THE GOVERNMENT NEWS DESKPERMANENT NPS STORY ARCHIVE
Organized by publication date and destination. Each story retains its permanent State & Nation address and official NPS source.
Arches National Park is excited to welcome the Moab-Arches shuttle service to the park! The new service, initiated by Grand County, hopes to reduce traffic congestion and provide a new way for visitors to experience the park.
Official NPS source
Due to lower temperatures accompanied by higher humidity, fire danger has moderated across southeastern Utah. Beginning at 12:01 a.m. Friday, September 4, Arches and Canyonlands national parks, along with Natural Bridges and Hovenweep national monuments, will rescind fire restrictions.
Official NPS source
The Southeast Utah Group of parks will accept applications for the 2027 Community Artist in the Parks (CAIP) program September 1 to September 30, 2026.
Official NPS source
As high temperatures continue, Arches and Canyonlands national parks urge visitors to prepare for extreme heat during summer visits.
Official NPS source
Fire danger is increasing in southeastern Utah due to prolonged drought and rising temperatures. On Friday June 26, 2026, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Hovenweep National Monument, and Natural Bridges National Monument will increase fire restrictions.
Official NPS source
Arches National Park today announced it will not require advanced timed-entry reservations this year. Visitors may enter the park at any time during operating hours.
Official NPS source
The National Park Service Southeast Utah Group is pleased to announce the selection of Chrissy Noel Kinslow as the 2026 Community Artist in the Parks
Official NPS source
A new National Park Service report shows that nearly 2.4M visitors to parks of the Southeast Utah Group in 2024 spent $421.9M in communities near the park. That spending had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $447 million.
Official NPS source
The Southeast Utah Group of parks will accept applications for the 2026 Community Artist in the Parks (CAIP) program September 15 to October 15, 2025.
Official NPS source
Arches National Park’s fourth timed entry pilot program—paused during peak summer heat— will resume August 28th. Visitors will need to reserve a ticket in advance in order to enter the park between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily through October 31.
Official NPS source
Southeast Utah continues to experience hazardous fire conditions. On Friday, August 1, 2025, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Hovenweep National Monument, and Natural Bridges National Monument will increase fire restrictions by banning all open fires (wood and charcoal).
Official NPS source
Arches and Canyonlands national parks expect a busy July Fourth holiday weekend, with increased traffic, long lines at park entrances, busy trails, and limited parking at both parks. Arches' pilot reservation system remains in effect through the holiday, then pauses July 7 to August 28, resuming before Labor Day weekend.
Official NPS source
As Memorial Day weekend approaches, Arches and Canyonlands national parks advise visitors to expect heavy traffic, crowded trails, and limited parking at both parks. Planning ahead is essential for a safe and enjoyable visit. All visitors entering Arches between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. will need a timed entry reservation.
Official NPS sourceOn Tuesday May 6, 2025, National Park Service rangers responded to reports that a man had fallen while hiking on the primitive section of The Windows Loop trail. Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, and the 77-year-old male patient was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Official NPS source
In response to feedback from park 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.
Official NPS source
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).
Official NPS source
Hours of operation for visitor centers at Arches National Park and Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park are changing for the season. The visitor centers at The Needles district of Canyonlands and Hovenweep National Monument will close entirely for a portion of this winter.
Official NPS source
Arches National Park will implement another pilot vehicle reservation system using timed entry in 2025, beginning April 1. Program parameters will be mostly the same as the 2024 pilot, except the park will not require reservations from July 7 to August 27 (after July 4th weekend until just before Labor Day weekend) when visitation traditionally slows down
Official NPS source
Arches National Park is seeking public comment on its Visitor Access and Experience Plan, which identifies long-term strategies needed to provide day use visitor access in a way that protects park resources, promotes safety, and creates opportunities for high-quality visitor experiences. The public is invited to comment on the plan through November 23, 2024.
Official NPS sourceOn Tuesday October 8, 2024, National Park Service rangers responded to a report of CPR in progress on Devils Garden Trail in Arches National Park. Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, and the 68-year-old male patient from Paramus, New Jersey was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Official NPS source
A new National Park Service report shows that 2.4 million visitors to national parks of the Southeast Utah Group in 2023 spent $397.6 million in communities near the parks. That spending supported 5,122 jobs in this region and had a cumulative benefit to local economies of $486.1 million.
Official NPS sourceThe Southeast Utah Group of parks will accept applications for the 2025 Community Artist in the Parks (CAIP) program September 1-30, 2024.
Official NPS source
Search efforts are underway in Arches National Park for Francis Userovici, a 76-year-old male French national who is presumed missing since approximately August 16, 2024.
Official NPS sourceOn Tuesday August 20, 2024, National Park Service rangers responded to a report of CPR in progress on Delicate Arch Trail in Arches National Park. The 58-year-old female patient from St. George, UT was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Official NPS source
Arches National Park invites the public to comment on a Floodplain Statement of Findings related to the proposed construction of three bridges on the Delicate Arch Road. These bridges would replace undersized culverts that routinely fill with sediment during monsoon rain events, causing water to flood the roadway. Comments may be received through September 17, 2024.
Official NPS source
Arches National Park is honored to have been named a Leave No Trace Gold Standard Site, thus becoming the first site in Utah to achieve this elite designation.
Official NPS sourceBody worn camera video taken on August 12, 2021, shows the interaction between NPS law enforcement rangers and Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie in Arches National Park.
Official NPS source
The National Park Service (NPS) has selected Lena Pace as superintendent of Arches and Canyonlands national parks. Pace will officially begin her new assignment on April 7. The position also supervises the superintendent at Hovenweep and Natural Bridges national monuments.
Official NPS source