Arches National Park Pilot Timed Entry System
Arches National Park has announced that it is piloting a timed entry system from April 3 to October 3, 2022. The goal is to distribute, not reduce, visitation to the park and improve the overall visitor experience, while addressing industry priorities. Various agencies throughout the state, including the Moab Area Travel Council, the Utah Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office, the Utah Tourism Industry Association and the Utah Office of Tourism have provided feedback to the National Park Service to maximize potential success.
Superintendent Patty Trap and her staff at the Southeast Utah Group National Park Service have been responsive to industry recommendations and have committed to adjusting the pilot project as necessary. This initiative is uniquely suited to Arches National Park, not a formula for other parks. It is one part of the visitor use management initiatives that are necessary to improve the visitor experience at Arches. We will continue to advocate for multiple solutions. We encourage all industry partners — federal, state, local, and private — to remain engaged in these discussions to advance collaborative solutions.
Press Release
Read the official press release announcement sent on December 10th, 2022 from the National Park Service here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why pilot timed entry at Arches National Park?
A: The National Park Service is implementing a temporary pilot program for timed entry reservations at Arches National Park to examine its viability as a congestion solution that helps distribute vehicles and visitors throughout the day in order to provide visitors with more reliable and enjoyable access to the park and improve experiences during their park visit.
Q: What dates will the pilot timed entry system be active?
A: April 3 to October 3, 2022
Q: How will the reservations be released?
A: The park will release reservations at the beginning of the month, three months in advance, in monthly blocks.
Q: Where do I make a reservation?
A: Visitors can book reservations first-come, first-served on Recreation.gov beginning at 8 a.m. MST on January 3, 2022.
Q: What’s the monthly block release schedule for the reservations?
A: The release schedule can be found here.
Q: Will reservations sell out?
A: All reservations are expected to sell out quickly and visitors are encouraged to plan ahead.
Q: What if I don’t get an early reservation?
A: For those without early reservations, a limited number of additional reservations will be available for purchase at 6:00 pm MDT the day before entry through Recreation.gov.
Q: Who doesn’t need a timed entry reservation?
A: Timed entry reservations will not be required for those with camping permits, backcountry permits, Fiery Furnace permits, concessions contracts, or commercial use authorizations (CUA) holders.
Q: What are the hours of timed entry?
A: Timed entry tickets will be required to enter the park from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Visitors will be able to enter the park during a one-hour specified window of availability. Once you have validated your ticket and entered the park during your designated window of time, you will be able to exit and re-enter the park on that same day.
Q: What do I need to enter the park during my reservation time?
A: Three items are needed – Timed Entry Ticket, Photo ID, and Park Entrance Fee or valid Park Pass. Learn more here.
Q: Where can I find answers to other questions I may have about timed entry?
A: The National Park Service has set up a Frequently Asked Question bank here.
