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ST. GEORGE — Congestion at the famous Angels Landing trail at Zion National Park is "a million times better," according to some visitors, due to the year-old Pilot Permit Program.
Park officials said Monday that the Summer Seasonal Lottery would close on April 20 and the seasonal lottery will continue.
"The aim of that pilot program has been to improve visitor experiences through studies and a lot of visitor comments," Susan McPartland, visitor use manager at Zion National Park, told St. George News. "We knew there were concerns about the level of crowding on that trail. There were many instances where people were experiencing gridlock on that trail because of the high level of these concentrated times during the day."
Ashlyn Kirkpatrick, Zion Angels Landing Pilot Permit Program lead ranger, said she met a woman who traveled from New York City to Zion National Park and was nervous about the experience of Angels Landing. The visitor was also battling a fear of heights and wasn't sure if she could physically do it.
