Arches National Park adds all-terrain chairs on 8 October
Published on 10/31/2026 at 12:18 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSAccess change and trail choices
- The National Park Service announced the wheelchair programme for Arches National Park on 8 October 2026.
- Arches Visitor Center lends one non-motorised chair for single-day use on selected trails.
- Landscape Arch spans 93.3 metres and the park became a national park in 1971.
Arches National Park and its all-terrain wheelchair programme took effect on 8 October 2026 in Moab, Utah, giving visitors with mobility challenges a new way to reach selected unpaved trails. The National Park Service says one non-motorised chair is available at the park visitor centre.
All-terrain wheelchairs arrive at Arches on 8 October
The National Park Service announced the access change on 8 October 2026 for five national parks in southern Utah, including Arches. Each park has at least one chair designed for uneven ground, sand, rock and trail steps. The chair has three large wheels and must be pushed by an assistant.
At Arches, the equipment is lent from the visitor centre on a first-come, first-served basis, and reservations are not taken. The user and assistant must complete a waiver, while one of them must show identification and proof of insurance. A ranger provides a short introduction before use. The National Park Service announcement confirms the programme and its date.
Selected Arches trails shape the access change
The park recommends the Landscape Arch, Double Arch, Skyline Arch and Lower Delicate Arch Viewpoint trails for the chair. These routes are relatively flat and under two miles, with one operator typically enough on the recommended trails.
The chair is not suitable for every route. Sand Dune Arch, Broken Arch Loop, Tower Arch and the Devils Garden primitive loop are prohibited because of trail conditions or the width of the equipment. Delicate Arch, Park Avenue and Balanced Rock remain possible, but steps, uneven ground or other obstacles may require a physically fit operator or several assistants. The equipment must return to the visitor centre before it closes on the same day.
This practical change connects directly with the park landscape: Landscape Arch is a hard-packed trail with steep slopes near the formation, while the route beyond it becomes unsuitable for wheelchairs. Landscape Arch has a 93.3-metre (306 ft) light opening, one of the park's defining geological landmarks.
Arches National Park combines geology and access
The park contains more than 2,000 documented arches across 76,519 acres. It began as Arches National Monument on 12 April 1929 and became a national park on 12 November 1971, facts recorded in the park's official quick facts.
Moab is the regional base for visits, and the park lies in southeastern Utah on the Colorado Plateau. Its formations include natural arches, fins, spires and balanced rocks. For visitors using the new chair, the result is not a general opening of every trail but a defined set of routes with equipment and terrain limits.
Visiting Arches National Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The access programme began on 8 October 2026 at Arches Visitor Center in Arches National Park.
- The chair is available for single-day use, with collection at the visitor centre and return there before closing; no reservation is taken.
- Moab is the reference town in southeastern Utah, and the park is reached from U.S. Highway 191 via the park entrance road.
- Landscape Arch is on a hard-packed trail with steep slopes near the arch; the Devils Garden route beyond it includes uneven ground and narrow ledges.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Arches National Park
When did the all-terrain wheelchair programme begin at Arches National Park?
The National Park Service announced the programme on 8 October 2026. The chair is available from Arches Visitor Center.
Which trails can the all-terrain chair reach?
The recommended trails include Landscape Arch, Double Arch, Skyline Arch and Lower Delicate Arch Viewpoint. Some other routes remain unsuitable or require additional assistance.
Where is Arches National Park and how do you get there?
The park is in southeastern Utah near Moab. Access is from U.S. Highway 191 via the park entrance road.
