Rockfall in Zion closes the road to The Narrows

First came a low rumble, then a cloud of dust and rock poured down Zion’s red canyon walls. On Monday, August 24, a large rockfall occurred between The Grotto and Weeping Rock — apparently right in front of a shuttle bus.

The road beyond Shuttle Stop 6 was temporarily closed. That cut off access to the Temple of Sinawava, the shuttle’s final stop and the starting point for The Narrows, one of the park’s best-known routes. By Tuesday morning, the road had reopened.

Zion’s scenery is geology in motion. Water, winter snow, spring runoff and summer monsoon storms have been wearing away the steep canyon walls for millions of years. Some parts of the park received several inches of rain over the past month — enough to weaken the rock further.

If The Narrows is on your plans, check the park’s current road and trail alerts before setting out. In a canyon, the rock can make itself known without warning.