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A view of The Windows section of Arches National Park, with the snow-covered La Sal Mountains in the background. The Windows, Arches National Park

To visit Arches National Park this summer (from April to October), visitors need to reserve a time to enter the park in addition to purchasing a park pass.



Press release by Arches National Park


In response to feedback from stakeholders and the general public, Arches National Park is changing its 2025 pilot timed entry reservation system to accept reservations up to six months in advance—twice as long as previously announced.

According to recent surveys, 15-26% of Arches’ visitors plan their trip six months or more in advance. “Enabling earlier reservations gives people more flexibility in planning their visit to Arches,” said Arches National Park Superintendent Lena Pace. “To accommodate all travel styles, we will also continue to release next-day tickets, which often remain open for same-day booking.”

The previously-announced decision to not require reservations from July 7 to August 27, 2025, (after July 4th weekend until just before Labor Day weekend) is also an adaptation based on feedback from past pilots. Visitation traditionally slows down during peak summer months when daytime temperatures are hottest, reducing the need to manage crowding in the park.

All other program parameters will remain the same. Visitors arriving between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the program is in effect will need to have booked a timed entry ticket in order to enter the park (unless they have camping, tour, or special use permits; concessions contracts; commercial use authorizations; academic or volunteer fee waivers; or are from an associated Tribal Nation). Visitors arriving before 7 a.m. or after 4 p.m., or between July 7 and August 7, 2025, will not need a timed entry ticket.

Tickets must be obtained before entering the park and will not be available at the park entrance. Visitors can reserve their tickets through Recreation.gov, either online or over the phone (1-877-444-6777), beginning at 8 a.m. MST on January 2, 2025. Reservations will be released up to six months in advance in blocks. On January 2, reservations will open for all dates in April, May, and June. On February 1, reservations will open for the month of July and unreserved times for April, May, and June will remain open. The full release schedule is as follows:
  • April to June reservations (April 1-June 30) open January 2.
  • July reservations (July 1-6) open February 1.
  • August reservations (August 28-31) open March 1.
  • September reservations (September 1-30) open April 1.
  • October reservations (October 1-31) open May 1.
Starting March 31, additional tickets will be released at 7 p.m. MT nightly for park visits the following day. Any unreserved tickets remain available for same-day booking.

After booking a reservation, visitors will receive a timed entry ticket that allows them to enter during a one-hour specified window. After entering, visitors may stay in the park for the remainder of the day. Ticket holders may exit and re-enter the park on the same day with a correctly validated ticket. The only cost associated with booking a reservation is a $2 Recreation.gov processing fee. 

Arches’ pilot timed entry program is an effort to improve visitors’ experiences through managed access. Visitation to Arches National Park grew 73 percent between 2011 and 2021, nearing 2 million people annually. This increase was concentrated during certain hours, causing congestion at key park destinations, reduced visitor enjoyment, and increased resource damage. During times of peak congestion prior to implementing these pilots, the park had to temporarily close its gate until crowding lessened, resulting in many visitors being unable to enter the park at their preferred time or at all. The vehicle reservation pilots in 2022, 2023, and 2024 were successful in reducing congestion, improving visitor experiences, providing reliable access, and distributing visitation throughout the day. Visitors arriving with the appropriate timed entry ticket and park pass were guaranteed entry to the park during the pilots.  

For more information about the 2025 pilot timed entry program, please visit go.nps.gov/ArchesTicket. Details and updates will also be posted on the Arches National Park Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram pages.

The most enjoyable trips to Arches are safe ones. When making your travel plans, draft an itinerary that matches your current health and fitness with the expected temperature and trail conditions at the time of your visit. Then, build in some flexibility so you can nimbly react to the unexpected, too.

Charlotte Quigley, an older woman, posing with her easel on the upper Mill Creek Trail. Charlotte Quigley, 2025 Community Artist in the Parks [Courtesy of the National Park Service]

Press release by the National Park Service

The National Park Service Southeast Utah Group is pleased to announce the selection of Charlotte Quigley as the 2025 Community Artist in the Parks (CAIP).

Quigley has a deep well of experience with both art and national parks. A life-long watercolorist, she also works in pastels and, more recently, oil paints. She has a master’s degree in art history and experience as a youth arts teacher, arts council director, and member of the Gallery Moab cooperative. After living at several national parks in New Mexico, Quigley moved to Moab 18 years ago. “I feel so fortunate to be in such a beautiful place, where there are so many amazing subjects so close at hand.”

About her upcoming tenure as Community Artist in the Parks, Quigley says, “I’m excited to have this opportunity to paint in the parks and encourage others in their creative endeavors. This is a chance to really focus on our beautiful landscape and share its unique characteristics with others.”

Created in 2009, the CAIP program highlights the connection between a local artist and the surrounding landscapes, particularly Arches and Canyonlands national parks and Hovenweep and Natural Bridges national monuments. Participating artists must reside in Grand, San Juan, or Montezuma counties.

As the Community Artist for 2025, Charlotte Quigley will create original work within the parks for a minimum of 24 hours per month, April through October, and share her inspiration and creative process with visitors. Her work will be sold in Canyonlands Natural History Association stores during her tenure.

For more information about the program and a schedule of the community artist’s park activities, visit go.nps.gov/CAIP.

A pair of historic snowshoes against a white background. The snowshoes are made of wood and rawhide lacing. Gordon Fowler’s snowshoes [Moab Museum Collection]

By the Moab Museum, originally published in the Moab Sun News

Summertime visitors to the Moab Museum may have difficulty understanding why there’s a pair of snowshoes on display in the Museum’s gallery. While the desert, of course, isn’t well-known for its snow, locals know that the La Sal Mountains outside of Moab can get quite snowy indeed.

Today, Moabites enjoy recreating in the mountains in the wintertime on sleds, skis, or snowmobiles. In the past, the remote community of Miner’s Basin high in the La Sals was the site of a seasonal mining operation, with some hardy souls overwintering in the snowy basin. In Miner’s Basin’s heyday, it boasted a store, a post office, and lodging for over a hundred optimistic miners.

Gordon Fowler, whose initials are found on the wood of these snowshoes, used these snowshoes to prospect in Miner’s Basin in the La Sals many decades after most others gave up hope of mining riches in the area. Made with a sturdy hardwood frame with rawhide lacing, the snowshoes allowed the wearer to travel over powdery snow without sinking knee-deep. The snowshoes were acquired by the Museum from the estate of Bill Conners, who grubstaked Fowler’s endeavor.

The Moab Museum is dedicated to sharing stories of the natural and human history of the Moab area. To explore more of Moab’s stories and artifacts, find out about upcoming programs, and become a Member, visit www.moabmuseum.org.

If you’re planning a trip to Moab, you’re likely aware of its reputation as an oasis for outdoor recreation. But the city also has a lot to offer when it comes to dining, arts, and culture. Read on to make the most of your three-day trip.

DAY 1 – PARKS TOUR

Morning: Canyonlands National Park
Start your day at Canyonlands National Park. Roughly 30 miles outside Moab, the Island in the Sky District provides sweeping canyon views and stunning red rock panoramas. In a few hours’ time, you can drive the park’s 20 miles of paved roads to Grand View Point, Green River Overlook, and Upheaval Dome and hike the Grand View Point, Mesa Arch, and Upheaval Dome Overlook trails. Get up early to catch sunrise at the Mesa Arch or any of the other viewpoints inside the park.

Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park
Mesa Arch

Green River Overlook in Canyonlands National Park
Green River Overlook

Hiking Options

  • Easy: Mesa Arch (0.6 mi/1 km) Recommended before sunrise.
  • Moderate: Grand View Point (1.8 mi/2.9 km)

Lunch: Dead Horse Point State Park
On your way back from Canyonlands, don’t miss Dead Horse Point State Park. Head to Dead Horse Point Overlook to take in the view of the Colorado River and the surrounding pinnacles and buttes that make up one of the most photographed scenic vistas in the world. Bring a picnic lunch and stop in the visitor center.

Hiking Options

  • Easy: The Colorado River Overlook (1 mi/1.6 km)
  • Moderate: The Bighorn Overlook Trail (3 mi/4.8 km)

Dead Horse Point State Park
Dead Horse Point State Park

Moab Giants
Moab Giants Museum & Dinosaur Park

Afternoon: Moab Giants Museum & Dinosaur Park
Fun for the whole family, Moab Giants Museum & Dinosaur Park is the first of its kind worldwide! Take a journey back through time with a 3D cinema experience and a half-mile trail featuring more than 130 full-size reconstructions of dinosaurs and their tracks. Inside the Tracks Museum, you’ll find interactive learning touch screens, games to play, and visually stunning educational exhibits. These exhibits also include insights into the history and prehistory of the Moab area and windows into Moab Giant’s research labs.

Evening: Dinner in Town
After a full day of exploring, head into town to refuel. Moab is home to a variety of cuisines and local eats. For family-friendly dining, try Moab Diner or Moab Grill. To enjoy a local brew with your meal, visit Moab Brewery or Proper Brewing Moab. 

DAY 2 – GET ACTIVE

During the Day: Choose Your Own Adventure
Spend the day recreating in Moab’s red rock wilderness. Thanks to the numerous local guides and outfitters, visitors of all ability levels can enjoy activities to the fullest, or try something new! Some popular options include:

  • Mountain Biking: Cover more ground by hopping on a bike and hitting the trail. Moab offers some of the greatest mountain biking in the world, with a variety of trail options for any experience level. From the highly technical Slickrock Bike Trail to the easy-riding Bar-M Loop Trail, you’ll enjoy incredible scenery and a good work out.
  • Colorado River Water Recreation: Whether you’re looking for an intense whitewater experience or a more leisurely float, there’s a section of the river for you. Choose from rafting, kayaking, canoeing, or paddle boarding, then start paddling to get a whole new perspective on the area from the Colorado River’s red rock-lined waters.
  • Horseback Rides: For a truly authentic Western experience, nothing beats touring the rugged desert by horseback. Follow in the footsteps, or hoofprints, of cowboys as part of a guided trail ride to stunning landmarks such as Castle Rock and Fisher Towers.
  • Scenic Flights: The wild and untamed landscape of southern Utah is so vast, it’s nearly impossible to see it all. However, even an hour-long scenic flight allows you to experience spectacular views over thousands of square miles of canyon country. No other mode of transportation will allow you to see so much in such a short period of time.

Bar-M Trail
Bar-M Trail

Moab Scenic Flights
Scenic Flight

In the Evening: Wind Down

Toast to a day well spent at Moab’s own local winery. Visitors may be surprised to learn Moab’s long growing season, coupled with its fertile, sandy soils, has resulted in delicious white German-varietal wines. Spanish Valley Vineyards & Winery specializes in these single-vineyard estate-bottled wines, which means they grow the grapes, ferment, and bottle the wine all at their single location. Stop by to enjoy the sunset with a tasting or tour.

DAY 3 – MORE TO EXPLORE

Morning: Experience History
After back-to-back adventure-filled days, sleep in and grab a leisurely breakfast. For a full spread, visit Jailhouse Cafe. If you’re in need of a quick bite, grab coffee and one of the deliciously inventive doughnuts at Doughbird.

To learn more about Moab’s beginnings, visit the Moab Museum. The museum interprets the stories of the Moab area, from histories of the first inhabitants of the Moab Valley to geology to uranium mining, and include many facets of Moab’s past, present, and future.

Moab Museum
Moab Museum

Arches National Park
Arches National Park

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Afternoon: Arches National Park

Next, make your way to Arches National Park, home to the world’s largest concentration of sandstone arches located just five miles from downtown Moab. You can drive the entire park in three hours with 10-minute stops at each viewpoint and a short hike at the Windows section of the park. If you’re planning to visit between April 1 and October 31, you will need to make a timed entry reservation for peak times before heading to the park.

Hiking Options
  • Easy: Double Arch (0.5 mi/0.8km), Landscape Arch (2 mi/3.2 km)
  • Moderate: Delicate Arch (3 mi/4.8 km) This hike is usually crowded; visiting at sunrise or sunset is best.

Evening: Art and Souvenirs 
For a unique dinner option, visit the Moab Food Truck Park. With 14 different food trucks offering a variety of options, there’s something to please everyone’s palate. Spend the rest of the evening wandering the shops and art galleries on downtown’s Main Street, where you’ll find everything from landscape paintings and photography to jank art (sculptures made from desert finds) and locally made goods. Then, end your trip on a sweet note with dessert at La Michoacana.

Downtown Moab
Downtown Moab

Moab Art
Moab Art

A rock face covered in overlapping petroglyphs in many different styles. Newspaper Rock [Moab Museum Collection, Elaine Peterson Collection]

By the Moab Museum, originally published in the Moab Sun News



This is canyon country, a landscape defined by the forces of nature that have carved their way through the red sandstone for millions of years and still continue to perform their work. The human history of this landscape carries a similar throughline: Rock inscriptions carved on canyon walls over thousands of years lend whispers of the history of the people who came before.

Petroglyphs and pictographs across the region preserve thousands of years of human history, spanning many cultures over time. There is much to be learned from these marks pecked or painted onto canyon walls, and they remain important sites for Native communities today.

What is the difference between petroglyphs and pictographs?

Petroglyphs—which are generally more abundant in this area—are images created by carving, engraving, or scratching upon the surface of the rock. Pictographs are painted, consisting of pigment applied to the surface of the stone. While certain panels may have originally been a combination of petroglyphs and pictographs, the windswept sandstone now primarily reveals petroglyphs.

A black and white photo showing a man standing next to a rock boulder; he is leaning against it with one arm up on the rock. On the rock face is a petroglyph that looks like it could be a wooly mammoth.
Located downriver from Moab, this rock carving is thought by some to resemble a mastodon, leading some to believe that it was created by people living in the Moab Valley during the late Ice Age. Others interpret the panel as a bear with a fish in its mouth. [Moab Museum Collection, Elaine Peterson Collection]


What is known about petroglyphs and pictographs?

There are numerous ways to interpret meaning, and inevitably, much of it remains a mystery to visitors today. Native groups with Ancestral ties to the region can offer perspective and interpret meaning from rock writings left many generations ago. Archaeologists also offer a set of ways to interpret these sites.

In the summer of 2021, the Moab Museum presented a temporary exhibition called “Stories on Stone: Interpreting & Protecting Moab’s Rock Imagery” in collaboration with Utah Humanities. The exhibit showcased perspectives about four prominent Moab-area petroglyph panels from Hopi guide and interpreter Bertram Tsavadawa and archeologist Don Montoya.

“There’s always variations of understanding of how sites will be utilized by the Ancestors,” Tsavadawa explained in the exhibit, adding “as a Hopi person, coming from northeastern Arizona to visit and see these sites here, it is reconnecting.”

In a video made with the Museum and the Utah Humanities Council’s Humanities in the Wild initiative, Tsavadawa drew connections between petroglyphs of wavy lines at Moonflower Canyon to the abundant water nearby.

“Water sustains life. Wherever there’s water, you’ll find maybe an Ancestral site, occupation location, or where they were visiting or making their pilgrimages to conduct ceremony, or connect back to nature,” Tsavadawa explained.

Archeologists also offer ways of understanding these traces of the past. A variety of scientific dating methods, including carbon dating, may determine the ages of pictograph pigments. In the absence of pigment, archaeologists can use optically-stimulated luminescence, which tells how long quartz sediments have been exposed to light. Archeologists also recognize distinctive aesthetic styles associated with different periods, such as the Barrier Canyon Style, which allows them to determine the spatiotemporal extent of cultural groups.

Rock imagery sites remind us that history exists beyond the bounds of a museum collection space. Stewardship of sites remains an ongoing topic of community conversation. In April 2021, Birthing Rock, a prominent rock imagery site along Kane Creek Road, was vandalized, inciting community outrage. The vandalism was the second publicized instance in 2021 of petroglyphs in Moab being damaged, the first being a rock climber bolting a route near a 1,000-year-old petroglyph panel near Arches National Park.

A black and white photo of pictographs at Courthouse Wash; the figures depicted are humanoid and appear to be holding shields.
The pictographs at the mouth of Courthouse Wash as it enters the Colorado River represent the Barrier Canyon style, also found at Sego canyon near Thompson Springs. This image was taken before the panel was defaced in 1980. Following the vandalism, the National Park Service cleaned the panel, and restoration work revealed older pictographs beneath the white shields. [Moab Museum Collection, Elaine Peterson Collection]


Why does it matter to protect rock imagery and Ancestral sites?

In the words of the Bears Ears Intertribal Coalition: “To the untrained eye, these archaeological features can sometimes be hard to recognize, but their importance to science, as well as tribal descendants, is immense…More than just a library of human history, this place remains vital to tribal communities across the Colorado Plateau as a place of subsistence, spirituality, healing, and contemplation.”

When visiting these sites, make sure to observe proper visitation etiquette to preserve this history and pay respect to the enduring connections these places provide for Native communities today. These tips, from the Museums of Western Colorado, provide guidance to visitors today:
– Visit rock art sites with respect. Many cultures today see rock art as being just as sacred as it was when it was created.
– Do not touch images. The oils on your hands cause damage that cannot be fixed.
– Take only pictures. Paper rubbing and latex molds cause irreversible damage.
– Respect private property rights.
– Leave archaeological clues found near rock art panels in place. Artifacts such as projectiles can help archaeologists better understand and date the age of panels.
– Report any vandalism to a local land agency such as the Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, and Park Service.

The Moab Museum is dedicated to sharing stories of the natural and human history of the Moab area. To explore more of Moab’s stories and artifacts, find out about upcoming programs, and become a Member, visit MoabMuseum.org