I find it interesting that some Moab businesses (I am a Moab small business owner myself) blame Arches National Park’s timed-entry program for a downturn in visitation instead of ridiculously overpriced hotel rooms, overcrowded trails, overcrowded trailheads and parking lots, overcrowded restaurants, and a lack of quiet from motorized recreation.
We have oversold our brand — something that I’ve been concerned about for about a decade now.
It seems more logical that development without sensible restrictions, coupled with nonstop marketing (greed?) have caused these problems, not a national park trying to offer visitors a quality experience.
Mike Coronella, Moab