Arches National Park moves to timed-entry reservation system

David DeMille, St. George Spectrum & Daily News
·2 min read
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Arches National Park is installing an updated timed entry system for visitors starting April 1, with park officials announcing this week that visitors need to reserve tickets online before coming.

The new system requires visitors to get reservations for trips between April 1 and Oct. 31. There are some new options this year, such as the ability to purchase entrance fees or annual passes in advance, according to park officials.

"Managed access systems like timed entry helps distribute visitation throughout the day and season to provide reliable access while protecting the park," according to an email from the National Park Service.

Reservations are offered on a first-come, first-served basis via Recreation.gov, which requires a $2 processing fee.

Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. The park is installing an updated timed entry system for visitors starting April 1, with park officials announcing this week that visitors need to reserve tickets online before coming.
Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. The park is installing an updated timed entry system for visitors starting April 1, with park officials announcing this week that visitors need to reserve tickets online before coming.

Reservations are released three months in advance in monthly blocks according to the following schedule:

  • April reservations (April 1–30) opened Jan.10.

  • May reservations (May 1–31) opened Feb. 1.

  • June reservations (June 1–30) opened March 1.

  • July reservations (July 1–31) open April 1.

  • August reservations (August 1–31) open May 1.

  • September reservations (September 1–30) open June 1.

  • October reservations (October 1–31) open July 1.

After booking a slot, visitors receive a timed-entry ticket which requires them to enter during a specified one-hour window. Once inside, they can stay the remainder of the day and can leave and reenter the park on the same day as long as they have a validated ticket. Additional details are available online at nps.gov/arch/planyourvisit/timed-entry-pilot.htm.

The park updated the reservation system for 2023 after trying a pilot program last year.

The timed entry program has helped alleviate some of the massive strains that overcrowding put on the park in recent years, officials say. Park visitation nearly doubled from 2009 to 2021, which saw a record 1.81 million visitors counted. On many days, the park was closed entirely, with rangers simply closing the gates once all roads, parking spots and facilities were full.

With the timed entry system in place in 2022, visitation fell to 1.46 million.

Most parks have saw dropoff in visitation during 2022, with a COVID-19 pandemic-induced "bubble" of Americans taking to the outdoors in 2021. The 2022 figure were about on par with the numbers seen in 2019, before the pandemic.

This article originally appeared on St. George Spectrum & Daily News: Arches National Park moves to timed-entry reservations