Red Roads Return to Zion Canyon

Date: June 9, 2008
Contact: Ron Terry, 435-772-0160
Contact: David Eaker, 435-772-7811

Beginning Monday, June 16, 2008 the National Park Service will be resurfacing a portion of the main park highway and the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive in Zion National Park.  The project will include a 1.4-mile section of the main park highway from the South Entrance to the junction with the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive as well as the 6-mile Scenic Drive to the Temple of Sinawava.   The resurfacing is expected to take about five days to complete, dependent upon weather.  One lane travel, with traffic control, will be maintained and motorists may experience delays of up to 15 to 30 minutes.  The Zion Canyon shuttle buses will continue to operate during the project. 

The Zion Human History Museum and parking lot will be closed Monday, June 16, and park shuttle buses will bypass the museum on this day.  Ranger Talks scheduled at 11:25 a.m. and 2:25 p.m. will be held at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center instead of the Human History Museum.   

The road resurfacing involves chip sealing, which is coating the road with a combination of oil and rock chips. The layer of chips must remain on the roads for two to three weeks before the remaining loose chips are swept and removed.  During this time, motorists and bicyclists should be aware of the hazards of a layer of loose rock chips. Speed should be reduced to help prevent injuries or windshield damage from flying chips.     

In 2005, Zion Canyon’s roads were rebuilt and repaved with black asphalt.  Since then, one of the common questions from returning visitors and local residents is, “What happened to the red roads?”  This chip seal project will add the red cinders that will return Zion National Park’s signature red roads.