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Contact: SEUG Public Affairs, 435-260-0713
MOAB, Utah — Arches and Canyonlands national parks and Hovenweep and Natural Bridges national monuments are open all year, but the parks’ visitor center operations change with the approach of winter.
Arches Visitor Center is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It will open at 8:00 a.m. for the week around Thanksgiving (November 24 to 30) and close early on Thanksgiving (1:00 p.m. November 28). Starting December 1, hours will change to 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, closing early on Christmas Eve (1:00 p.m. December 24) and closed for the full day on December 25.
Island in the Sky Visitor Center at Canyonlands National Park is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. It will also close at 1:00 p.m. on Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve and close for the day on December 25. Daily hours will change to 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. from December 1 through March 2.
The Needles Visitor Center at Canyonlands National Park is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and will also close at 1:00 p.m. on Thanksgiving. The facility will close for the winter at 4:00 p.m. Saturday December 7 and will reopen at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday February 13, 2025. Visitors wishing to stay overnight in The Needles district backcountry or travel on a four-wheel-drive road that requires day-use permits may obtain a permit from the self-registration station located on the front porch of The Needles Visitor Center.
Natural Bridges Visitor Center is open Thursday through Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. through the winter, and is closed on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. It will close for the day on Thanksgiving.
Due to insufficient staff availability, Hovenweep Visitor Center will close for the winter at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 1 and reopen in early 2025. The exact date of reopening will be announced once it is determined.
At all locations, law enforcement staff will remain on duty, campgrounds remain open, and entrance fees will still be collected throughout the winter.
Visitor services (lodging, food, gasoline, etc.) are not available in the parks, so visitors need to be well equipped for winter travel. Trails may become icy, especially in shaded areas. Visitors are advised to carry and use traction devices for their shoes when walking across ice-slick surfaces, and to continue carrying and drinking plenty of water because a cold desert is still a very dry place.
Last updated: November 20, 2024