Since Zion's Shuttles Went Electric “The Smog is Gone”

Zion National Park, one of the Southwest’s most treasured landscapes, is quieter and has cleaner air thanks to the park’s introduction of electric shuttle buses last year. The park first started using a shuttle system in 2000 to reduce traffic in the canyon, which sees up to five million visitors per year.

As Morgan Sjogren explains in Reasons to Be Cheerful, the concept of using shuttles in national parks isn’t at all new: “In 1910 the newly established Glacier National Park used horse carriages to transport 11 passengers per trip, evolving four years later to a fleet of red buses. Today, Glacier still operates 33 vintage red propane shuttles, in service since the mid-1930s, that are considered the oldest touring fleet in the world!”

Unlike other parks with optional shuttle systems, Zion’s system is mandatory for visitors who want to visit the canyon between March and November. According to park officials, the change resulted in an increase in wildlife and an improved visitor experience.

According to Sjogren, “Zion is the first national park to fully transition to zero-emissions electric shuttles. As of 2024, the Park Service set a goal to fully electrify its 600,000 vehicles.” However, funding for the switch appears uncertain under the Trump administration, which is cutting subsidies for EVs and charging infrastructure.