What you can/can't do at Utah's national parks

THE GREAT OUTDOORS — During the summer months, Utahns and tourists alike flock to the national parks and forests that dot the state of Utah. If you are taking a trip to see the famous arches or to backpack through Bryce Canyon, here are a few things you should know.

While there are some rules that are standard for all national parks across the U.S., there are also some individual regulations. Here are the do's and don'ts for the five national parks in Utah.

Bryce Canyon National Park:

Visitors per year: 1.4 million

Information from: Kathleen Gondor, chief of interpretation

Don'ts:

• Don't go off the trails.
• Don't feed the wildlife.
• Don't pick plants.
• Don't climb on hoodoos or pull them over — you could damage them.
• No mountain biking off of the main highway — there are no designated mountain biking trails in the park. However, nearby Red Canyon Forest Service allows mountain biking and ATV trails.
• Don't build fires in the backcountry camping areas.
• Don't bring pets unless they are on a leash.
• Don't take pets off of the paved asphalt trails — no walking dogs on dirt trails.
• Don't speed through the park — you may hit the wildlife. Do's:

• You can camp at designated sites throughout the park.
• Make sure you register at the visitor's center before you camp.
• You can build fires in the fire rings at designated camp sites (except at extreme fire danger levels — then there are restrictions.)
• You can pick up a rock, but put it back so others can enjoy it too.
• Follow the "Leave No Trace" guidelines.
• Come visit and enjoy the park.

Capitol Reef National Park:

Visitors per year: around 750,000

Information from: Lori Rome, chief of interpretation

Don'ts:

• Don't carve or write on the rocks — you may destroy the historic petroglyphs.
• Don't collect wood for fires — you have to bring own wood.
• Don't go off designated trails, except for in the backcountry where there aren't established trails
• Don't bring pets anywhere except where vehicles are allowed — no taking pets in the backcountry.

1. Don't pick up antlers, feathers or rocks that you find. Let others enjoy it as well.
2. Don't break the speed limit on Scenic Drive. The speed limit on Highway 24 through the park is 45 mph, but Scenic Drive is only 15 to 25 mph.
3. Don't build fires except at vehicle-designated campgrounds.
4. No mountain biking except on roads for vehicles — good biking roads are Scenic Drive, Grand Wash Road, Capitol Gorge Road and Pleasant Creek Road.
5. Don't feed wildlife.
6. Don't pick wild plants, but you can pick fruit at the orchards there when its in season (mid-summer through fall). You can taste and sample the fruit for free, and then you can buy the fruit later by the pound.
7. Don't pick the fruit if the orchard isn't open.
8. Don't climb the trees in the orchard.
9. Don't cross a flash flood — don't drive vehicles through or walk through moving water. Do's:- Come and enjoy one of the three campgrounds — Fruita, Cathedral Valley and Cedar Mesa. Camping is first come, first served.
   • Get a free permit for backpacking and camping in the backcountry.
   • Do make a plan before you go camping and know where you are going.
   • Tell someone where you are going if you are heading into the backcountry.
   • Make sure you use the ladders properly if you are picking fruit in the orchards.
   • Check the weather before you take a trip and know about the flash-flood dangers in Capitol Reef National Park.
   • Also know about flash-flood dangers before you take a hike — don't go into slot canyons or the narrows if the risk is high.
   • Come enjoy the night sky — Capitol Reef boasts one of the darkest night skies for star gazing in national parks.

Visitors per year: 2,829,287

Information from: nps.gov**Don'ts:**

• Don't use remote-controlled equipment, including but not limited to: helicopters, drones, and other aircraft-based equipment.
• Don't bike on park trails, off-trail routes or through the tunnels.
• Don't camp or sleep in pullouts or parking lots.
• Don't take firearms in park facilities.
• Don't discharge firearms or hunt within the park.
• Don't drive off-highway vehicles or ATVs in the park.
• Pets are not allowed on trails (with the exception of the Pa'rus Trail) or in the wilderness. However, you can have a service animal.
• Don't walk on the vegetation while hiking.
• Don't take any natural or cultural objects from the park.
• Don't do graffiti in the park.
• Don't vandalise the buildings, plants or rock walls.
• Tubing inside the park is not allowed.
• Don't feed the wildlife. Do's:- You can bike on all park roadways and on the Pa'rus Trail.
• While biking, ride single file on park roads and stop to let shuttle buses pass.
• You can camp in the designated campsites in Watchman, South, and Lava Point Campgrounds and, with a Wilderness Permit, in designated areas of the Zion Wilderness.
• Pay a fee to enter the park, for special use permits or wilderness permits. Arches National Park:

Visitors per year: around 1 million

Information from: Kevin Moore, acting chief ranger

Don'ts:

• Arches are off limits — don't climb on them, canyoneer or rappel off of them.
• Don't carve or write on the rock walls
• Don't build fires outside designated camp areas, and then only use the fire pit.
• Don't collect wood for fires.
• Don't carve or write on the rock walls.
• Don't build fires during restrictions — they will be posted during extreme fire danger seasons.
• Don't take pets along the trails. Where they are allowed, they must be kept on a leash at all times.
• Don't mountain bikes except on designated roads — treat it like a vehicle and don't ride on trails.
• Don't collect any natural objects. Do's:- Get a permit for backpacking camping and designated camping.
• Have a fun time, but be safe. Canyonlands National Park:Visitors per year: around 440,000

Information from: Kevin Moore, acting chief ranger**Don'ts:**

• Don't build fires outside designated camping areas, and then only use the fire pit.
• Don't collect wood for fires.
• Don't build fires during restrictions — they will be posted during extreme fire danger seasons.
• Don't carve or write on the rock walls.
• Don't mountain bike except on designated roads — treat it like a vehicle and don't ride on trails.
• Don't take pets along the trails. Where they are allowed, they must be kept on a leash at all times.
• Don't collect any natural objects. Do's:- You can collect wood along the Green River and the Colorado River, but only collect driftwood.
• You can build a fire along the river, but you have to use a fire pan. Only build a fire on the bank where there isn't brush.
• You can swim in the rivers, but wear a life jacket and check for flash flooding.
• Get a permit for backpacking camping and designated camping.
• Have a fun time, but be safe.

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