Arches National Park in eastern Utah protects over 2,000 natural stone arches — the densest concentration of such formations in the world — along with pinnacles, balanced rocks, and eroded sandstone fins. The landscape was shaped over 300 million years as salt deposits, sandstone layers, and erosion created the park's distinctive red-rock formations. Originally proclaimed a national monument by President Herbert Hoover in 1929, it was redesignated as a national park in 1971. Delicate Arch, the park's most iconic feature, has become a widely recognized symbol of Utah and appears on the state's license plates.
📚 Learn More at NPSHistory.com →On April 12, 1929, President Herbert Hoover designated over 75,000 acres of Utah's high desert as Arches National Monument, preserving the highest concentration of sandstone arches in the world.
Contains over 2,000 natural sandstone arches, more than any other location on Earth. Delicate Arch and Balanced Rock are among the most iconic formations, carved from 150-million-year-old Entrada Sandstone. Arches formed through a complex geological process involving ancient salt deposits that bulged upward, creating fractures that water widened over millennia.
The administration has flagged for review content that includes the language: “Inset text continues:”, and “Milder winters let pine park beetles thrive. Drought-stressed trees cannot fight them off, so they die.”.
Why this matters: Arches reveals the dramatic sculpting power of time, water, and geology in the arid American West. Over 1.6 million people visit this site each year.
This panel's subject is the effects of human-caused climate change already visible in the park. The park seeks guidance on whether this entire panel is within scope of Secretary's Order 3431 and should be covered or removed. Text reads:
"Data show that we have already changed our climate. Temperatures over the last 150 years have dramatically increased here, as in much of the southwestern United States. Precipitation patterns are also changing; some places are wetter or drier now and rains come at different times of year than they used to. Native species cannot adapt quickly enough to these changes. Some are weakening and succumbing to drought, like this pinyon tree. Other species may die out here entirely. Changing the human activities causing this climate disruption could prevent further impacts. What behavior would you be willing to change to protect native species here—or where you live?“
Inset text continues: ”Some native grasses, like Indian ricegrass, may not adapt quickly enough to survive higher average temperatures.“ and ”Milder winters let pine park beetles thrive. Drought-stressed trees cannot fight them off, so they die."
On April 12, 1929, President Herbert Hoover designated over 75,000 acres of Utah's high desert as Arches National Monument, preserving the highest concentration of sandstone arches in the world.
Contains over 2,000 natural sandstone arches, more than any other location on Earth. Delicate Arch and Balanced Rock are among the most iconic formations, carved from 150-million-year-old Entrada Sandstone. Arches formed through a complex geological process involving ancient salt deposits that bulged upward, creating fractures that water widened over millennia.
From the internal review records: “"Viewsheds are precious park resources, easily affected by activities outside park boundaries. Smoke from regional wildfires (shown here), dust storms, and air pollution can drastically reduce visibility. Policies that combat climate change, conserve soil, and reduce air pollutants can help to protect views—both inside and outside of the park."”
Why this matters: Arches reveals the dramatic sculpting power of time, water, and geology in the arid American West. Over 1.6 million people visit this site each year.
This panel's focus is on beautiful park landscapes. The park seeks guidance on whether the following inset text—which describes the impact of dust, smoke, and pollution on the viewsheds—is within scope of Secretary's Order 3431:
"Viewsheds are precious park resources, easily affected by activities outside park boundaries. Smoke from regional wildfires (shown here), dust storms, and air pollution can drastically reduce visibility. Policies that combat climate change, conserve soil, and reduce air pollutants can help to protect views—both inside and outside of the park."
On April 12, 1929, President Herbert Hoover designated over 75,000 acres of Utah's high desert as Arches National Monument, preserving the highest concentration of sandstone arches in the world.
Contains over 2,000 natural sandstone arches, more than any other location on Earth. Delicate Arch and Balanced Rock are among the most iconic formations, carved from 150-million-year-old Entrada Sandstone. Arches formed through a complex geological process involving ancient salt deposits that bulged upward, creating fractures that water widened over millennia.
Among the content targeted: “Continue down this trail to see evidence of Indigenous people, who lived and traveled here before being forced onto reservations.” — language that the administration has flagged for review under its directive to review historically accurate interpretive materials.
Why this matters: Arches reveals the dramatic sculpting power of time, water, and geology in the arid American West. Over 1.6 million people visit this site each year.
This panel's subject is a historic cabin and the family who once lived there. Inset text includes the following reference to the removal of Native Americans from the area:
“Continue down this trail to see evidence of Indigenous people, who lived and traveled here before being forced onto reservations.”
The park seeks guidance on whether covering or removing the final five words of that text is advised.
On April 12, 1929, President Herbert Hoover designated over 75,000 acres of Utah's high desert as Arches National Monument, preserving the highest concentration of sandstone arches in the world.
Contains over 2,000 natural sandstone arches, more than any other location on Earth. Delicate Arch and Balanced Rock are among the most iconic formations, carved from 150-million-year-old Entrada Sandstone. Arches formed through a complex geological process involving ancient salt deposits that bulged upward, creating fractures that water widened over millennia.
The administration has flagged for review content that includes the language: “Park ecologists study plant communities to monitor their response to the changing climate. Some”, and “grasses, like ricegrass, are already diminishing.”.
Why this matters: Arches reveals the dramatic sculpting power of time, water, and geology in the arid American West. Over 1.6 million people visit this site each year.
This panel introduces visitors to some of the ongoing scientific research in the park. The park seeks guidance on whether an inset section's text referring to climate change is within scope of Secretary's Order 3431. The text reads:
“Park ecologists study plant communities to monitor their response to the changing climate. Some ”cool season“ grasses, like ricegrass, are already diminishing.”
On April 12, 1929, President Herbert Hoover designated over 75,000 acres of Utah's high desert as Arches National Monument, preserving the highest concentration of sandstone arches in the world.
Contains over 2,000 natural sandstone arches, more than any other location on Earth. Delicate Arch and Balanced Rock are among the most iconic formations, carved from 150-million-year-old Entrada Sandstone. Arches formed through a complex geological process involving ancient salt deposits that bulged upward, creating fractures that water widened over millennia.
Among the content targeted: “Edward Abbey was a ranger at this park in the 1950s. In 1968, he published this book about his experiences here. In it, he argued against allowing too many tourists into national parks. Ironically, his vivid descriptions inspired even more people to visit Arches.” — language that the administration has flagged for review under its directive to review historically accurate interpretive materials.
Why this matters: Arches reveals the dramatic sculpting power of time, water, and geology in the arid American West. Over 1.6 million people visit this site each year.
This panel discusses the link between publicity of the Moab area and increased tourism. The park seeks guidance on whether the text citing Ed Abbey's book, Desert Solitaire, is within scope of Secretary's Order 3431. That text reads:
"Edward Abbey was a ranger at this park in the 1950s. In 1968, he published this book about his experiences here. In it, he argued against allowing too many tourists into national parks. Ironically, his vivid descriptions inspired even more people to visit Arches."
On April 12, 1929, President Herbert Hoover designated over 75,000 acres of Utah's high desert as Arches National Monument, preserving the highest concentration of sandstone arches in the world.
Contains over 2,000 natural sandstone arches, more than any other location on Earth. Delicate Arch and Balanced Rock are among the most iconic formations, carved from 150-million-year-old Entrada Sandstone. Arches formed through a complex geological process involving ancient salt deposits that bulged upward, creating fractures that water widened over millennia.
The administration has flagged for review content that includes the language: “Many of Arches' popular places show evidence of previous people's actions. You can help preserve the natural beauty of this spot by minimizing your impacts.”, “Graffiti is hard to remove and can leave a scar on a rock forever. Commit to not marking on rocks anywhere in the park.”, “Hikers can unknowingly carry non-native seeds into the park. Check your shoes and clothes and remove any”, and “seeds, stickers, or burrs. Pack them out of the park.”.
Why this matters: Arches reveals the dramatic sculpting power of time, water, and geology in the arid American West. Over 1.6 million people visit this site each year.
This panel refers to the natural beauty of this place, then discusses the presence of invasive species and graffiti at Arches. The park seeks guidance on whether such an acknowledgement is within scope of Secretary's Order 3431. The relevant text reads:
"Many of Arches' popular places show evidence of previous people's actions. You can help preserve the natural beauty of this spot by minimizing your impacts." “Graffiti is hard to remove and can leave a scar on a rock forever. Commit to not marking on rocks anywhere in the park.” “Hikers can unknowingly carry non-native seeds into the park. Check your shoes and clothes and remove any ”hitchhiking“ seeds, stickers, or burrs. Pack them out of the park.”
On April 12, 1929, President Herbert Hoover designated over 75,000 acres of Utah's high desert as Arches National Monument, preserving the highest concentration of sandstone arches in the world.
Contains over 2,000 natural sandstone arches, more than any other location on Earth. Delicate Arch and Balanced Rock are among the most iconic formations, carved from 150-million-year-old Entrada Sandstone. Arches formed through a complex geological process involving ancient salt deposits that bulged upward, creating fractures that water widened over millennia.
The administration has flagged for review content that includes the language: “Living soil crusts are as fragile as they are essential. One footstep destroys decades of growth. You won't see much soil crust around Arches' popular areas.”, and “Living soil crusts support desert plants, yet one step can crush them.”. This content was flagged as potentially “negative about past or living Americans.”
Why this matters: Arches reveals the dramatic sculpting power of time, water, and geology in the arid American West. Over 1.6 million people visit this site each year.
This panel introduces visitors to biological soil crust and its ecological services. The park seeks guidance on whether the text describing negative outcomes associated with loss of soil crusts is within scope of Secretary's Order 3431. The text reads:
"Living soil crusts are as fragile as they are essential. One footstep destroys decades of growth. You won't see much soil crust around Arches' popular areas." “Living soil crusts support desert plants, yet one step can crush them.” "Soil crust holds this place in place. Without it, soil blows away, leaving less for plants to grow in. The resulting dust storms create unhealthy air quality and cover the snowpack on local mountains. The darkened snow melts too quickly, reducing the community's water supply in the dry season. Protecting living soilds preserves healthy communities."
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