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SPRINGDALE, Washington County — A public land preservation nonprofit announced Tuesday it had struck an agreement with a family who owns a section of land along a popular trail at Zion National Park, ensuring that the trail will remain open permanently and the land won't be developed.
The agreement was reached between The Trust For Public Land and the Bulloch Family, which owns an 880-acre property known as Simon Gulch. The property borders the eastern section of the park, including a one-mile section of the 16-mile Zion Narrows Trail.
According to Jim Petterson, The Trust For Public Land's Colorado and Southwest director, the group acquired the development rights to the property. With those rights, they are able to keep the trail section permanently open and ensure the swath of land will remain undeveloped.
"This is a really important development because the Zion Narrows Trail — as many people across the state know — is considered one of those bucket list places," Petterson said. "So many appreciate the wonder and majesty of Zion National Park and its importance to the economy of southwest Utah, of the tourism and access to places like the Zion (Narrows) Trail."
The deal, he said, was worth $1.5 million and the money was put forth by the State of Utah, Washington County, the U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Foundation, the George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation and other groups.
"It took extraordinary commitment from many partners with diverse views to protect this majestic place for people, and shows we can do tremendous things when we work together," said The Trust for Public Land CEO Diane Regas, in a prepared statement. "The permanent protection of the Zion Narrows Trail will give people the opportunity to experience this special place, in perpetuity."
The deal comes a little more than a year after park officials briefly stopped issuing permits for top-down hikes on the trail. That came as "private property, no trespassing" signs were posted in the area beginning in September 2018. Park officials reversed their decision three days later once the National Park Service and the Washington County Commission were able to work out a deal with the private landowners.
The family was able to extend a temporary agreement and were seeking a permanent deal with the federal government, the Associated Press reported in January.
Petterson the deal reached ensures that anyone who wishes to complete the full 16-mile trail will never have to worry about that issue again.
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In a statement issued Tuesday, members of the family said they were happy to come to an agreement that will "protect this unique place for future generations."
"The Zion Narrows Trail attracts visitors from around the world and we are happy that it will now be properly protected and managed in its entirety," the statement continued. "We are proud to formally share this area with the world both now and into the future."
The Trust for Public Land's agreement marks the third time the group has worked to protect land near Zion National Park. In 2012, it helped protect Tabernacle Dome in the western portion of the park and Chamberlain Ranch, which is by Zion Narrow's northern trailhead. It also helped protect a 35-acre section along with the Hop Valley trail last year.
Zion National Park celebrated its centennial in November. More than 4.3 million people have visited the park this year through November, according to National Park Service data. The park has received at least 4 million visitors over the past four years.
