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CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK — The National Park Service has proposed required day-use permits for White Rim and Elephant Hill roads in Canyonlands National Park and is seeking the public’s feedback.
Almost 90 percent of Canyonlands National Park is managed as back-country, including a system of historic roads that provide visitors with recreational opportunities in a remote national park setting, according to the National Park Service website.
However, the National Park Service said the Canyonlands National Park’s values of “remote wilderness and solitude” are being diminished by increasing levels of unregulated day use of the back-country road system.
“Requiring permits for day use on these increasingly popular roads will help the park better protect resources and the visitor experience in these wild and remote locations,” the National Park Service said in a news release.
White Rim Road provides a 100-mile loop around and below the Island Mesa and provides expansive views of Canyonlands National Park, according to the Canyonlands National Park website. The proposal would allow a total of 50 day-use vehicle permits (including motorcycles) and 50 day-use bicycle permits each day on White Rim Road. Group sizes would be limited to three vehicles and 15 bicycles, according to the news release.
Elephant Hill Road is one of four roads located in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park and is one of the most technical four-wheel drive roads in Utah, the Canyonlands National Park website said.
A total of 24 day-use vehicle permits and 12 day-use bicycle permits would be issued each day for the Elephant Hill Road. Group sizes would be limited to three vehicles and 12 bicycles for this area, and each motor vehicle and individual bicycle would need a permit.
No additional fee would be charged to acquire the day-use permits for these areas during the 2015-2016 seasons, the news release said. The usual park entrance fee will be required for day use in Canyonlands National Park and would be collected with the issued permits.
The National Park Service is interested in receiving public comment about the proposal. Comments may be submitted on the National Park Service website or mailed to the National Park Service at 2282 S. West Resource Blvd., Moab, Utah, 84532. Comments can also be faxed to 435-719-2300.
Comments about the proposal must be submitted by April 14.
