- Arches National Park will not use its timed-entry system in 2026.
- The decision follows Grand County's request for alternatives to manage park visitation.
- Visitors are advised to plan for potential overcrowding and explore lesser-known areas.
MOAB — Arches National Park is ditching its timed-entry system at least for this year, meaning that visitors will be allowed in without a reservation any time of the year, as they could before 2022.
Park officials announced the change on Wednesday, nearly a year after the Grand County Commission sent a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum urging him to consider other options for handling park visitation.
It's unclear whether that pressure forced the change; park officials did not disclose any alternative plans to manage potential traffic, aside from asking visitors to consider different times or areas of the park to avoid overcrowding this year.
"We encourage visitors to arrive early, explore lesser-traveled areas if certain locations are busy, and be flexible when enjoying the park," said Arches National Park Superintendent Lena Pace in a statement. "We look forward to working closely with local and state partners as we implement these adjustments and refine our approach to serve visitors while protecting park resources."
Arches implemented its timed-entry program in 2022, responding to growing challenges tied to Arches' popularity. The iconic park marked a record 1.8 million visits in 2021, which led to frequent entry closures because there wasn't enough parking to accommodate the traffic flowing in.
The system required people to reserve times during the peak visitation season, running from April to October. It's undergone a few revisions over the years, including a midsummer pause last year. Last year was also the park's busiest year since 2021, attracting more than 1.5 million visits.
While it seemed to solve the overcrowding issue, it also led to tension with local leaders, who argued that it created a "capacity problem" that capped visitation. Grand County officials wrote last year that the reservation system could be "limiting visitation and harming our local economy."
Melodie McCandless, chairwoman of the Grand County Commission, celebrated the park's decision on Wednesday.
"We're excited that visitors will no longer be turned away after traveling long distances to experience Arches National Park," she said. "This commission believes in welcoming visitors from around the world, and we look forward to exploring alternatives and opportunities that will benefit our community and protect Arches for generations to come."
The county's 2025 letter asked for alternatives, such as a new shuttle system, adding a new northern park entrance, building a new bike path in the park or expanding park trails to disperse visitors. Some residents and members of the council worried that ditching the system would cause the same traffic headaches that caused the system to return, however.
Arches officials didn't say whether their plan for 2026 will be a one-time occurrence or a shift to dropping the program altogether. They urged visitors to prepare for potentially long entry lines during the summer and plan alternative locations in the park, or to check out other destinations if the park is closed. Dead Horse Point and Utahraptor state parks are nearby, as is Canyonlands National Park.
The park also operates a webcam that allows people to view real-time conditions at its entrance before they get there.
