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SPRINGDALE, Washington County — Memorial Day weekend is always a pretty busy time for Zion National Park. Last year’s holiday weekend brought in more than 82,000 visitors alone.
While a similar rush is anticipated this weekend, those who plan to use the Emerald Pool trail complex will have to use a new route after National Park Service and Federal Highway Administration engineers determined a trail bridge over the Virgin River between Zion Lodge and the trail system is “shifting on its foundation,” making it unsafe to use, park officials said Tuesday.
It’s why park rangers say the trail is being rerouted for the foreseeable future. Visitors seeking to reach the Lower, Middle and Upper Emerald pool trails will have to start either at the Sand Bench rail at Court of the Patriarchs or the Kayenta trail at the Grotto, which can be reached by getting off at either stops No. 4 and No. 6 on the park’s shuttle service.
The Sand Beach trail adds about another 1.7 miles to Lower Emerald Pool or 2.1 miles to Middle Emerald Pool, while the Kayenta trail is a bit closer at 1 mile and 1.1 miles to each trail, respectively, according to park officials. It’s another 0.4 miles from Upper Emerald Pool from the Middle Emerald Pool trail.
Hikers can also hike the Grotto trail, which connects the Zion Lodge to the park’s Grotto. It’s a 0.6-mile trail that also connects with the Kayenta trail and another bridge that crosses the river.
“Check a map before you start your hike to plan accordingly,” park officials wrote in a social media post. “Keep in mind that you will not be able to cross the river at Zion Lodge (Shuttle Stop No. 5). If you plan to take a horseback ride with a park concessioner, you should contact them directly to confirm where your ride will start.”
There is currently no timetable for the bridge to be repaired. Park officials said that the agency is “continuing to monitor” the bridge foundation, while also meeting with engineers and geologists to determine the next steps forward.