The Devils Garden area of Arches National Park, including access to all area hiking trails, is now closed through June 3rd to allow construction crews to complete needed road work. During this period, vehicles may drive as far as the Sand Dune Arch trailhead, where they will need to turn around.
During closure of the Devils Garden area, visitors wanting to drive the Salt Valley Road will need to access it from Highway 191 since access from the main park road will not be possible. Visitors will not be able to access the main park road from the Salt Valley Road since it is within the Devils Garden closure and the Salt Valley Road/main park road gate will be locked.
Once the road reopens, you still won't be able to spend the night at Devils Garden, as the campground there is closed through November 30 due to the road construction.
Additionally, the Fiery Furnace and Salt Valley Overlook areas are scheduled to close for 28 days once the Devils Garden area is reopened.
Beginning Sunday, May 14, vehicles arriving at the entrance station after 6:30 p.m. will not be able to enter the park. Vehicles that enter the park prior to 6:30 p.m. must be out of the park no later than 7 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.
The park reopens at 7 a.m. Monday through Friday, and is open weekends from 7 a.m. Friday until 7 p.m. Sunday during this road construction project.
Work along and around the park entrance road continues with construction of a new entrance lane and roundabout. Night time pulverization of the roads around the visitor center area is scheduled to begin Monday, May 8.
Other areas of Arches National Park, such as The Windows Section, will be closed for up to four weeks once work begins in each of those areas. The park will reopen roads and trails once area construction work is completed.
Given the many variables that can impact road projects of this type and scope, work dates are subject to change.
As a reminder, the park will be open the following holiday weekends:
- Memorial Day: 7 a.m. Friday, May 26, to 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 30
- Independence Day: 7 a.m. Monday, July 3, to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 5
- Pioneer Day: 7 a.m. Friday, July 21, to 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 25
- Labor Day: 7 a.m. Friday, September 1, to 7 p.m. Tuesday, September 5.
- Utah Education Association: 7 a.m. Wednesday, October 18, to 7 p.m. Sunday, October 22
Road work will resurface, restore, and rehabilitate approximately 23 miles of roads and pullouts in Arches National Park along the entrance road (from U.S. 191 to the visitor center), main park road, the campground road, and other spur roads and loops. Road work is scheduled to last through November. Limited daytime road closures may still occur even with nighttime work.
Construction crews will use pilot cars and flaggers to control traffic during the day. When partial daytime road closures are in effect, crews will limit traffic delays to 30 minutes or less per work zone. While construction crews will make every effort to minimize disruption to visitor daytime travel and activities during this project, visitors should expect frequent delays and closures.
The park will post road construction updates on its website as they become available. However, construction work schedules are subject to change.
Visitors to the Moab area can find a wide variety of spectacular scenery and hikes in other public lands around the region. Information about these other travel and hiking options can be found on the Moab Travel Council’s website.
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Comments
Seems like they could have scheduled this not during peak season... I'm sure a lot of people will be very disappointed.
they can't do it in the winter and peak season is what, March to November? What else can they do?
First, it's gotten to the point where the peak season runs nearly all year. Second, you can't do work like this in freezing temperatures or rainy weather. This was one of those lose-win situations in which you have to lose first to win later.
Glad I am not planning a trip to Arches this summer. Sounds like a mess. But improvements come with a price. Hopefully this will all be worth it.
I was just there and the roads were fine, classic government waste. It does nothing to address the real problem of overcrowding. They should rip up the roads and make the area less accessable in order to preserve the natural beauty
Eric Mc the National Parks belong to all Americans, not just fit and capable hikers. There are plenty of wilderness areas, and less accessible parts of the parks, for visitors who want to avoid people.
There was a time I agreed with you, but after being temporarily disabled due to an injury I sustained doing an adventure, I learned a little humility and sympathy for those who can't move like we can.
They need shuttle buses at Arches just like the ones at Zion
Agreed, Eric Mc, but can you imagine the nuclear explosion that would be triggered by the Moab Chamber of Commerce?
I'm going at the end of May for 4 days, will the roads only be closed or are the hikes inaccessible as well?