iamq

We're staying at Zion Lodge on June 21 for three nights , arriving from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and recieved this message from the Lodge. Thought Id pass it along.

"Road construction and closures are scheduled for the East Entrance of Zion National Park. Please note that the construction will not impact Zion Canyon, the most visited area of the park as well as the location of Zion Lodge. However, if your travel route to or from Zion National Park includes use of the East Entrance gate, your travel could be impacted.

The road construction will occur from the junction of the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive to the East Entrance of Zion National Park (State Hwy 9), including Mt. Carmel Tunnel. Beginning June 7th, the construction will result in this section of the highway being completely closed Monday thru Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (*MDT) with no vehicles being allowed through during this time frame. There will be no closures on Saturday and Sundays. Construction is scheduled to be completed by October 28, 2010.

For the most up-to-date information on the road construction, please call 435-772-3256 (press 1, then 4) or visit the National Park Service Web site at www.nps.gov/zion."

A bit of a drag, but at least the road reopens at 4 pm. Traffic will probably be a snarl.

Myer

I've been alerting people to this for several weeks.

This appears to be better news than I expected. I wonder if there will be long lineups in the hours leading up to 4PM on weekdays, will many people schedule arrivals and departures on the weekend, and when open, will there will be constricted roads.

We arrive late Sunday afternoon Sept 12th. This means we may be able to come in thru the east entrance and do the Canyon Overlook hike!!!!

Thanks for posting this update.

I was planning on having to loop either north or south and come in from the west.

iamq

The way I am looking at this Myer is we will now get to spend a few exra hours at the Norh Rim before heading to Zion. I will be calling the number listed frequently once the construction starts and if there is someting notable, regarding back-ups, etc, I will post it here. I planned our route based on entering through the east, so we're going to go for it. I too was looking forward to the Canyon Overlook hike. We might be seeing at dusk now, however. LOL.

mabella101

Hello! This will completely alter our previously well thought out plans! We were planning on driving from Vegas to Bryce on a Thursday morning. Would I15 to SR14 on to US 89 till sr 12 be a better alternate for Bryce? Or would it be better to backtrack continuing on I15 until SR20 then going down US89 TO SR12?
The rest of our plans we can probrably alter by waiting after 4:00 to head to Zion from Bryce. And leaving before 9:00 am for a day trip to the Grand Canyon NR from Zion, for which we'll surely return after 4, so that shouldn't affect us too badly, unless there are lineups as Myers suggested.
Any opions on alternate routes to Bryce from I15, would be much appreciated.

iamq

mabella, the first route (15/14/89/12) you describe to Byrce is the one we were originally planning on taking from Vegas anyhow, so I wouldn worry so much about that part. It is around a 4 -5 drive and it is suppossed to be a lovely drive. I would monitor the situation while you are there. Shit happens when you travel.

Myer

I think that 9-4 may really cause issues before 9 and after 4.

As far as LAS to Bryce. It depends on the time of day and what you want to see/do. The faster route is to spend more time on 15, take a short 20 and down 89 to 12.

However, if it's earlier in the day 14 is the more scenic route. You may want to consider (which we are considering) a detour into the Kolon Thumb scenic drive in the Zion west. This is little used but supposed to be worth it.

Also, there are a couple of slot canyons in Kanarraville. Also Cedar Breaks National Monument is supposed to be beautiful and a mini Bryce. I may be able to get to all of this but it won't be until mid-Sept. My report then will tell about it but I've been reading and looking at photos.

To summarize, 15/20/89/12 for the faster route and 15/14/89/12 (or even 15/14/143/89/12) for the scenic route.

Depending upon how we do I have some things planned in that area. A slot in Kanarraville, the Kolob Thumb and a hike with a waterfall just off 14 between 143 and 89.

I'm still waffling between that area and driving 3 hours each way for Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon. Doesn't seem to make sense 6 hours of daytime driving on a 3 day trip. I've been there but I'm taking my daughter and she hasn't.

spirobulldog

I would imagine that you would want to get there as early as possible before 9:00am and as late as possible after 4:00pm, in order to avoid crowds. Generally, people are not up and at em say around 6;30 or 7:00. And you stand a chance of seeing desert bighorn sheep in near the canyon overlook parking area. At least that's where we saw some, and they are generally more likely seen early or late in the day

iamq

I think we may aim to hit the beginning of the closure area of 9 on the east around 5:30 or 6:00. It all depends what the recording says, as I am sure they list some estimated time that it will take, and may offer advice as to what times are better to arrive than others. I hope we can get there early enough to hike the Overlook trail before heading into the Canyon.

Myer

The message is not very clear. I wonder if we'll be able to park and hike the Canyon Overlook even if the road is open.

We're coming in on Sunday late afternoon.

iamq

It says the road is open on the weekends so you should be fine. I, on the other hand am traveling on Monday. BAH!

I bet the trail will be open if the road is open.

mabella101

Thanks everyone. Iamq, sorry for slightly highjacking your post! I hope you let us know how it went when you return. We aren't going until mid July, so we have some time to see how it plays out. I also tend to want to risk the ride back from GCNR on the main route. I think my kids as well as myself will get a kick from the tunnel!
MYER: Can you guesstimate how much time the I15/20/89/12, would take straight thru? We really just wanted to wake up at our leisure and slowly make our way towards Bryce stopping wherever our curiousity takes us, but I'd also like to get to Bryce by Sunset, so I want a faster alternate in case we wander a little too much! I'll have to do some research into that waterfall. Does it have a name or signage off of sr14?

Myer

Google Maps shows 15/14/89/12 as the first choice at a couple of minutes under 4.5 hours.

When I selected 15/20/89/12 it added about 10 miles but the length of time was the same.

The waterfall is Cascade Falls. It's a 45 minute hike but I think the trail is closed this summer for reconstruction. Call 435-865-3700 to get details.

There's a slot canyon just on the south edge of Kanarraville (right on your way off 15). It's called Spring Creek. Two miles round trip and no walking in water. Call 435-586-2401 for details.

iamq

No hijacking is being done here! This post was meant to give information so we could all make the best decisions for us. I will post a trip report when we return shortly after June 25 and let you all know how it went. Can't wait!!!!

Myer

I just spoke with a ranger at Zion.

With reference to the Canyon Overlook hike. There are two small parking areas just east of the tunnel and at the start of the hike. There is one on either side of the road and each has room for 7 cars.

Parking is not expected to be available there on weekdays even after 4PM.

However, on weekends they are expected to be available. Of course there may be construction equipment in some of those parking spots and there are only 14 in total (this is a usual issue).

smetz

Thanks so much for the update iamq, I had seen this before, but the information about the road being open on the weekends and closed from 9-4 on weekdays is new since the last time I saw the notation on the Zion website.

We will be in Springdale on the 19th & 20th, leaving for Page AZ on Monday the 21st. I guess what I'm wondering, like you, is how early would be early enough to beat traffic to the construction zone?

At least it's good news to know there will be no construction over the weekend, and we might be able to go to the Canyon Overlook trail if we like.

iamq

And here I thought I was being smart and clever planning to be in Zion NOT on the weekend to avoid the extra crowds. Boy was I wrong about that strategy! Oh well, s#%t happens. Still gonna be a great trip and all will be as it is supposed to be. (insert zen smiley).

Myer

smetz,

You may want to consider going west to Hurricane and looping south and back. Under normal driving conditions it adds about an hour. However, even if you get thru without much delay, you'll still be driving slowly as the road will be gravel/unpaved.

I'll bet a lot of people will be trying to beat the Monday construction and you'll have to leave very early.

smetz

Thanks for that suggestion, Myer. Maybe that would be best - at least I would have a pretty firm idea of how long the trip would take.

iamq, the Canyon Overlook trail certainly sounds nice, but it seems like there is so much to do in and around the canyon that I doubt you'll miss it. Good luck with the drive in!

iamq

Thanks smetz. Things change and they haven't even started construction yet, so who knows what will happen. It is going to be a great trip, either way! 14 days and counting!

Myer

iamq, smetz,
So I'll take the other view. I was in Zion 3 years ago (going back with my daughter in Sept).

In the short period of time I was there I hiked Canyon Overlook on the way in from Zion, all three Emerald Pools, that Mossy thingy, and Riverside Walk (twice).

I wasn't going to walk in water with a camera around my neck (Narrows) and might have made a mistake by not going to Scouts Lookout on the way up Angel's Landing (thinking of doing this in Sept but no desire to go farther).

Canyon Overlook was my favorite and the scenery on the Riverside Walk was such that I did it late in the afternoon and again the next morning before leaving for Page and Antelope Canyon.

Riverside Walk had some deer, sheer cliffs and water going over rapids. I'd do that again as well.

Emerald Pools was ok but not as memorable as the other two.