MOAB — Celebrate the National Park Service Centennial at Arches National Park with activities throughout the spring and summer to help you learn about and enjoy the park and the surrounding area.
• 03/14/2016 SKINNY TIRE FESTIVAL
Location: entire park road | Time: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This four-day road bicycle fund raiser explores routes around Moab. On Monday, March 14, participating cyclists will pedal the entire Arches scenic road. Aid stations will be at La Sal Mountains Viewpoint, Panorama Point, and Devils Garden. DRIVERS: Use extra caution driving on this day.
• 03/27/2016 EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE
Location: La Sal Mountains Viewpoint| Time: 6-7 a.m. Sunday, March 27
Arches National Park will be the site of the Community Church of Moab Easter sunrise service. It is at the La Sal Mountains Viewpoint at sunrise (approximately 6:10 a.m.). The viewpoint will remain open to the public, but visitors should expect a larger-than-average crowd at this location. Buses will transport attendees from Arches Visitor Center to the site. Buses begin loading at 5 a.m. The service is expected to last one hour. Thank you for observing park speed limits and helping to make this event safe and successful.
• 04/16/2016 JUNIOR RANGER DAY –HANDS ON FUN!
Location: Arches Visitor Center| Time: 8 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. | Fee Information: free
Every year, Junior Ranger Day is a special time to celebrate the curious kids who are the future of the National Park Service. At Arches, over 10,000 kids a year pin on a shiny new Junior Ranger badge, and every one of them becomes a part of our team helping to take care of parks. On April 16, rangers will offer free, fun, hands-on activities for Junior Ranger families all day long on the Arches Visitor Center front patio.
• 04/23/2016 RANGER ADVENTURES: THE TOOLS WE USE
Location: Arches National Park (various locations) | Time: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Information: free admission
Being a Park Ranger doesn’t just mean working in a Visitor Center, leading hikes, or going on patrols. It takes a lot of different skills. Want to find out for yourself? On Saturday, April 23rd, park staff will provide hands-on experiences at stations throughout Arches. You could meet a scientist, rescue personnel, an artist, or an archeologist. Stop at Arches Visitor Center first to get a Ranger Adventures worksheet. Collect stickers from every station you visit. Show the completed sheet back at the visitor center in the afternoon to receive your custom-made Ranger Adventures button. This event is part of National Park Week (April 16-24) and also celebrates the Every Kid in a Park program, in which fourth graders can earn free admission to all national parks for one year.
• 06/04/2016 and 07/02/2016 CELEBRATE THE STARS
Location: TBD – check at visitor center | Time: 9-11 p.m. | Fee Information: free
Southeastern Utah has particularly dark night skies, thanks to the distance from major metropolitan areas. Rangers from Dead Horse Point State Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Arches National Park will join forces — and telescopes — to offer visitors a chance to experience “the park after dark.” A short interpretive program will be followed by telescope viewing. Programs will take place in good weather or bad. Exact location will be advertised at the park closer to the date of this event. Bring a chair, water, a red flashlight (if you have one) and warm clothes.
• 08/25/2016 FOUNDERS DAY CELEBRATION
Location: Arches Visitor Center | Time: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Fee Information: free
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service and everyone is invited to join the party! Arches National Park will join all units of the National Park Service in celebration on Thursday, August 25th, to commemorate this historic birthday. To celebrate 100 years of preserving America’s most-treasured places as national parks, rangers will offer fun, family-friendly activities throughout the day on the visitor center patio.