Shifting Lenses

For many National Park enthusiasts, Zion National Park in Utah is among the most picturesque. Iconic hiking, like the challenging Angel’s Landing and truly unique experiences like The Narrows, combine with cliffs, canyons, and the Virgin River to make a stunningly beautiful place.

Its weather and access also make it a great destination. A reasonable drive from Las Vegas, you can even make a day trip out of it, making year-round visiting feasible. While winters are chilly, they are certainly more mild than many other national parks. Therefore, Zion is a year-round destination. And maybe this is the problem. It is a little too accessible and a little too “picturesque.” The reality on the ground has a very different feel and always makes my parents comment about how the types of people visiting parks have changed.

My Parents’ past experiences…..According to my parents, years ago, the outdoorsy types that hiked and climbed in the park were apparently a very specific group. They were fit, often minimalist in how they were traveling and what they were traveling with. They camped in tents mostly. National Parks were considered cheap destinations for travel, so families on a budget often filled the campground. If someone was hiking The Narrows, they had a guidebook, experience, and some well-worn gear. Everyone was there for peace and time outdoors.

What I Have Seen…..National parks like Zion are often overcrowded, and tourists arrive by the busload. Even in early April, The Narrows was crowded with people all fitted out in every piece of rented gear that would make their trek more comfortable. The gear rental business was huge in the nearby town. Many tourists seemed to only want to go far enough down The Narrows to get a good picture, sometimes 100 yards or less! We arrived early, but by the time we left for lunch, the shuttle bus line from the Visitors Center snaked around the building and into the parking lot. There were no parking spaces to be had. Busloads of day trippers were still coming in nonstop. 

All signs point to the tourist motivation in Zion having shifted to prioritizing photo opportunities. For some visitors, going to a national park now seems pretty similar to going to New York City. I don’t have a problem with this; after all, the economy of the nearby towns is booming. However, I suspect the segment of society that still truly seeks solitude will likely begin to avoid Zion, instead finding refuge in lesser-known state parks. Regardless of how we feel about it, the cultural shift in park visitors seems undeniable.