videoman2 t1_j76jz5u wrote on February 4, 2023 at 1:42 PM

Reply to comment by BaxTheDestroyer in Zion national park Utah is unreal [OC][3000X4000] by Mrrealitypants

Have you been in recent years? Before covid is was like Disney land of rocks. So. Many. People. I’m all for getting folks out to nature so we can all enjoy it, but the NPS feels like they are going to destroy a lot of these amazing places.

BaxTheDestroyer t1_j76lerr wrote on February 4, 2023 at 1:55 PM

I went before and since covid and yeah it was getting crowded. They recently started limiting hikers on Angel's Landing so that is probably good.

AttentionSpanZero t1_j76uwi1 wrote on February 4, 2023 at 3:10 PM

Yes, not underrated at all. Soooo many people. I was there around Thanksgiving and it was jam packed. Meanwhile Mesa Verde and Chaco Canyon were absolutely empty. Even the Grand Canyon had far fewer people. Zion is beautiful, but its main road is a bottleneck in both directions.

Murfdigidy t1_j76lk6g wrote on February 4, 2023 at 1:56 PM

Yea the one drawback to this park is the crowds. Need to find off season to enjoy the true beauty of this park without the craziness. Being near Vegas and within striking distance from California make it crowded.

Also when doing any of the popular hikes go at the crack of dawn before all the amateurs head out at 10am. It will still be busy but you'll atleast be with people that put in the effort and preparation to do zion hikes. Once 10am hit it was filled with every Joe moron doing the narrows in flip flops for example.

drudruisme t1_j77k8cf wrote on February 4, 2023 at 6:02 PM

Don't want too many people? Do like my nefew and go in winter! Picture from a few days ago: https://imgur.com/7gWVI5x

GenericReditAccount t1_j77w05f wrote on February 4, 2023 at 7:22 PM

Off season/shoulder season travel is my advice regardless of where you’re going. We went to Zion in early May pre-covid, and though there were people, it was nothing like going during the high season. No lines for trails, easy to get lost, plenty of room on the buses.

Mrrealitypants OP t1_j76mace wrote on February 4, 2023 at 2:02 PM

I had never been before this year. I went in August when it was a bit cold and it seemed like there were few people. Absolutely beautiful. Didn't get to do angels landing though as we weren't able to get a pass in time but I'm not even a little bit sad.

mistere213 t1_j788kia wrote on February 4, 2023 at 8:51 PM

I just hiked it on November 1st. Not peak season, for sure, but it wasn't super busy. I applied for, and got, a permit in their lottery. Though if you got to the Angel's trailhead before 10am, there wasn't a ranger to check, anyway. Highly recommend the hike. Unless you hate heights like the two women I met. Another guy and I carefully guided them back to the trailhead after they got to a point where they froze from being freaked out.