Paul Matthew Lopez

Zion National Park (Today's Park Report & News) The Narrows is open again, but the river is still up. Storms closed the Narrows and Zion's slot canyons several times between Oct. 31 and Nov. 7, and the latest alert, which closed the top-down route for high water, is no longer listed this morning. The North Fork of the Virgin River was running about 114 cubic feet per second at 6:35 a.m. today (USGS, provisional). NPS says that above 70 cfs, walking against the current gets challenging, with frequent thigh-deep crossings and pools that can be chest-deep. The Narrows closes to all travel above 150 cfs or when the National Weather Service issues a Flash Flood Warning. This is also the last stretch of shuttle season. The Zion Canyon shuttle runs daily through Nov. 28, and from Nov. 29 you can drive the Scenic Drive yourself. Roads: The park is open 24 hours a day, all year. Through Nov. 28 the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is shuttle only. The first shuttle leaves the Zion Canyon Visitor Center at 7 a.m., the last one up canyon leaves at 5 p.m., and the last ride out of the Temple of Sinawava is 6:15 p.m. Shuttles are free, with no ticket or reservation, and the Springdale Line runs from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. From Nov. 29 to Dec. 25 there is no shuttle and private vehicles can use the Scenic Drive. Holiday shuttles return Dec. 26 to Jan. 2. The Zion-Mount Carmel Highway is open after the Sept. 30 rockfall, with gravel in place until the damaged section is repaved, so drive the project area with care. UDOT will fully close the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel nightly from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., Monday Nov. 16 through Friday morning Nov. 20, for fiber optic work. Expect one-way traffic and minor delays on SR-9 in Springdale and on the highway east of the tunnel. Oversize vehicles still cannot drive between Canyon Junction and the East Entrance. Kolob Canyons Road is open but can close in winter storms, and Kolob Terrace Road usually closes at Maloney Hill for several months once snow arrives. Trails: The Watchman Trail is still closed pending repairs, with no reopening date. Hidden Canyon is closed, and Observation Point can only be reached from the east side because of the East Rim rockfall. Angels Landing still needs a permit past Scout Lookout. The day-before lottery is open 12:01 a.m. to 3 p.m. MT, and results go out after 4 p.m. Applications for the Dec. 1 to Feb. 28 seasonal lottery closed Oct. 20. NPS also warns of toxic cyanobacteria, so don't drink river water or put your head under in any stream or pool. Camping and fees: Watchman Campground is open all year, and reservations are required. South Campground and Lava Point Campground are closed for the winter. Zion Lodge is open all year with reduced winter services. The Zion Canyon Visitor Center is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Human History Museum 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a noon to 1 p.m. break. No reservation is needed to enter the park. Private vehicle is $35 for 7 days, motorcycle $30, and per person (hike, bike or walk-in) $20, with kids 15 and under free. A Zion annual pass is $70, and the America the Beautiful pass is $80. Non-U.S. residents 16 and older pay an extra $100 per person unless they hold an annual or America the Beautiful pass. Cards are preferred, and cash is accepted. Entry is free for U.S. citizens and residents on Veterans Day, Nov. 11. Best hike: Canyon Overlook Trail, 1 mile round trip with 163 feet of elevation change, about 1 hour (NPS). AllTrails lists it at 1.2 miles with 275 feet of gain and rates it moderate. No shuttle or permit needed. Known for one of the biggest views in Zion for the effort: sandstone steps and a handrailed ledge above a dark slot canyon lead to a fenced viewpoint about 1,000 feet above lower Zion Canyon, with the Towers of the Virgin, the Streaked Wall and the highway switchbacks below. The trailhead is on the east side, just past the east end of the tunnel. Watch for bighorn sheep. Tip: Parking is extremely limited, so go early and be ready to try more than once. Long drop-offs are mostly fenced, and shaded steps can be slick on cold mornings. Zion quick facts: -Became a national park: 1919. -Known for: Sandstone walls 2,000 to 3,000 feet tall, carved by the North Fork of the Virgin River. The Navajo Sandstone reaches its greatest thickness here, more than 2,000 feet. Utah's first national park is home to the Narrows, Angels Landing and the Kolob Canyons, and about 84 percent of it is designated wilderness. Seasonal closures: The Zion Canyon shuttle stops after Nov. 28 and returns Dec. 26 to Jan. 2. Kolob Terrace Road and Lava Point Road typically close from fall into spring for snow, and Kolob Canyons Road closes often in winter storms. South Campground reopens in spring. Best time to visit: Spring and fall bring the mildest weather. NPS says Zion Canyon's fall color typically peaks in early November, so the cottonwoods are near their best right now. Winter days usually run 30 to 60°F, with thinner crowds. Summer regularly tops 100°F, and monsoon storms raise the flash flood risk. Tip: Check three things the morning you go: the park's alerts page for closures, the USGS gauge for Virgin River flow, and the National Weather Service flash flood forecast. In this canyon, conditions can change in an hour. TRACE take: Late fall is Zion at its most golden, but this year the river has been setting the schedule. Ride the shuttle while it runs, check the flow before you wade, and save some time for the cottonwoods.