Here’s the good news: America’s National Parks are some of the finest in the world. The
National Park Service does such a fine job taking care of our natural and
historical jewels, that you don’t have to go far to experience the wonders of our National Parks. Here’s the bad news.
Lots of people do this, and some of the parks are ridiculously crowded.
If you have ever spent a summer week in Yosemite Valley, you know what I’m
talking about. The valley becomes so congested in summer with motorhomes and cars and grill smoke, that it sometimes
more closely resembled Disneyland than a wonder of the world. The same goes for Zion National Park, which has a
reputation during July for Los Angeles-style traffic jams.
Now the NPS is trying to fix all that. According
to this piece in the
Washington Post, the folks at Zion have begun a shuttle service through Zion to ease the congestion problems. Now,
you may say, whoa, wait a minute, why should I celebrate riding a shuttle in a magnificent place like Zion. You
shouldn’t. But for the time being it is the next best alternative to preventing visitors into the park. It ain’t
pretty, and I’m not sure there isn’t a better solution down the road. But for now, that’s what they’re doing.
So if you are planning a summer Zion trip, beware. You may be seeing the park not from your car window, but while
sitting next to some chatty dude and his wife from Las Vegas.