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Show Zion Travel Shows Drop During June Travel to Zion National Park totaled 261 ,010 visits for the month of June 1985, reports Park Superintendent Harold L. Grafe. This figure shows a 2 percent decrease compared to the month of June, 1984; however, the year-to-date total for 1985 is now 715,066 visitors, a 9 percent increase over the same period in 1984. Campground use totaled 26,723 visitors. According to Grafe, the South Campground has been filling on some nights, but Watchman Campground has had speace available almost every night. Lava Point Primitive Campground has been filling on weekend nights. Grafe went on to say that visitation and camping seemed to slow toward the end of the month, perhaps due t& the 100 deg. weather that the area is experiencing. The Zion Narrows hike opened for the season on June 8. The ranger division reports that conditions in the Narrows have been excellent due to warm weather and low river levels. The public is reminded that the fire danger conditions are very high, due in part to the hot temperature and the spring growth having dried out. Campfires are not permitted in the backcountry of Zion. All visitors are urged to be careful with cooking appliances and smoking; there have been three small man-caused fires in Zion so far this summer. "Luckily, they did not spread before Park Rangers were able to put them out," Grafe said, |