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Southeast Utah Group Parks Announce Winter Hours And Closures

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Compiled From NPS Releases

Published Date

November 21, 2024

Natural Bridges National Monument Visitor Center / NPS

Arches and Canyonlands national parks, along with Hovenweep and Natural Bridges national monuments, stay open year-round, but visitor center hours adjust as winter approaches.

The Arches Visitor Center operates daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with extended hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) around Thanksgiving, closing early at 1:00 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Starting December 1, hours shift to 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with early closure on Christmas Eve (1:00 p.m.) and a full closure on Christmas Day.

At Canyonlands, the Island in the Sky Visitor Center runs daily from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with the same early closures for Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve and a full closure on Christmas. From December 1 to March 2, hours change to 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Needles Visitor Center is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., closing early on Thanksgiving before shutting down for the winter at 4:00 p.m. on December 7. It will reopen February 13, 2025. Backcountry and four-wheel-drive day-use permits for The Needles area can still be obtained at the self-registration station on the visitor center porch.

Natural Bridges Visitor Center operates Thursday through Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and is closed on Thanksgiving and the rest of the week. The Hovenweep Visitor Center will close for the winter at 3:00 p.m. on December 1 and reopen in early 2025, with the exact date to be announced later.

Despite visitor center closures, law enforcement will remain on duty, campgrounds will stay open, and entrance fees will still be collected. Keep in mind that the parks do not offer services like lodging, food, or gas, so come prepared. Winter conditions can make trails icy, especially in shaded areas, so bring traction devices for your shoes. Also, even in the cold, stay hydrated—desert air is dry no matter the season.

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