines at park entrances. Avoid long waiting periods by arriving prior to 9 a.m. or after 3 p.m., and have your method of payment ready when you arrive at the gate. Save time and take advantage of an additional entry lane to the parks by purchasing your park pass online ahead of time at www.recreation.gov/pass. Bring snacks, water, and a full tank of gas.

RVs and trailers longer than 22 feet are advised to enter through the Big Stump Entrance Station in Kings Canyon National Park. Vehicles longer than 22 feet are not advised on the Generals Highway between Hospital Rock and Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park, due to the many sharp curves in this section.

Advance reservations are required to camp in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Campground reservations can be made up to one month in advance using www.recreation.gov, or by calling (877) 444-6777. Do not arrive planning to camp if you do not have a reservation. At this time, campsites for the holiday weekend are fully booked throughout both parks. All park campgrounds are open except for Dorst Creek Campground.

There are currently no public showers or laundry facilities available in the parks. Portable showers are permitted, but campers must collect the water and dispose of it in one of the outdoor sinks. All vehicles (2 allowed per site) must fit onto the parking pad. Overflow parking for cars that cannot fit onto parking pads is limited.

Bears have been active in all commonly visited areas of the parks recently, and it is critical that everyone manage their food, garbage, and scented items carefully to avoid serious problems between bears and humans. When bears obtain food from people, whether or not the people intended to feed them, they become more aggressive in their attempts to get more. In some situations, when a bear has become food-conditioned and bold with people, the parks must euthanize the bear to protect public safety.

Utilize the metal storage lockers near parking areas to store food and scented items that you are not planning to carry with you in the parks. Ensure that any garbage you throw away fits all the way inside the garbage receptacle, and that the receptacle closes properly. If there is not room in the receptacle for your garbage, pack it out with you. If you are camping, all food, scented items, and coolers, including bear-proof ice chests, must fit into the metal storage box at your campsite (most are 47" long x 33" deep x 28"high). Citations are issued for improper food storage.

Campfires and charcoal fires are prohibited outside of designated picnic areas and designated campgrounds. Stage 2 fire restrictions are in effect in the parks, which means that wood and charcoal fires and barbeques are prohibited in South Fork, Potwisha, and Buckeye Flat Campgrounds, and Hospital Rock and Foothills picnic areas. Gas, propane, alcohol (with and without a shutoff valve) and tablet/cube stoves are permitted.

Labor Day Weekend is predicted to coincide with a heat wave, which will exacerbate already very hot and dry conditions. All fires must be closely and personally attended, and fully extinguished before you go to bed or leave the area. Rangers will be on patrol looking for and addressing unattended fire.

Tickets to enter the parks using the Sequoia Shuttle are $20 per person, and reservations are required - visit www.sequoiashuttle.com for more information. Shuttles within the Giant Forest area are free to use. All parking areas are expected to be crowded throughout the weekend. When parking lots near the General Sherman Tree are full, visitors are advised to park at Lodgepole or the Wuksachi Lodge and use the shuttle.

The Moro Rock/Crescent Meadow Road will be closed to personal vehicles from Saturday, September 3, to Monday, September 5. To access these areas, visitors can catch the shuttle at the Giant Forest Museum.

Wilderness permits can be reserved through www.recreation.gov up to six months in advance of your entry date. Reservations close one week prior to entry dates. A limited number of first-come, first-served permits are available daily at permit issuing stations in Cedar Grove, Grant Grove, Giant Forest Museum, Ash Mountain, and Mineral King. Reservations are the only way to be assured of a wilderness permit. Walk-up permits are in extremely high demand. If you don’t have a reservation, have alternate plans in case your first or second choice of entry points is unavailable.

Wilderness permit quota season ends on September 17, after which permits are not limited and are available by self-issue.

Those are just four parks that have issued alerts to crowding this weekend, but you can be sure many other parks will be thick with visitors.