Trust For Public Land Announces Permanent Conservation of 50 Acres Along Kolob Terrace Road in Zion National Park

Trust for Public Land (TPL), in partnership with Zion National Park and the National Park Foundation, is thrilled to announce the permanent protection of a nearly 50-acre property nestled within existing legislated boundary of the awe-inspiring Zion National Park [Zion NP]. The parcel, inside park boundaries, encompasses a diverse landscape that is nearby to the highly popular Bureau of Land Management rock climbing and canyoneering area at Lambs Knoll.

Jim Petterson, Vice President Mountain West Region for Trust for Public Land, expressed his excitement about the permanent protection of the 50-acre parcel, stating, “We are thrilled to add this area to our growing list of conservation successes in Zion National Park, marking our fourth such project. By permanently protecting this key parcel of land, we are limiting the threat of development inside existing park boundaries and preserving the awe-inspiring views that draw millions of visitors to Zion National Park.”

This important parcel of land, which was previously a privately-owned inholding within the park’s existing legislated boundary, was purchased by TPL in 2020 to prevent its development, which could have negatively impacted the scenic and ecological integrity of the park. This project marks another major milestone in TPL’s on-going efforts to safeguard our nation’s most treasured landscapes across the country.

TPL transferred ownership of the property to the National Park Service, ensuring its integration into the park’s management and conservation efforts. As an inholding property, this land will improve Zion National Park’s ability to conserve the land and accomplish its mission without altering the park’s boundaries.

“There remains over 3,000 acres of private inholdings inside the boundaries of Zion National Park. We are eager to continue working with our amazing partners at the National Park Service, as well as landowners, funders, and national park lovers to ensure future generations will experience the full wonder of Zion National Park,” continued Petterson.

Including this parcel, TPL has now completed a total of 10 projects in and around Zion National Park, resulting in the permanent protection of about 6,300 acres for the benefit of current and future generations. Recent projects include: the 2013 protection of 300-acre Chamberlin Ranch, providing access to the first few miles of the Zion Narrows Hiking Route and the protection of Tabernacle Dome that same year, the 2018 protection of a 35-acre inholding along the popular Hop Valley Trail, and a 2019 acquisition by TPL of a trail access easement at Simon Gulch adjacent to the Park to guarantee permanent public access to the full length of the Zion Narrows Hiking Route.

The property transferred this week to the National Park Service and lies at the base of Lambs Knoll, 30 minutes north of the Town of Virgin in the Zion NP’s Kolob Terrace area and provides visitors with an opportunity to explore the park’s grandeur away from the more heavily trafficked areas in Zion Canyon.

The project was funded by a grant of $1,750,000 from the Land Water Conservation Fund, with other private donations and generous support from the National Park Foundation and the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation.

“Protecting this area and making it accessible to park visitors is an example of the essential role partnerships play to ensure our parks are protected for future generations,” said Will Shafroth, president and CEO of the National Park Foundation. “Partnering with Trust for Public Land and the National Park Service to open access to Lamb’s Knoll will help disperse visitation and expand the opportunities for visitors to experience and enjoy the unique natural beauty of Zion.”  

According to a recently released economic analysis, the National Park System brings more than $42 billion into the U.S. economy. The report also cites that 323,000 jobs are generated through tourism to national parks. According to the Outdoor Industry Association, the outdoor recreation economy generates 66,000 jobs in Utah and $6.1 billion in consumer spending. In 2021 according to the National Park Service, 5.0 million park visitors spent an estimated $667 million in local gateway regions while visiting Zion National Park. These expenditures supported a total of 10,700 jobs and $947 million in economic output in local gateway economies surrounding Zion National Park.

About Trust for Public Land

Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,364 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $93 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 9.4 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org.

About the Land and Water Conservation Fund

The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is one of our most important conservation program, responsible for protecting parks, wildlife refuges, forests, and recreation areas at the federal, state, and local level. For 58 years, it has provided critical funding for projects that increase recreation access, safeguard drinking water, ensure equitable outdoor access, conserve wildlife habitat, protect coastlines, and ensure the continued historic preservation of our nation’s iconic landscapes from coast-to-coast. LWCF has a proud bipartisan support history and was permanently funded in 2020 through the Great American Outdoors Act.