Hikers at Arches National Park / NPS

Arches National Park is looking for your input on their Visitor Access and Experience Plan. It's essentially a roadmap for how the park intends to manage the crowds and keep the park safe and enjoyable for everyone.

Over the past decade, the number of people visiting Arches has exploded, more than doubling since 2007. This has led to serious parking headaches, long lines at the entrance, and far too much traffic at the most popular park locations. Between March and October, the park has closed its main entrance for hours at a time to let congestion ease. 

To deal with this, the park has been experimenting with a timed entry reservation system. Based on what people had to say and what they learned, they’ve made some adjustments to the initial pilot they ran back in 2022. The park’s preferred approach is to keep using this timed entry system, but they’re open to making changes based on feedback and how things are going. 

Nearly a dozen national parks nationwide now employ a timed reservation system at at least some points of the year. According to data collected by the Department of the Interior, timed entry systems have generally resulted in less congestion and shorter lines at entrance stations for national parks. A 2024 study published in the Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism found that visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park were supportive of the timed entry reservation system. 

Utah State University conducted a study at Arches during the first year of the reservation system and found an overwhelming majority—84% of respondents—were in favor of a reservation system in the future.

“I spent more than 30 days in the park and surveyed nearly a thousand visitors when Arches first launched its pilot program in the summer and fall of 2022," said the study's lead researcher Iree Wheeler. "I learned a majority of visitors had a positive experience with timed-entry, and repeat visitors felt that it helped decrease traffic congestion and crowding within the park. While the system will be regularly fine-tuned, timed-entry allows Arches staff to maintain a positive experience for visitors.”

"Among the biggest benefits of the timed-entry system at Arches are the predictability, efficiency and safety it provides to both visitors and park staff. Timed entry takes the guesswork out of whether you’ll be able to visit, and it helps Arches use its limited staff and resources for more national park protection and less traffic management,” said Cassidy Jones, Senior Visitation Program Manager for the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA). “As a lifelong Utahn and former National Park Service ranger and on behalf of NPCA, I strongly support making the Arches timed-entry system permanent.”

Timed entry reservation systems do remain controversial, however, with many detractors arguing the system unfairly makes it more difficult for lower-income visitors who may not have the luxury of planning ahead and navigating a website to make reservations. There are also those who bristle at the idea of not being able to enter a park with a vehicle at whim. 

The park wants to hear from everyone – locals, businesses, stakeholders, and Tribal Nations. They’re hosting public meetings and virtual events where you can learn more and ask questions.

To learn more about the draft plan and for the opportunity to ask NPS questions, you may attend a public open house or virtual meeting (with live captioning):

• The virtual public meeting will occur on Wednesday November 13 from noon to 2 p.m. To participate, please register at the following link: bit.ly/ArchesNPSmeeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information on how to join the Zoom Webinar.
• The public open house will occur on Thursday, November 14, 2024 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Grand Center in Moab, Utah (182 N 500 W Moab, UT 84532).

Unable to attend any meeting? A recording of the virtual meeting will be posted on the park planning link below.

Park staff encourage public participation throughout the planning process. Public comments are invited October 24 through November 23, 2024. Comments on the Visitor Access and Experience Plan/Environmental Assessment (EA) can be submitted through the park’s Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website through November 23, 2024. Click on ‘Open for Comment’ on the left side of the page to submit a comment.

Written comments may also be sent to the following mailing address:

Superintendent
Arches National Park
2282 Resource Blvd
Moab, UT 84532

If you would like more information about the park’s draft Visitor Access and Experience Plan, please visit www.nps.gov/arch/getinvolved/visitor-access-experience-plan.htm. If you would like more information about Arches National Park, please visit www.nps.gov/arch or call the park’s information line at (435) 719-2299.