Arches National Park seeks public input on environmental assessment for its Visitor Access and Experience Plan

News Release Date:
October 24, 2024

Contact: SEUG Public Affairs, 435-260-0713

MOAB, Utah-Arches National Park is seeking public comment on its Visitor Access and Experience Plan, which identifies long-term strategies needed to provide day use visitor access in a way that protects park resources, promotes safety, and creates opportunities for high-quality visitor experiences. The public is invited to comment on the plan through November 23, 2024.

Visitation to Arches National Park has grown 73 percent over the past decade, more than doubling since 2007. This rapid growth has caused parking congestion, long wait times at the entrance station, and crowding at key attraction sites. Between March and October, the park has had to temporarily restrict access until congestion lessens, with the main entrance closed for as long as 3 to 5 hours. This plan identifies strategies that will address traffic congestion and associated safety hazards during peak season, enhance the quality and predictability of visitor access, address facility overuse, and protect park resources.

To more evenly distribute visitation throughout each day of the busy season, the park piloted timed entry reservation systems during 2022, 2023, and 2024. Based on public feedback and information gathered, the park adjusted processes after the first pilot year. This plan's preferred approach, called an alternative, would establish a timed entry reservation system similar to the 2023 and 2024 pilots while maintaining flexibility to refine details over time based on feedback, conditions on the ground, or changes in how people visit the park and surrounding communities.

Park staff are eager to continue engaging with the public, local community and businesses, stakeholders, and Tribal Nations about the plan, issues it addresses, and its approaches to maximizing access while providing for public safety and high-quality visitor experiences.

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.

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