Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [16]
The closest major airport is Walker Field, in Grand Junction, Colorado (☎ 970/244-9100; www.walkerfield.com), about 125 miles east of Moab, which has direct flights or connections from most major cities on America West Express, Delta/Skywest, Frontier, Great Lakes, and United Express. Car rentals are available at the Grand Junction airport or nearby from Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Thrifty.
Another option for air travelers is Salt Lake City International Airport (☎ 800/595-2442 or 801/575-2400; www.slcairport.com), about 240 miles from Moab, which has service from most major airlines and rental car companies. From there, you can rent a car, take Salmon Air (see above), or take a van shuttle with Bighorn Express (☎ 888/ 655-7433 or 801/746-2417; www.bighorn express.com), which charges $56 each way.
See the appendix (p. 660) for toll-free reservations numbers of major airlines and car-rental agencies.
GROUND TRANSPORTATION
Rentals (passenger cars, vans, and four-wheel-drive vehicles) are available from Thrifty (☎ 435/259-7317). Rugged 4WD vehicles are available from Farabee Jeep Rentals (☎ 435/259-7494; www.farabeejeeprentals.com) and Slickrock Jeep Rentals (☎ 435/259-5678; www.moab-utah.com/jeep/jeep.html).
INFORMATION
Contact Arches National Park, P.O. Box 907, Moab, UT 84532-0907 (☎ 435/ 719-2299; www.nps.gov/arch).
Books, maps, and videos on Arches as well as Canyonlands National Park and other southern Utah attractions are
available from the nonprofit Canyonlands Natural History Association, 3031 S. U.S. 191, Moab, UT 84532 (☎ 800/ 840-8978 or 435/259-6003; www.cnha. org). Some publications are in foreign languages, and a variety of videos are in DVD and videotape (VHS or PAL) formats. For more detailed descriptions of the park's hiking trails and backcountry roads, purchase Hiking Canyonlands and Arches National Parks by Bill Schneider, at the visitor center or through the Canyonlands Natural History Association.
For advance area information, contact the Moab Area Travel Council, P.O. Box 550, Moab, UT 84532 (☎ 800/635-6622 or 435/259-1370; www.discover moab.com). Once you arrive, stop at the Moab Information Center, in the middle of town at the corner of Main and Center streets. It's open daily 8am to 9pm in the summer, with shorter winter hours.
VISITOR CENTER
The new Arches National Park Visitor Center, completed in the summer of 2005, is just inside the entrance gate. It offers maps, brochures, and other information, and a museum tells you all you need to know about arch formation and other features of the park. Be sure to take time to watch the orientation film, "Secrets of Red Rock," in the auditorium.
FEES & PERMITS
Entry for up to 7 days costs $10 per private vehicle or $5 per person on foot, motorcycle, or bike. A $25 annual pass is also available; it's good for Arches and Canyonlands national parks as well as Natural Bridges and Hovenweep national monuments. Campsites cost $10 per night. Required permits for overnight trips into the backcountry, available at the visitor center, are free.
SPECIAL REGULATIONS & WARNINGS
Ground fires are not permitted; the campground (discussed later) provides grills, but you must bring your own firewood. Be aware that although the desert terrain appears hardy, it is easily damaged. Rangers ask that hikers stay on trails and be careful around the bases of arches and other rock formations.
SEASONS & CLIMATE
Summer days are hot, often reaching 100°F (38°C), and winters can be cool or cold, dropping below freezing at night, with snow possible. The best time to visit, especially for hikers, is in the spring or fall, when daytime temperatures are usually between 60° and 80°F (16°C and 27°C) and nights are cool. Spring winds, although not usually dangerous, can be gusty, particularly as they whip through an arch, so hold on to your hat.
If You Have Only 1 Day
Arches is one of the easiest national parks