. >> reporter: stan smith is the mayor of springdale, utah, the gateway community into zion.ound. even if they're not religious, this is their temple. this is their sanctuary. this is where they come to find peace and solitude and feel good. there is just a special feeling in zion. >> reporter: but finding that serenity can feel impossible. the issue? record crowds. at zion, and more than a dozen other national parks. tourists and adventure seekers drawn by the beauty and driven outdoors by the pandemic. zion the fourth most visited park the system, saw 20,000 people in one day last month. attendance grew more than 60% over the last decade. park spokesperson amanda roland says planning ahead is critical. >> understand that you need to go online and make your reservations for camping. understand that parking is going to be full in the park. so ride that shuttle that's in town. and really be flexible. >> reporter: now this is the sort of view everyone comes to zion looking for. dramatic, majestic, timeless. the very reason national parks exist. but take a look down below. see a