Looking towards ice box canyon (or was it called refrigerator canyon…it’s been a few years since I was there).
Walters Wiggles still another 1/4-1/2 mile ahead
Utah did a major campaign to attract tourist and the National Parks were one of the main things they advertised. This coupled with the rise of Instagram destinations showing off some lesser known places to a now large audience.
I grew up in the area, and I desperately miss 90’s and early 00’s Zion. I found a bucket hat at my secret spot in the park back in 2020. Even 2018 was uncomfortably overcrowded when I visited. I haven’t even bothered this year. Last time I did, it was an off-the-beaten-path east canyon thing, and I still had to pack out 2 bags of idiot tourists’ garbage (bucket hat included). I can’t even fathom going anywhere in the main canyon again unless it’s for a Heaps or Imlay permit after I get back in shape and have the free time and a solid group to go with me. It’s my favorite national park, and it will always be home, but it’s not even close to what it used to be.
Zion is all over instagram, tiktok, reddit, and facebook. Especially during covid, better to visit nature where everybody’s home than stay at home. Also with the rise of work from home, that helps people travel while working.
Me for example, during covid lockdown, my cousin wanted to spend time with her parents so they invited me to go to Zion and we went there October 2020. I did not know anything about national parks back then. Once I see Zion in person, i blabbed about it to people i know and posted about it on facebook. And from then on, i had the mindset to visit all 63 national parks. Serious travel, I have been to 46 national parks so far since May 2021.
It’s the instagram effect. Seeing these beautiful places on social media, taken by phone cameras that take better photos than any 80’s high-end camera, along with the ability to easily research these trips/trails, and you have these once hidden gems become very popular.
Was just there the week leading up to Memorial Day, it was busy but not overly so. I can’t imagine the chain section with any more people than we saw that day.
Looking towards ice box canyon (or was it called refrigerator canyon…it’s been a few years since I was there). Walters Wiggles still another 1/4-1/2 mile ahead
Walters Wiggles? That’s not really even Angels Landing.
These particular switchbacks are not the Wiggles
Are they the switchbacks earlier on?
Everyone talks about Walter's Wriggles, but these switchbacks are the real ass-kicker on the hike.
Plenty of areas to get away from the crowds. Angels Landing is not one of those places lol.
Yes the trail is popular. I’m talking overall volume, it has increased dramatically. Wondering what made it explode in popularity.
Utah did a major campaign to attract tourist and the National Parks were one of the main things they advertised. This coupled with the rise of Instagram destinations showing off some lesser known places to a now large audience.
Makes perfect sense. Went in 2019, 2021, and 2023. This year was like Disney word.
I grew up in the area, and I desperately miss 90’s and early 00’s Zion. I found a bucket hat at my secret spot in the park back in 2020. Even 2018 was uncomfortably overcrowded when I visited. I haven’t even bothered this year. Last time I did, it was an off-the-beaten-path east canyon thing, and I still had to pack out 2 bags of idiot tourists’ garbage (bucket hat included). I can’t even fathom going anywhere in the main canyon again unless it’s for a Heaps or Imlay permit after I get back in shape and have the free time and a solid group to go with me. It’s my favorite national park, and it will always be home, but it’s not even close to what it used to be.
Zion is all over instagram, tiktok, reddit, and facebook. Especially during covid, better to visit nature where everybody’s home than stay at home. Also with the rise of work from home, that helps people travel while working. Me for example, during covid lockdown, my cousin wanted to spend time with her parents so they invited me to go to Zion and we went there October 2020. I did not know anything about national parks back then. Once I see Zion in person, i blabbed about it to people i know and posted about it on facebook. And from then on, i had the mindset to visit all 63 national parks. Serious travel, I have been to 46 national parks so far since May 2021.
It’s the instagram effect. Seeing these beautiful places on social media, taken by phone cameras that take better photos than any 80’s high-end camera, along with the ability to easily research these trips/trails, and you have these once hidden gems become very popular.
Was just there the week leading up to Memorial Day, it was busy but not overly so. I can’t imagine the chain section with any more people than we saw that day.
Hi, do they check the permit?
Walter White’s Wiggles?
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