My family visits Moab every year. Our first trip was not a good experience.
As we waited in the admissions line for over an hour, my children became restless, and the wait seemed to stretch forever as our car inched forward. When we finally entered the park our spirits rose, only to sink when we found that at each site, we had to circle the parking lot for up to half an hour looking for an available parking space. We stood in hordes. We saw the back of heads more than arches that day.
We left the park disappointed, wondering if that was the last time our family would see the breathtaking views and natural wonders.
When we learned that a timed entry reservation system was in place, we planned another trip. Reserving a time was easy. Our wait time to get in the park was reasonable. At each of the sites, there was a place to park. The trails were not crowded and once we reached our destinations, we were able to take our time to gaze at nature’s beauty. Because of the timed entry system my kids have decided that every year in Moab is an Arches year.
It is easy to obtain a timed entry ticket. Tickets go on sale months before your trip. Some tickets are held until the night before for the surprise visitors. If you want to go to Arches on a day when all the tickets have been reserved, you can go to the park before 7 a.m. or after 4 p.m.
My hope is the timed entry reservation system at Arches National Park continues for many years to come.
Andrea Bronson, South Jordan
