Zion, Bryce Canyon national parks set attendance records

ST. GEORGE, Utah (AP) Southern Utah's Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks have attracted a record number of visitors in 2015, besting the records they set just last year.

The St. George Spectrum reports that recent figures published by National Park Service show that Zion had 3,370,953 visitors through October, more than 2014's 3,189,696 visitors.

Bryce tied its record by September, when it hit 1,509,696 visitors.

The Utah Office of Tourism estimates that tourism has grown 44 percent statewide since major marketing efforts began in 2005.

But while attendance rises, Utah parks have racked up millions in delayed maintenance projects. At Zion alone, $62.1 million in maintenance was delayed in the last year.

Zion is Utah's busiest park and the seventh-busiest in the country.