Zion National Park Seeks Public Comment on Wilderness
http://www.nps.gov/zion/parknews/zio...wilderness.htm
Zion National Park Seeks Public Comment on Wilderness
Date: October 25, 2011
Contact: Ray O'Neal, 435-772-7823
Contact: Marc Neidig, 435-772-0164
Zion National Park is seeking public comment on the park's wilderness permitting
procedures (formerly called backcountry permitting) and the demands placed on
the public by the current system. The park is exploring possible adjustments to
the permitting procedures to improve visitor services and experiences. Public
comments will be considered during the development of an updated permitting plan
scheduled for release by February 1, 2012.
Areas and activities within the park that require wilderness permits continue to
grow in popularity. Wilderness permits are required for all overnight trips, as
well as day trips into many of the park's slot canyons. As the demand for a
limited number of wilderness permits has increased, so has the competition. Many
visitors wait for hours or, in some cases, overnight to obtain wilderness
permits for activities within Zion National Park. The current wilderness
permitting system allows visitors to secure permits through a reservation system
for roughly 75% of all areas. Reservations for permits in the most popular
sections of the park are often booked two to three months in advance. The
remaining permits are issued up to one day in advance on a first come-first
served basis at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center. The demand for the first
come-first served permits results in long lines and significant waits. The park
is seeking to resolve these issues and improve operations.
The public is invited to provide comments through December 15, 2011. Please
visit http://parkplanning.nps.gov/zion to review the document and submit
comments. Comments can also be mailed to Zion National Park, Zion Wilderness
Permits, Springdale, UT 84767.
For additional information, please contact Ray O'Neil at 435-772-7823 or Annette
Werderich at 435-772-7611.