Bike Ambassador - (Locals Only)

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Become a Bike Ambassador at Zion National Park!

Zion National Park (ZION) is searching for local individuals who wish to serve as Bike Ambassadors! This position is intended for folks who live locally in southwestern Utah throughout the year. This position requires volunteers to serve at least 8 hours per month, for at least 6 months of the year. If you love cycling, talking to travelers, troubleshooting mechanical issues and user error with bicycles, and Zion National Park - this might be the position for you!

At this time, the Volunteer Office is hoping to recruit about 5 additional Bike Ambassadors. Application is not a guarantee of acceptance into the Volunteers-in-Parks (VIP) Program. Preference will be given to applicants who fully meet the requirements of the position.

Limited standard and electric bicycles may be available for volunteer use. Preference will be given to applicants who can provide their own bicycle.

• Housing is not available for this position.
• This position is notcurrently available to international applicants.
• This position is not currently available to youth applicants (under 18 years old).
• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with the intention of new volunteers starting by Memorial Day weekend.

Site Description

Located in Washington, Iron, and Kane Counties in southwestern Utah, Zion National Park (est. 1919) encompasses some of the most scenic canyon country in the United States. Within its 232 square miles are high plateaus, a maze of narrow, deep, sandstone canyons, and the Virgin River and its tributaries. Zion also has 2,000-foot Navajo Sandstone cliffs, pine- and juniper-clad slopes, and seeps, springs, and waterfalls supporting lush and colorful hanging gardens.

With an elevation change of about 5,000 feet-from the highest point at Horse Ranch Mountain (at 8,726 feet) to the lowest point at Coal Pits Wash (at 3,666 feet), Zion's diverse topography leads to a diversity of habitats and species. Desert, riparian (riverbank), pinyon-juniper, and conifer woodland communities all contribute to Zion's diversity.

The geologic formations of Zion--formed over approximately 250 million years--record periods of time when this area was covered by a shallow sea; when huge, sluggish rivers, bordered by swamplands, meandered across the landscape; and when a vast desert--perhaps the largest on the planet--covered the region. The sand dunes of this desert are now Zion's famous sculpted and colorful 2,000-foot cliffs.

The heart of Zion National Park is a secluded canyon that lies amidst this striking landscape. It includes lands originally protected by Mukuntuweap National Monument (est. 1909) and Zion National Monument (est. 1918). The soaring sandstone cliffs, the deep ravines, and the seemingly hidden river valleys have been important to both Indigenous people and European American settlers for thousands of years.

Since 2010, the park has witnessed a steep increase in visitation. The number of visits has risen from about 2.6 million to a peak of more than 5 million - this is an increase of about 90%. Zion National Park is among a small group of national park areas to ever exceed 5 million annual visits. In 2024, ZION was the second-most visited National Park, with 4.94 million recreational visitors. Volunteers assist park efforts to meet the needs of visitors.

Service Description - Bike Ambassador

Bike Ambassadors serve as an invaluable point of contact for visiting cyclists on the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, in the Visitor Center Plaza, on the Pa’rus Trail. Bike Ambassadors may also rove in the town of Springdale. While on-duty and in-uniform, Bike Ambassadors are an official representative of the National Park Service. Bike Ambassador duties include but are not limited to:

• Roving cycling-friendly areas and providing orientational, wayfinding, cycling etiquette, and safety information to visitors.
• Informing visitors of the rules and regulations related to bicycling in Zion National Park and in Springdale. Bike Ambassadors cannot enforce rules and regulations.
• Monitoring roadway and pathway conditions, reporting unsafe conditions as needed.
• Checking the functionality of the self-repair bike stations in the park and in Springdale, reporting non-functional parts to the Volunteer Program Coordinator.
• Reporting the number of visitors contacted and the number of bicycles in use for the improvement of visitor use management data.
• Assisting cyclists involved in accidents, injuries, and mechanical breakdowns.
• Contacting emergency personnel and/or ZION Dispatch, when necessary, by phone or by radio.
• Optionally, assisting with maintenance of ZION's bicycle Green Fleet (ex. changing tires).
• Bike Ambassadors may only cycle in bicycle-approved areas.

Uniforms

Bike Ambassadors will be provided with a Volunteers-in-Parks uniform. This uniform consists of a wicking, sun-protective t-shirt with the Volunteers-in-Parks insignia, a tan hat (baseball cap or wide-brimmed hat) with the Volunteers-in-Parks insignia, and weather appropriate outerwear (raincoat, jacket, vest, winter knit hat).

Volunteers are required to supply their own cycling pants, shoes, socks, and helmet. Reimbursements or allowances for these items will not be provided.

If a volunteer’s personal cycling helmet or bicycle is damaged during active volunteer service, the volunteer may be entitled to up to $200 of reimbursement from the Volunteer Office per year. Requests for reimbursement must be approved by the Volunteer Program Coordinator.

After one-year of service, Bike Ambassadors will be eligible to receive a Zion Bike Ambassador cycling jersey. Volunteers may wear the uniform t-shirt or personal cycling gear (no offensive designs) during their first year of service.

Training

Volunteer training will include general park orientation (natural and cultural resources, recreational opportunities, and park operations), orientation to the Volunteer Program (requirements, statistics reporting, benefits), and emergency training.

New volunteers will be provided with opportunities to shadow NPS staff and experienced volunteers before volunteering on their own.

Group orientation training will be available for new volunteers in-person and online in May.

Housing

Housing will not be available for this position. Applicants must have permanent residency within the local commuting area (Springdale, Rockville, La Verkin/Hurricane, Cedar City, Kanab, St. George areas).

Applicant Qualifications

• Selectees must be available to volunteer for 8 hours per month, for at least 6 months out of the year. Preference will be given to applicants who can commit to volunteering 8+ hours per month for 10 months out of the year.
• Applicants must be U.S. citizens or legal residents. This position is not currently open to international applicants.
• Applicants must be 18 years of age or older at time of application.
• Applicants must live within reasonable regular commuting distance of Zion National Park.
• Applicants must have a reliable method of traveling to the park (i.e. personal vehicle or live within walking or biking distance of the park).
• Applicants must possess strong customer service and communication skills.
• Selectees will be relied upon to autonomously represent park policies.
• Applicants must keep accurate record of their monthly hours and visitor contacts made.
• Bike Ambassadors must be able to safely cycle in the park on paved surfaces for distances up to 20 miles.
• Preference will be given to applicants who can provide their own standard or e-bicycle, helmet, and cycling gear.

Directions for Application

• All applications must be for one (1) individual. Couples interested in volunteering must apply separately and have their own Login.gov accounts.
• In the "Skills and Abilities" section of the application, please let us know why you are interested in volunteering at Zion National Park and any relevant skills and/or experiences you have!
• Before applying, please consider your willingness, ability, and availability to volunteer 8+ hours/month for at least 6 months out of the year.
• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. You may be contacted about a phone interview.

Additional Volunteering Opportunities at ZION:

Other volunteer positions currently available include:

• Zion Canyon Trail Rover
• Litter & Graffiti Buster

If you are interested in volunteering under a different volunteer position (ex. with ZION’s Vegetation, Wildlife, Cultural Resources, Physical Science, Maintenance, Visitor Use Management, Campgrounds, Visitor Center, Education, Kolob Canyons or Artist-in-Residence teams), please email zion_vip_mailbox@nps.gov).

Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Zion National Park!

Start Date - 2025-05-26

End Date - 2026-05-25