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ZION NATIONAL PARK — A falling rock injured two visitors and forced the closure of the Riverside Walk trail in Zion National Park Sunday afternoon, officials said.
The trail reopened Monday afternoon.
“My heart goes out to those that were hurt and their families,” park superintendent Jeff Bradybaugh said in an emailed statement. “The landscape is continually being carved by rock, water and time. Unfortunately, these types of events are unpredictable.”
The severity of the visitors' injuries was not immediately released.
The trail remained closed until a hazard geologist examined the area and the trail was cleared, Zion National Park spokesman John Marciano said in an emailed statement.
The Riverside Walk, also known as "The Gateway to The Narrows," is one of the most popular trails at the park. The trail is paved, is "relatively easy" and runs parallel to the North Fork of the Virgin River as the canyon begins to narrow. The cliffs on either side of the trail are as high as 1,400 feet in some areas.
The rock fall occurred near the far end of the trail, Marciano said.
Editor's Note: This article initially reported that the rock slide occurred Monday morning. It has been corrected to Sunday afternoon.
