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This land is our land—as long as you RSVP?

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Zion National Park is considering new solutions for overcrowding.
Photo: Sandy Huffaker / AP Photo

Crowds of clueless tourists. Seemingly endless lines for shuttle buses. Nope, I’m not describing the Strip. I’m talking about my last visit to Zion National Park. Record-breaking visitation has been straining park resources to the point that the National Park Service is considering some serious solutions, from raising prices to requiring a reservation system. Therein lies the paradox: There’s only one Angels Landing hike and millions, if not billions, of interested hikers. Even worse, rationing tends to hurt the poorest among us. How do we limit numbers without limiting access? If you’ve got good ideas—or even just strong opinions—the parks wants to hear them. Visit parkplanning.nps.gov by August 14 to let your voice be heard. My suggestion: scrapping the Utah Office of Tourism’s “Mighty Five” campaign, which advertises the state’s five national parks.

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