ZION NATIONAL PARK – Park Rangers with Zion National Park announced yesterday that all campsites located in the Narrows are closed until further notice.
Rangers believe that backcountry sites were affected by last year’s floods, and have closed the campsites for safety reasons until the damage can be assessed and fixed.
According to a press release, heavy rains from December’s flood caused extensive damage and flooding on the North Fork of the Virgin River, which includes the Narrows.
“The flow rate for the river was measured at 6,000 cubic feet per second, the highest recorded rate since the campsites were created. Twelve designated backcountry campsites were created in the Narrows in the early 1990s in an effort to concentrate visitor impacts at specific locations and create a more enjoyable trip for visitors,” the release said.
The Narrows are closed to hikers every spring due to high water from melting snow, and are usually reopened in June. All overnight trips in the Narrows require a backcountry permit. However, reservations are not being accepted until the evaluation of the campsites is completed.
For more information, visit http://www.nps.gov/zion.
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