Planning a Trip to Arches National Park in 2023

Last year, Arches National Park implemented a timed entry system to help mitigate crowds.  It was just a trial year for the system to see how it would work, and it seemed to work well and so they are continuing with it this year, though with a couple of minor modifications. If you are going to visit between April 1rd and October 31st, you will need to make sure you are prepared.  If you are visiting outside those dates in 2022, the timed entry will not apply and you can enter the park at anytime, without any need to secure any reservation in advance.

In previous years, to get into Arches during the busy season, you could be in line to get into the park for an hour or more, and many days entry was closed entirely and arriving visitors were greeted with a sign to come back and try later.  The timed entry was pretty successful last year in helping to control some of the problems that have come about when the park gets congested.  With steady growth in visitation, it has improved the visitor experience by preventing issues from overcrowding on the roads, parking areas and trails.

What do you need to know?  To enter the park between 7am and 4pm any day from April 1st to October 31st, you need the following 3 things:

1) Timed entry ticket secured in advance ($2.00 processing fee)
2) Photo ID
3) Park entrance fee OR valid park pass

So, each private vehicle will need a timed entry ticket.  You can get yours from recreation.gov.
Pick your date and your 1-hour slot for which your ticket will be valid for entry, add it to your cart, and submit payment information for a non-refundable $2.00 processing fee. You will then receive an email with an attached Timed Entry Ticket, which you can print, download, or screenshot.  Alternatively you can secure your ticket over the phone at 877-444-6777.

When you arrive at the park entrance, the timed entry ticket holder must be in the vehicle with photo identification and you then also either pay the entrance fee ($30 per vehicle) or show your valid park pass. You can then exit and re-enter the park for the remainder of that day, but entry on a different day will require an additional timed entry ticket. Visitors have access to the entire park but are not guaranteed parking at a specific lot. Note that tickets are released by month blocks, 3 months in advance. For example, all tickets for July will be available April 1st.

Exceptions:
If you are on foot or a bicycle, you do not need a timed entry reservation. Additionally, if you have a permit for the campground, backcountry camping, or Fiery Furnace, you do not need to reserve a timed entry ticket, just present your other permit for verification upon entry.

What if I didn’t plan ahead?
If you don’t secure a timed entry before your trip, there is still hope. They make a limited number of next day tickets available on the website at 6:00PM (MST). You should have a pretty good shot as long as you are ready to make the purchase as soon as they are made available the night before your visit. Another option to consider is booking a commercial tour, which I’m happy to be personally offering (https://www.zachcooleyphoto.com/archesworkshop). In that case you won’t need a timed entry ticket. Yet a third option is you can enter the park without a reservation before 7am or after 4pm.

Though this system requires a little extra planning on your part, it should definitely lead to an optimal visitor experience with less chance of congestion issues in the park.  If you have any questions or thoughts on any of this let me know in the comments!