Arches National Park Centennial Events

Southeastern Utah Group of National Park Service (NPS) has begun to circulate several special events set in motion for the Centennial celebration of NPS. Look forward to these hands-on activities perfect for the entire family and all ages. Many events across the nation can be found on www.FindYourPark.com, a website of the National Park Foundation organization. If a National Park is not close by, still celebrate by enjoying the outdoors in a park near home. These are on the schedule for Arches National Park.

03/14/2016 Skinny Tire festival

Location: entire park road Time: 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM 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: 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM On Sunday, March 27, 2016, 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 5:00 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: 8:00 AM to 5:45 PM 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, 2016, 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: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM Fee 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 2016, 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, 2016) and also celebrates the Every Kid in a Park program, in which 4th graders can earn free admission to all national parks for one year.

06/04/2016 celebrate the stars and also on 07/02/2016

Location: TBD - check at visitor center Time: 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM 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: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM 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.

Arrive with plenty of water, sun protection, comfortable clothing, snacks and if at night a flashlight. Arches and Canyonlands are open 24/7. Find out why Canyonlands has been awarded to be an International Dark Sky Park. Try a park after dark!