Popular American park changes entry system: visitors will queue for 3-5 hours

As Arches National Park's temporary admission program comes to an end, officials expect traffic jams and intermittent park closures to return. Writes about this The Salt Lake Tribune.

Photo: IStock

A spokesman for Arches National Park said those planning to visit the park after October 3 should "be patient."

The national park, which is home to the famous Utah State Arch, is ending a ticketing and time-limiting pilot program that was launched in April to reduce congestion and capacity issues after a record visitation in 2021.

This means that visitors will see long queues at the park entrance beginning October 4 as the park reverts to its former first-in, first-out approach. However, people tend to arrive around the same time, said park spokeswoman Caitlin Thomas.

Those hoping to avoid crowds should arrive before 06:00 or 07:00 or after 15:00 or 16:00, she said.

Under the program, instead of people coming in at will — and the park being forced to periodically close as it fills up during the day — visitors had to book a ticket to enter the park at a specific time.

On the subject: Five US national parks to see in the fall

Thomas said that during the pilot period, about 2700 staging tickets were available each day.

Officials have not yet begun an in-depth analysis of the pilot program's data, but early data suggests it did help the park achieve some of its goals. This may also have contributed to the overall drop in visitors, Thomas said, though it's unclear what role the ticketing system has played as attendance has also declined at other parks this year.

“We do think she probably made a small contribution, but there were other factors that also reduced visits,” she said.

Over 2021 people visited the park in July 200, up from 000 this year. In August, 158 people visited the park, which is almost 925% less than last year. Thomas said the park had "much more" tickets during those months than had been booked.

You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read it all on ForumDaily New York.

Thomas said officials will make a decision on whether to adapt the park's entry system for the upcoming busy season in late fall, after reviewing data from the pilot program, studying visitor feedback and meeting with local residents. In addition to tickets with a limited entry time, the park may consider other options, she said.

In the meantime, visitors should be prepared for a 3-5 hour wait to enter the park during peak hours, as well as crowded trails and parking lots. You can check out what's going on in the park at nps.gov/arch/planyourvisit/conditions.htm.

In addition to patience, officials urged visitors to remember to bring plenty of water and snacks, as well as wear sturdy shoes and sun protection.

Read also on ForumDaily:

Kingdoms of Flowers and Beauty: 15 Best Botanical Gardens in the US

How to make money with a credit card: 9 important rules

Five life hacks for profitable purchases

Social Security Number and Immigrants: Who Needs an SSN and Why, and How to Get One

Why turn on flight mode while traveling and how a small smartphone can harm a huge plane

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.