02 Apr 2013
Two fine companions in April, National Park Week andUtah’s Mighty 5. Include these inUtahspring travel plans. National Park Week has been designated as Fee Free Days duringApril 22 – 26, 2013. This applies to entrance fees only. Fees for camping and tour reservations will still be charged.Utah’s Mighty 5 is a focus of the Utah Office of Tourism to feature southernUtah’s five National Parks:Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches andCanyonlandsNational Parks.
Sequester cuts shall not be readily apparent to the public visiting the Mighty 5’s Arches and Canyonlands National Parks of Moab, Utah, superintendent Kate Cannon assures. The Southeastern Park Service Unit has been conscientious of budget for a number of years. The Superintendent of this region has run a trim program. The practice to redistribute duties to cover the Southeastern Unit of Bridges National Monument, Hovenweep National Monument, Arches National Park and the three districts of Canyonlands, rather than immediately refilling positions has been one strategy to cut the required 5% mandated by Washington D.C.
For more value in Arches andCanyonlandsNational Parks, join the 2013 Artist in the Park, Sarah Hamingson, from April through November as she mingles with visitors at view points, sharing her love of pastels. Don’t be surprised if she hands out paper and colors to share the inspiration of a park view. Most of April Artist in the Park dates are organized to meet inArchesNational Park.
Evening programs inArchesNational Parkare held at the Devils Garden Campground Amphitheater. Programs take place nightly from March 15 – April 6 at 8:00 PM; April 7 – May 4 at 8:30 PM and May 5 – June1 programs are held 9:00 PM every night. It is a 45 minute program on various topics. Some night programs may focus on Astronomy, in which the program will start later. Check with theArchesNational Parkvisitor center for topics and exact times. Visitors can count on daily ranger lead hikes too. From March 24 – June 1st meet in the Windows Section of Arches National Park at11:30 AM. An additional hike is offered at1:30 PMfrom March 24 – May 18, check with the visitor center, as locations shall vary. All of these programs are included with park admission.
TheIslandin the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park is the most convenient to visit from theMoabarea and in conjunction with anArchesNational Parkvisit. Daily Geology presentations are provided at the Grand View Point at10:30and11:30 AM. A short Ranger lead talk is offered at the visitor center daily too.
Evening programs will be held most nights in the Needles District campground amphitheater at Squaw Flats Campground. Check with theNeedlesVisitorCenterfor times and topics. The one hour presentation may be about desert plants, cowboys & explorers, or astronomy.
HorseshoeCanyonranger lead hikes begin March 23rd to the last cooler day of May 25, on Saturdays only. Departures are scheduled from the West side trailhead at9:00 AM to hike to the Great Gallery. It is a seven mile round-trip requiring five or more hours to hike. Be aware there is also 750 feet to descend in the beginning, which has to be climbed out of at the end. This ranger trip is limited to 20 people. Hikers must bring ample amounts of water. No water is available atHorseshoeCanyon, part of the Maze District of Canyonlands National Park.
The Mighty 5 Utah National Parks do not have the complication of snow parks like Yellowstone and Rocky Mountain National Parks which have delays opening because of budgeting snow removal that would have normally been conducted except for the sequester.
Utah’s Mighty 5
Sunparks disbanded http://www.fiveutahparks.com/
The Utahoffice of tourism has a new commercial http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlKOcyf915M
The Sequester
http://www.nps.gov/arch/photosmultimedia/2013artist.htm
Moabhas a strong Grand County Search and Rescue squad that could be called on to assist in the park immediate toMoab– Arches.
And the Canyon Country OUtdoor Education Outreach
The National Park Service regularly furloughs staff.ArchesNational Park, for instance, went to winter hours over 2012 – 2013, whileNeedlesVisitorCenterclosed over winter to furlough staff.
