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Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Utah's national parks bracing for Memorial Day visits
As the summer vacation season officially gets underway this Memorial Day weekend, national parks across the country are readying for visits by people who want to get out and enjoy what nature has to offer. Last year broke records across the parks system, logging nearly 331.9 million visits to more than 400 national parks. The number of visits is not likely to waver this year, either, as people seek to get out and enjoy a wide variety of beautiful vistas. In Utah, Arches and Canyonlands national parks anticipate increased visitation for the coming Memorial Day holiday weekend. Visitors are advised to expect heavy traffic, crowded trails and limited parking at both parks. Arches' timed entry ticket pilot program remains in effect. All visitors entering Arches between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. will need a timed entry reservation unless they have a camping, hiking or special use permit or a Fiery Furnace tour ticket, or are taking a commercial tour. Reservations can be made online at or by calling 1-877-444-6777 up to six months in advance. Additional next-day tickets are released at 7 p.m. daily. Those without reservations may enter the park before 7 a.m. or after 4 p.m., but may experience additional crowding (especially in late afternoon). Reservations cannot be made at the Arches entrance. Timed entry reservations are not required at Canyonlands. 'Timed entry tickets have really helped alleviate congestion once you're inside Arches,' said Southeast Utah Group Superintendent Lena Pace. 'However, we expect many Memorial Day visitors to arrive early in the morning or late in the afternoon, which could increase parking lot traffic and lengthen wait times at both parks.' Park rangers ask that vehicles waiting in line at the entrance keep pace with traffic and have their timed entry ticket QR code, park pass, or payment and identification ready. Credit cards are preferred. There are no toilet facilities or drinking water along park entrance roads. Officials stress to only park vehicles in designated spaces; do not park unsafely or anywhere that damages park plants or soils. Visitors should plan for their safety by bringing water and snacks and wearing sturdy shoes and sun protection. Plan activities appropriate for the weather, drink plenty of water, and watch for signs of heat stress, park officials stressed. Visitors are also encouraged to check the parks' websites and social media accounts for current information and road conditions prior to driving to the parks. 'Memorial Day weekend is typically our busiest weekend of the year,' Pace said. 'If visitors come prepared with extra water, extra patience, and some flexibility in their plans, that can really help them have an enjoyable holiday.' Having water is key, especially as temperatures are expected to climb into the 90s over the holiday weekend in the Moab area. A couple of years ago, a Texas man is believed to have died from heat stroke while hiking at Arches to spread his father's ashes. Park officials believe he became disoriented due to heat exhaustion and the high altitude. A man from Germany died in a fall earlier this month at Arches. The terrain at these parks can be tricky, with uneven surfaces that challenge some visitors. Arches is one of the most popular parks among the Mighty Five in Utah, garnering 1.4 million visits in 2024. It has more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches, the highest density of natural arches in the world. Nearby Canyonlands, with its expansive vistas, received more than 800,000 visitors last year. Zion National Park is the state's standout star, however, receiving nearly 5 million visitors last year. It operates a successful shuttle system to help with traffic congestion, but those shuttles are often crowded as well. More than 11 million people visited Utah's 'Mighty Five' national parks last year, a 5% increase over the previous year. National park visitation in the state grew 100% between 2005 and 2024. At the same time, National Park Service jobs grew 8%, according to a new report from the University of Utah's Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. Bryce Canyon, with its stunning hoodoo formations, received nearly 2.5 million visitors last year, while Capitol Reef, with its array of orchards, raked in 1.4 million visitors. The agency said maintaining the infrastructure at parks is a costly challenge. That infrastructure consists of more than 75,000 assets, such as historic buildings, visitor centers, trails, roads, bridges and utility systems, and it is a massive undertaking. There are over 5,500 miles of paved roads, 17,000 miles of trails and 25,000 buildings across the system. The deferred maintenance backlog at national parks — the projects in need of funding — has eclipsed $23 billion, according to a congressional report. Utah also offers a wide variety of recreation opportunities via its state park system, with 46 units that provide everything from boating to hiking and off-roading. This week, the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation announced it awarded a record amount of funding this year to support outdoor recreation projects statewide, with 142 grants approved across all of Utah's 29 counties. Through multiple grants, the division will distribute more than $23.2 million to support recreation infrastructure, access and safety statewide. This year marks the most projects funded and the most money awarded in the history of the programs. 'This is a landmark year for outdoor recreation in Utah, as these grants are more than just investments in recreation; they're investments in building community health, mental health, rural economies and long-term stewardship of Utah's lands,' said Jason Curry, director of the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation. 'Every county in Utah will benefit from this grant funding, supporting everything from trail development and park improvements to OHV access and safety initiatives. These projects will enhance access to the outdoors for all Utahns and elevate the state's status as a world-class recreation destination.' Overall, the division said Utah's outdoor recreation sector contributes more than $6.1 billion to the state economy and supports more than 66,000 jobs.
The Hill
20-05-2025
- The Hill
National parks preparing for busy Memorial Day weekend: What to expect
(NEXSTAR) — It seems Americans are gearing up for a busy Memorial Day weekend, with travel expected to break a 20-year record, according to the latest forecasts. The majority of people are projected to hit the roads, fueled by gas prices that are expected to be the cheapest in years. While we don't know exactly where those travelers are traveling, some of America's most beloved spots are preparing for an influx of visitors. Several national parks say they're preparing for crowds to ring in the unofficial start of summer within their boundaries. Zion National Park warned last week that visitors should expect heavy traffic, full parking, and long waits at the southern Utah site. Entrance stations may, at times, experience 'intermittent, temporary closures,' as well as 'lengthy waits to board park shuttles.' 'In 2024, Zion recorded over 92,000 visits during Memorial Day weekend,' park officials said in a press release. 'This is more than the annual total for over 150 National Park Service sites.' Officials at nearby Arches and Canyonlands national parks also encouraged visitors to prepare for heavy traffic, limited parking, and crowded trails. Some may have to wait an hour or two to get in at the respective parks. Arches is one of a handful of parks that require timed entry reservations for most visitors. As of Tuesday, no reservations were immediately available for the Memorial Day weekend, though more slots are expected to be released at 7 p.m. MDT each day for the following day. That means if you'd like to get into the park on Memorial Day, you'll need to wait for more tickets to become available at 7 p.m. MDT on Sunday, May 25. Or, you'll have to enter the park before 7 a.m. or after 4 p.m., when timed entry is not required. But even that will not guarantee that you can beat the crowds. 'Timed entry tickets have really helped alleviate congestion once you're inside Arches,' said Southeast Utah Group Superintendent Lena Pace. 'However, we expect many Memorial Day visitors to arrive early in the morning or late in the afternoon, which could increase parking lot traffic and lengthen wait times at both parks.' If you're planning to visit California's Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, officials recommend purchasing a park pass ahead of time. This will give you access to the pass-only lanes at entrance stations. You may be able to avoid some traffic by arriving before 9 a.m. or after 3 p.m. Like other national parks, officials say parking is expected to be limited at the parks. Meanwhile, several smaller National Park Service sites will be hosting commemorative events for Memorial Day. At the Pearl Harbor National Memorial and Honouliuli National Historic Site, there will be free guided tours of the USS Utah and USS Oklahoma Memorials, a commemorative ceremony, and the opportunity to make a floral tribute to the veterans memorialized at Pearl Harbor, among other events. Volunteers are invited to help place flags at each grave in the Poplar Grove National Cemetery at the Petersburg National Battlefield on Friday, with guided walking tours featuring the 'poignant stories of the soldiers buried at the site' set for Monday. Flags will also be placed on the headstones at Stones River National Cemetery in Tennessee, with a Memorial Day ceremony slated for Sunday. A quiet observance of the holiday is scheduled for Memorial Day at the Fredericksburg National Cemetery. When visiting a busy national park, regardless of the time of year, advocates encourage 'packing your patience' and envisioning yourself as a 'steward' of the park: don't litter, stay on the trails, and whatever you pack in, pack out.
