Please argue the politics in Off-Route. (I'll be happy to join.)

If the government shuts down, does anyone know if UT 9 through Zion would remain open? My hunch is that it would close because it has gates and fee stations, but on the other hand, it is a state route and a through road.

I'll be there in a little over a week and am currently exploring alternatives in the area, so knowing about the road would help.

Thanks.

I don't think it will; folks have to get to Mt Carmel Junction via that road. I was asking about hikes off the road (e.g. in Gifford Canyon), and the Zion experts were even uncertain if there would be ticketing of cars parked off the side in a shutdown.

Of course we never know, and the rangers seem to be a bit random for enforcement.

Maybe you should subscribe to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zion_Nati ... rk_Hiking/

Tanya M would probably have the best perspective -- she has to use that road for travel.

It was open Saturday.