Zion National Park to Offer Three Fee-Free Weekends

Date: June 15, 2009
Contact: Ron Terry, 435-772-0160
Contact: David Eaker, 435-772-7811

Zion National Park will be offering free entry into the park on the weekends of June 20-21, July 18-19, and August 15-16, 2009. The $25 entrance fee will be waived for those days only. The fee waivers apply only to entrance fees and do not include fees for camping, reservations, backcountry permits and tours.

The fee-free weekends at 147 National Park Service sites were announced by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar on Tuesday, June 2. The free weekends are intended to encourage Americans seeking affordable vacations to visit their national treasures. According to Secretary Salazar, “During these tough economic times, our national parks provide opportunities for affordable vacations for families. I encourage everyone to visit one of our nation’s crown jewels this summer and especially to take advantage of the three free-admission weekends.”

In addition to entering the park free, Utah residents visiting Zion National Park on these weekends will have the opportunity to receive a Neighbors Discount being offered by park concessioner, Xanterra Parks and Resorts, for dining and gift shop purchases at the Zion Lodge. Utah residents will need to show their ID (with address) to any Zion Lodge cashier for a 20% discount on retail items and dining. Groceries, sundries and lodging are excluded from the discounts.  In addition, the Zion Natural History Association will offer 10% discounts for sales of $20 or more, at their bookstores in the Zion Canyon Visitor Center, Kolob Canyons Visitor Center and Zion Human History Museum.

These three weekends will be extra busy and visitors are encouraged to watch for the blue parking signs in Springdale, park in town, and ride the free shuttle to the park. Visitors are encouraged to participate in ranger conducted programs during these weekends to learn more about the park and its natural and cultural resources. For more information about programs and visiting Zion National Park, visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/zion. To learn more about fee-free weekends in national parks around the country, go to www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm.