Zion National Park provides gorgeous backdrop for events

Zion National Park remains one of the best destinations for Southern Nevadans seeking outdoor splendor and superb recreational opportunities. This gorgeous park lies within a few hours' drive by following Interstate 15 north into Utah. North of St. George, take Highway 9 through Hurricane into the park.

Zion's season of heaviest visitation begins this month. The greatest number of park visitors arrive with warm weather. To cope with thousands of visitors at a time, the National Park Service in 2000 instituted a free shuttle system that cuts down on the number of vehicles inside the park. The buses operate this year from April 1 through Oct. 29.

Open year-round, Zion National Park invites visitors to experience the changes of season within its boundaries. Winter leaves the forested high country and lofty cliff tops later than in the deep central canyon. Seasonal runoff still swells the Virgin River and its tributary creeks at this time of year, occasionally creating waterfalls and streaking the cliff faces with moisture.

Among the newly leafed trees and shrubs, spring flowers still show off their blossoms, but summer blooms begin to supplant them this month. As autumn approaches, the high country colors up first, followed by leaf changes at lower elevations. Winter follows close behind that gentle season. Getting to know the park in other seasons allows visitors to avoid the crowds common in summer.

The shuttle system creates two loops inside the park itself and in nearby Springdale. Riders get on and off at conveniently located stops. Visitors avoid crowded parking lots within the park by parking in Springdale. Shuttles pick up and drop off every few minutes at six stops in Springdale.

Eight shuttle stops inside the park put riders off near major viewpoints, trailheads, campgrounds and facilities such as the museum and the Zion Lodge. Visitors transfer from one loop to the other at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center, a must-see attraction and a source of park information. Popular activities in Zion National Park include hiking, camping, picnicking, range programs and horseback trail rides.

Campers arriving without reservations stand the best chance of finding a site early in the day in the middle of the week. Those choosing to reserve sites often make arrangements months in advance by calling (877) 444-6777 or by using the Web site www.recreation.gov. Those preferring lodging inside the park reserve accommodations by phone at (888) 297-2757 or (435) 772-7700 or online at www.zionlodge.com.

Visitors driving through the park pay a $25 entry fee. Pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists pay $12 each. Drivers of large vehicles planning to drive through the park by way of the Mount Carmel Tunnels pay an additional $15 escort fee at the entrance station.

A variety of park passes available under the America the Beautiful program for all federal recreation lands make visits cheaper for frequent park users, senior citizens, the disabled and park volunteers. Park rangers still honor lifetime Golden Eagle and Golden Access Passes.

Zion provides a gorgeous backdrop for a number of special events annually.

The popular Zion Canyon Art and Flute Festival draws crowds for the third annual event June 8-10. Centered in Springdale's Town Park within view of Zion's towering ramparts, the festival honors American Indian music, fine arts and crafts. Attend June 8 from noon to 5 p.m., June 9 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and June 10 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Expect to pay modest fees.

Participants come to enjoy afternoon performances by rising stars among native flute players and evening performances by noted experts. Many participate in scheduled flute playing and making workshops.

The work displayed in vendors' booths in the park must be original and displayed by the artists themselves. Vendors display jewelry, metal work, wood work, sculpture, drawings, paintings, textiles and other handcrafted works with American Indian themes.

Margo Bartlett Pesek's column appears on Sundays.