Now that the snow has stopped and the weather is consistently warm, Utahns are heading to their favorite recreational spots in droves. One of those is Arches National Park, one of the most popular destinations in the Beehive State.
Arches instituted a timed entry pilot program last April to alleviate overcrowding and traffic congestion. The program was re-upped this year, and so far it has gone off without a hitch. Many visitors are waiting less than a half-hour as opposed to multiple hours, and there’s been plenty parking even at the most visited trails — like Delicate Arch.
Between April 1 and early October, people can reserve a one-hour time slot for $2 per vehicle up to three months in advance by going to Recreation.gov. They can also pay for a park entry pass in advance or when they pull up to the kiosk on the day of their reservation. No reservation is required for those entering before 7 a.m. or after 4 p.m.
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Visitors to Delicate Arch in Arches National Park hang out around the Entrada Sandstone formation as the sun sets, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. In April 2023, Arches National Park implemented a timed entry system to pace visitors' arrival times to alleviate overcrowding and congestion among some 1.8 million visitors a year.
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) A rainbow appears as woman stands in the South Window in Arches National Park, Monday, May 15, 2023. In April 2023, Arches National Park implemented a timed entry system to pace visitors' arrival times to alleviate overcrowding and congestion among some 1.8 million visitors a year.
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Visitors climb the sandstone at Turret Arch, left and The Windows, right, in Arches National Park, Monday, May 15, 2023. In April 2023, Arches National Park implemented a timed entry system to pace visitors' arrival times to alleviate overcrowding and congestion among some 1.8 million visitors a year.
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Photographers line up to capture a rainbow at the South Window in Arches National Park, Monday, May 15, 2023. In April 2023, Arches National Park implemented a timed entry system to pace visitors' arrival times to alleviate overcrowding and congestion among some 1.8 million visitors a year.
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Visitors walk around Balanced Rock in Arches National Park, Monday, May 15, 2023. In April 2023, Arches National Park implemented a timed entry system to pace visitors' arrival times to alleviate overcrowding and congestion among some 1.8 million visitors a year.
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Visitors climb through Turret Arch in Arches National Park, Monday, May 15, 2023. In April 2023, Arches National Park implemented a timed entry system to pace visitors' arrival times to alleviate overcrowding and congestion among some 1.8 million visitors a year.
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Visitors to Delicate Arch in Arches National Park waiting in line to have their picture taken inside the Entrada Sandstone arch formation as the sun sets, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. In April 2023, Arches National Park implemented a timed entry system to pace visitors' arrival times to alleviate overcrowding and congestion among some 1.8 million visitors a year.
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Newlyweds Amanda Mangiapane and Dalton Wilkinson of Tampa, FL are all smiles after the couples' photographer captured the two cuddling and kissing under Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. The couple eloped West for photos of themselves in their wedding attire at iconic places in Wyoming, Arizona and Utah.
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Cliffrose blooms along the trail to the North Window in Arches National Park, Monday, May 15, 2023. In April 2023, Arches National Park implemented a timed entry system to pace visitors' arrival times to alleviate overcrowding and congestion among some 1.8 million visitors a year.
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Visitors to Delicate Arch in Arches National Park hang out around the Entrada Sandstone formation as the sun sets, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. In April 2023, Arches National Park implemented a timed entry system to pace visitors' arrival times to alleviate overcrowding and congestion among some 1.8 million visitors a year.
