New Sounds of Silence

Z I O N  N A T I O N A L  P A R K, Utah, Aug. 6 -- Lifelong hiker Bob Terkanian says the silence is what keeps bringing him back.

He might also have added the lack of pollution, the return of wildlife, the absence of crowding and frayed nerves.

Two summers ago, Zion National Park in southern Utah became the first national park in the continental United States to completely ban automobiles during the peak visitor season from March 28 through Oct. 27.

The change is dramatic. Where once 2,000 cars and a two dozen tour buses competed daily for only 400 parking spaces, now there are empty parking lots, fresh air and the sounds of nature.

With more than 2 ½ million visitors a year, that's quite a change.

"It was becoming gridlock here," said Zion superintendent Marty Ott. Now a fleet of three dozen environmentally friendly propane powered shuttle buses drop off visitors at eight trailheads in the narrow canyon.

"I think that it adds considerable value to the park experience," said Ott. "Instead of hearing horns honking and vehicle alarms being set off and doors slamming and loud exhaust, we instead hear things like the wind through the trees and the water running down the Virgin River."

Benefits Outweigh Costs

The system, which includes a visitor center and parking facility, was expensive. More than $29 million was spent getting rid of cars. But the payback seems to have been universally accepted. On a recent shuttle ride through the canyon, visitors praised the shuttle system.

"I'm not here to see cars being parked," said a man from the Netherlands. "I'm here to see the nature."

Another visitor said she enjoyed the ride because "it gives you the opportunity to see the park instead of watching the road." Still another woman chimed in, "It's a lot less hassle."

It also allows more access to the park. In the past, visitors would spend most of their time looking for a parking space and then hike only one trail. Now, with the shuttle arriving every five to 10 minutes, multiple trailheads can be accessed in a day giving hikers more bang for their buck.