Our Role

Zion Regional Recreation Management Plan is both a process and a product that addresses the four-county region of southwest Utah that includes Garfield, Iron, Kane and Washington counties. The process is crossing administrative boundaries and geographic constraints, while the end product will identify regional goals and implementation actions around recreation and the related areas of tourism, resource stewardship, transportation and economic opportunity, establishing a long-term coordinating framework and plan. View the Executive Summary.

The process involves a steering team, five working groups, focus groups and additional outreach methods and includes representatives from federal, state, tribal and local partners, including private businesses, educational institutions, nonprofits, resource agencies and local governments. Through a contract with Zion Forever, The Conservation Fund is the convener for this process to solicit community input and establish a long-term plan. The plan seeks to serve all recreation users in the region, whether a resident or visitor. Residents of the region are involved in the steering team, working groups and focus groups. Over 150 members of the public participated in a public survey (results below). Phase 1 was completed in February 2022 and focused on gathering input and filtering recommendations through a steering team, five working groups, focus groups and additional outreach methods. Phase 2 is now underway and is focused on advancing agreements and further refining implementation products and guidance.

Why This Project Matters

Recreation is a critical part of southwest Utah’s identity, culture and economy. Recreation interacts with the transportation system, public lands, jobs, natural resources, housing, cultural resources, community facilities and more. Protecting the assets in the region, while ensuring a high-quality experience for recreation users, is requiring a comprehensive effort across sectors, communities and levels of government. The places and people are the foundation of the region, and their continued vitality requires a healthy interaction with recreation and its implications.

The plan will foster coordination and collaboration for recreation-related projects and initiatives advanced by communities, agencies and organizations. Recognizing that there are multiple planned and ongoing investments, the plan seeks to add value to these initiatives, develop recommendations to fill in gaps, identify needed resources to advance efforts and enhance opportunities for agreement and partnership.

Learn More

• Utah Outdoor Recreation Summit Presentation (PDF)
• Steering Team Membership (PDF)
• Working Groups and Objectives (PDF)
• Public Survey Results (PDF)
• Educational Panel Presentation Slides (PDF)