Zion National Park expects big crowds for holiday weekend

A view of Zion National Park as seen from the Kayenta Trail on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) Follow @csstevensphoto

Zion National Park expects record crowds for Memorial Day weekend.

The national park in Utah, 160 miles northeast of Las Vegas, typically sees over 71,000 visitors during Memorial Day weekend, usually the busiest weekend for the park, the National Park Service said.

The park is extending facility hours and increasing staffing during the busy weekend, the National Park Service said.

Visitors to the park should expect crowds, especially between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., the park service said.

The park service advised that parking is usually full by 9 a.m., so visitors may park in Springdale and travel by free shuttle to the park. The shuttles run at full service at four- to five-minute intervals for most of the day, the park service said.

The Zion Canyon Visitor Center information desk and wilderness permit desks will be open until 7 p.m. during the three-day holiday weekend, the park service said.

The National Park Service suggested visitors eager to beat the busy crowds should arrive earlier in the morning or after 2 p.m.

Contact Christian Bertolaccini at cbertolaccini@reviewjournal.com and 702-383-0381. Find @bertolaccinic on Twitter.