Pine Creek parking lot closure extended

[ratagonia]

Zion National Park News Release
August 28, 2009
For Immediate Release
Ron Terry 435 772-0160

Canyon Overlook Parking Area Closure Extended Two Weeks

Superintendent Jock Whitworth has announced that the temporary closure of the Canyon Overlook parking lot which began August 3, 2009 will be extended through September 13, 2009. The original closure was for four weeks. The additional time is needed to better evaluate the effects of the closure on visitor safety, the tunnel escort operation, and the visitor experience. Visitors wishing to hike on the Canyon Overlook Trail will need to continue to park in the paved lot 100 yards east of the Canyon Overlook trailhead and use the sidewalk to access the trail. The restroom in the parking lot will remain open.

The Canyon Overlook parking lot was designed and built in the 1930's when annual visitation to the park was 15,000 visitors and the average size of a vehicle was much smaller. Motor vehicle accidents and numerous near misses at the East side of the Zion Tunnel have created serious safety concerns related to both rangers working the tunnel escort operation and park visitors.

The parking lot closure was instituted to study its overall effect on safety at the busy and congested Tunnel East location. If the closure demonstrates improvements in visitor and employee safety, the park will consider implementing a permanent closure.

If a permanent closure occurs, backcountry use limits for Pine Creek and Spry Canyon may need to be reduced due to the limited available parking.

Due to the popularity of the Canyon Overlook Trail, it is recommended that visitors arrive early in the morning or late in the afternoon to find parking spaces. For safety reasons, parking on the road shoulder
will not be allowed. Canyoneers wishing to access Spry or Pine Creek Canyons are encouraged to carpool or use one of several private shuttle services available in the town of Springdale.

-NPS

[Iceaxe]

The parking lot closure was instituted to study its overall effect on safety at the busy and congested Tunnel East location. If the closure demonstrates improvements in visitor and employee safety, the park will consider implementing a permanent closure.

This is bullshit!!! If the park was serious about safety and congestion they would ban oversized vehicles from using the tunnel (or restrict the hours when they can use the tunnel). This would eliminate more congestion and safety concerns than I can count.


If a permanent closure occurs, backcountry use limits for Pine Creek and Spry Canyon may need to be reduced due to the limited available parking.

And as usual canyoneers take it in the shorts..... I wish someone would get a clue.... when compared to the number of tour buses, motorhomes and folks pulling small houses through the tunnel do canyoneers really show up as more then a blip on the radar?

:cool2:

[canyonguru]

I agree with ice on this one but the only problem with banning oversized vehicles is that they will loose a lot of income for the park entry fees and as shocking as it is they wont let that happen. I think having certain times for the house's on wheels would be the best route even though it will make it more inconveinent for those who are traveling cross country trying to hit the park during the open tunnel times for the larger vehicles. Its a big mess and if they really wanted to they should find an area to dig out the parking lot and make it bigger or make the couple of areas up the road bigger. I can't imagine digging out a 100 to 200 square feet of zion next to the highway would really decract from the senery. it would be a lot better then hundreds of cars lined up waiting to enter the tunnel. Just my 2 cents. :rockon:

[ratagonia]

I agree with ice on this one but the only problem with banning oversized vehicles is that they will loose a lot of income for the park entry fees and as shocking as it is they wont let that happen. I think having certain times for the house's on wheels would be the best route even though it will make it more inconveinent for those who are traveling cross country trying to hit the park during the open tunnel times for the larger vehicles. Its a big mess and if they really wanted to they should find an area to dig out the parking lot and make it bigger or make the couple of areas up the road bigger. I can't imagine digging out a 100 to 200 square feet of zion next to the highway would really decract from the senery. it would be a lot better then hundreds of cars lined up waiting to enter the tunnel. Just my 2 cents. :rockon:

The entry fees are not really the issue. If they closed it to RVs, people would start complaining to the Congressman. That is the issue. While you and me might think it ridiculous to drive around with a motel room in back, Average Joe American thinks it is his constitutional right to do so, and be supported in doing so by our National Parks.

The General Management Plan is very clear, and discourages any and all "development" inside the Park. But they are re-paving the road next year, and I think Jock is setting up to add a *few* more parking spots on the East Side. There really is not any easy places to put them...

Tom :moses:

[nonot]

I've been thinking about this for some time, there aren't many good places for parking east of the tunnel, but there's a heck of a lot by the great arch viewpoints at the exit of Pine Creek. Why, why, why won't they consider running a van shuttle to the east rim for PC and the overlook (even Mystery the easy way)? Hell, Zion Lodge HAS a van shuttle! What's the matter, paying for van gas instead of propane too much hypocracy for them after taking all that money to let people drive their giant 8 mpg RVs through the east tunnel?

Edit: typos

[Iceaxe]

I was just looking at the math of this proposed reduction and it doesn't make a lot of sense.... Canyoneers are limited to 50 permits each day, if the average group is 4 that is less than 13 cars each day spread over a 24 hour period. I think the park should be able to supply 13 parking places spread over 24 hours.

Why are canyoneers always singled out to take the beating? This is ridiculous, no other use group is singled out and restricted by the park like the canyoneers are..... this is pure bullshit....

If the park really wants to make things safe how about making the parking at the top lot by permit only! And make it so your Pinecreek permit is good for one spot in the permited parking lot?

:soapbox:

[moab mark]

Maybe we can get some stimulus money and enlarge the tunnel :roflol: 4 lanes ought to do it. :2thumbs:
Zions Adventure will shuttle Pine Creek. $80.

Mark