Arches National Park
Visitor Services
Drive north on Route 24 from Capitol Reef, past Goblin Valley, and then east on Interstate 70. Travel south on U.S. 191 to reach Arches National Park, just five miles north of Moab.
A free newspaper, Arches National Park Visitor Guide, contains general information, photography tips, descriptions of most of the park trails, tips for budgeting your time in the park and more. It is available at the park entrance.
Park Fees: Entrance to Arches is $20 per car and $10 per pedestrian or bicyclist (good for seven days). Fees are subject to change.
Visitor Center: The visitor center is located near the park entrance. An orientation slide program is presented multiple times daily. The center also houses exhibits and book sales. It is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Mountain Time) in winter, extended to 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. in mid-season. The center is closed December 25. A new 18,000 square foot visitor center features interactive exhibits, educational kiosks, a large outdoor plaza for after-hours information, and a bookstore featuring guide books, maps, DVDs, postcards, and much more. The 140-seat theater features a stunning orientation film highlighting both Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.
Food and Camping Supplies: Restaurants, grocery stores and other services are in Moab, Green River and Monticello. There are no stores in the park.
Guided and Self-Guiding Tours: A 48-mile round-trip, self-guiding auto tour leads to the major sights, including a Delicate Arch viewpoint where a 100-yard, fully accessible trail offers a distant view of the famous arch. Also see "Sights to See" on page 63 for more information.
Lodging: There are no accommodations in the park. For a complete list of services in the area, check at the visitor center or contact the Moab Area Travel Council at PO Box 550, Moab, UT 84532; (800) 635-6622.
Medical Emergencies: Emergency first aid is available from park rangers. The nearest hospital facilities are five miles south in Moab.
RV Facilities: Sites at the Devils Garden Campground will accommodate RVs and tents. No hookups or dump stations are in the park, but they may be found in nearby Moab. Reservations are available for some individual and two group sites through the National Recreation Reservation Service: www.ReserveUSA.com; (877) 444-6777; TDD: (877) 833-6777; International (518) 885-3639.
Special Services -: The America the Beautiful—National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Senior Pass is gladly accepted. The visitor center, picnic area and restroom facil-ities throughout the park are wheelchair-accessible, as is one designated site at Devils Garden Campground. The visitor center orientation film and a geology animation video are captioned for visitors with hearing impairments.
Weather Information: Arches has hot summers (100°F/38°C), pleasant springs and falls, and cool winters. There is some snowfall in winter and thunderstorms often occur in late summer.
Park address: For more information, please con-tact Arches National Park, P.O. Box 907, Moab, UT 84532; call (435) 719-2299 (voice) or (435) 719-2319 (TDD).
Arches In Depth
News from the Parks
Alexander Backs New Source of Funding for National Parks
July 3, 2008 - 9:38am
U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today announced he will cosponsor bipartisan legislation to create a new source of funding for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and other national parks across the country as part of the “Centennial Challenge” celebrating the 100th anniversary of the National Park System in 2016. “The Centennial Challenge could bring up to $4 million to the Smokies – the country’s most visited national park – and will go a long way toward improving park facilities, aiding conservation efforts, and helping build upon the excellent visitor services already offered. This 4th of July, I can’t think of a better way to celebrate our country’s birthday than backing legislation that will aid efforts to preserve and celebrate our national parks, one of America’s greatest treasures.”
July 3, 2008 - 9:38am
U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today announced he will cosponsor bipartisan legislation to create a new source of funding for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and other national parks across the country as part of the “Centennial Challenge” celebrating the 100th anniversary of the National Park System in 2016. “The Centennial Challenge could bring up to $4 million to the Smokies – the country’s most visited national park – and will go a long way toward improving park facilities, aiding conservation efforts, and helping build upon the excellent visitor services already offered. This 4th of July, I can’t think of a better way to celebrate our country’s birthday than backing legislation that will aid efforts to preserve and celebrate our national parks, one of America’s greatest treasures.”
EPA's Pollution Plan Slammed
July 3, 2008 - 9:35am
City officials and business leaders here Wednesday warned that a federal proposal to relax air quality standards for the nation's national parks will ultimately be bad for business. Simply put, they said during a news conference at the entrance to Zion National Park, lower air standards being proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will hurt this gateway city economically if fewer tourists visit the park. "Air pollution could damage the stars, vistas and clean air we enjoy," Springdale Mayor Pat Cluff said. "Some places deserve to be preserved and it is my responsibility to preserve [the park] for those who come here."
July 3, 2008 - 9:35am
City officials and business leaders here Wednesday warned that a federal proposal to relax air quality standards for the nation's national parks will ultimately be bad for business. Simply put, they said during a news conference at the entrance to Zion National Park, lower air standards being proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will hurt this gateway city economically if fewer tourists visit the park. "Air pollution could damage the stars, vistas and clean air we enjoy," Springdale Mayor Pat Cluff said. "Some places deserve to be preserved and it is my responsibility to preserve [the park] for those who come here."
Dinosaur Fossils In Utah Inspire 'Jr. Paleontologists'
July 2, 2008 - 9:57am
Millions of years ago, northeastern Utah was a hot spot for dinosaurs. Today, people travel to the Dinosaur National Monument located on the borders of Colorado and Utah to see the leftover dinosaur bones. Visitors can see as many as 1,500 Jurassic-era fossils exposed on the cliff face of the Douglass Quarry.
July 2, 2008 - 9:57am
Millions of years ago, northeastern Utah was a hot spot for dinosaurs. Today, people travel to the Dinosaur National Monument located on the borders of Colorado and Utah to see the leftover dinosaur bones. Visitors can see as many as 1,500 Jurassic-era fossils exposed on the cliff face of the Douglass Quarry.
A Paiute Take On Bryce Canyon's Hoodoos
July 2, 2008 - 9:56am
The red spindly rock formations that make up the views at Bryce Canyon National Park are called hoodoos. Geologists say they were formed by erosion, but Kevin Poe, chief of interpretation at Bryce, shares his take on the Paiute legend about hoodoos.
July 2, 2008 - 9:56am
The red spindly rock formations that make up the views at Bryce Canyon National Park are called hoodoos. Geologists say they were formed by erosion, but Kevin Poe, chief of interpretation at Bryce, shares his take on the Paiute legend about hoodoos.
Can The Everglades Be Saved?
July 2, 2008 - 9:55am
Environmentalists have been issuing dire warnings about the deterioration of the Florida Everglades for years, saying these wetlands have to be restored in order to revive fragile ecosystems and increase scarce fresh water supplies. Over half of the Everglades are gone, irreversibly converted to urban or agricultural development. But this week, in an attempt to save what's left, the state of Florida announced a plan to buy nearly 200,000 acres of former wetlands from a sugar cane producer. Advocates say the plan is the largest restoration project in American history.
July 2, 2008 - 9:55am
Environmentalists have been issuing dire warnings about the deterioration of the Florida Everglades for years, saying these wetlands have to be restored in order to revive fragile ecosystems and increase scarce fresh water supplies. Over half of the Everglades are gone, irreversibly converted to urban or agricultural development. But this week, in an attempt to save what's left, the state of Florida announced a plan to buy nearly 200,000 acres of former wetlands from a sugar cane producer. Advocates say the plan is the largest restoration project in American history.
