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MOAB — In an attempt to deal with problems associated with rising tourism, the National Park Service proposed a new plan Wednesday that would put in place a reservation system for visitors traveling to Arches National Park during its high-visitation season.
Now the park is asking for the public’s input before making a final decision. If passed, the reservation system would be implemented March 2019.
The plan was developed as a part of the Park Service’s Traffic Congestion Management Plan established to address traffic and parking congestion to the park, according to Kate Cannon, superintendent of Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park.
Nearly 1.6 million visited the park in 2016 and another 1.3 million people visited from January to September this year, according to national park statistics. The park first garnered more than 1 million visitors in 2010 and visitation doubled in an 11-year span from 2005 to 2016.
The rising tourism has led to parking congestion, which Cannon said has affected visitor access, visitor enjoyment and resources. In addition, she said long lines at the intersection of U.S. 191 and the park entrance are considered a potential traffic hazard.
Visitors would be required to reserve a spot for vehicle entry between 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily during high-visitation season — March through October — under the proposed plan. However, Cannon said the dates could change if visiting patterns change. While the new system would be implemented in March 2019, reservations could be made online six months in advance.
Related:
Park fees may jump to $70 at 4 Utah national parks
Fees at four of Utah's national parks may jump to $70 per carload during the peak visitation season as part of an effort by the U.S. Department of Interior to address $11.3 billion in unfunded maintenance needs. The money would pay for improvements.It’s not the first time the park has proposed changes to manage rising visitors. The park proposed several different ideas to address the number of vehicles in the park in 2015. Those ideas ranged from hiring parking lot attendants to encouraging visitation to less congested areas in the park.
The park is holding a public open house Nov. 16 from 4-8 p.m. at the Grand Center, located 82 N. 500 West for people to give input on the proposal. The plan is up for public comment until Dec. 4.
Comments on the proposal can be submitted online or by mail at National Park Service, Southeast Utah Group, Attn: Planning and Compliance Coordinator, 2282 S. West Resource Blvd., Moab, UT 84532. The park will not accept comments made by phone, email or fax.
