The Delicate Arch in Arches National Park near Moab, Utah, is shown here in 2018. Next year, Arches will launch a temporary timed admission reservation system.
Mark Ralston / AFP via Getty Images
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Mark Ralston / AFP via Getty Images
The Delicate Arch in Arches National Park near Moab, Utah, is shown here in 2018. Next year, Arches will launch a temporary timed admission reservation system.
Mark Ralston / AFP via Getty Images
Visitors to Arches National Park will need to reserve their seats in advance for regular admission starting next April as part of a temporary program to reduce crowds at one of the attractions. the nation’s most famous outdoor.
This is the latest park to set up such a system to deal with the large influx of visitors that began during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“[O]Your goal should be to increase sightseeing throughout the day to reduce traffic congestion and visitor crowding,” said Patricia Trap, director of Arches National Parks, said in a statement.
The pandemic has fueled an explosion in interest in outdoor spaces in the United States, especially in national parks, where soaring visitor numbers and increased vehicle traffic have resulted in overcrowding. at famous locations gets worse and puts a strain on federal resources.
It led to some nasty conditions at some parks, with reports of trash and even human excrement on the trails.
In response, Glacier in Montana and Rocky Mountain in Colorado made timing entries at several locations.
Officials hope the new timed entry reservation system at Arches could also help with the spike in demand. The number of visitors to the park increased from 996,312 in 2009 to 1,659,702 in 2019 – a 66% increase – according to the National Park Service.
Traveler reservation at Arches starting April 3 will be issued a one-hour pass to enter the park from 6am to 5pm Once there, park goers can stay as long as they like for the rest of the day. Officials will allow about 2,700 vehicles per day in a six-month pilot program.
Some reservations will still be available for purchase the day before entry, and those with certain permits or other authorizations will not need to book.
“We believe this will create a higher quality experience while maximizing accessibility for our visitors,” says Trap.
The data collected during the pilot program will help inform officials about future park policies, she added.
