Arches National Park adds trail wheelchairs on 8 October
Published on 10/11/2026 at 00:09 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSKey points in brief
- The National Park Service announced new all-terrain wheelchairs at Arches National Park on 8 October 2026.
- The non-motorised chairs are available free on a first-come, first-served basis at the visitor centre.
- Recommended routes include Landscape Arch, Double Arch, Skyline Arch and the Lower Delicate Arch Viewpoint.
- The park contains more than 2,000 documented natural stone arches and lies near Moab in Utah.
Arches National Park and its new all-terrain wheelchair service arrived together in Moab on 8 October 2026, opening selected unpaved trails to visitors with limited mobility. The non-motorised chairs are intended for off-pavement use in the Utah park and require another person to push.
Arches National Park adds trail wheelchairs on 8 October
The National Park Service announced the access change on 8 October 2026 for five Utah parks, including Arches National Park. Each park has at least one chair, and the service is provided free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. The agency said the chairs use three large, soft wheels to cross sand, rocks, uneven ground and some steps or ledges.
The programme was made possible through partnerships involving Friends of Arches and Canyonlands Parks, the Outdoor Access Project, Zion Forever Project, private donors and individual park funding. The National Park Service announcement says visitors should contact the individual park for current information about availability, eligible trails and other accessibility services.
Selected Arches trails shape the new access
The chair is available at the Arches Visitor Center, where a ranger provides a short training session. The visitor and assistant must complete a waiver, while either one must show identification and proof of insurance. The chair is for single-day use and must return to the visitor centre before it closes that day.
The park recommends Landscape Arch, Double Arch, Skyline Arch and the Lower Delicate Arch Viewpoint for this equipment. These routes are relatively flat and under two miles, making the access programme closely connected with some of the park's recognised formations rather than only its paved facilities. Local reporting details the recommended trail access and the limits of the service.
More than 2,000 arches define the Utah landscape
The park contains more than 2,000 documented natural stone arches, with formations ranging from narrow openings to spans greater than 300 feet. Its sandstone landscape was shaped by erosion, while underground salt layers helped create cracks and domes that influenced the formation of the arches.
That geology explains why access differs from trail to trail. Sand Dune Arch, Broken Arch Loop, Tower Arch and the Devils Garden primitive loop are prohibited for the all-terrain chair because of their surfaces, width or potential impact on the surroundings. Other routes may remain possible but include steps, uneven ground or obstacles requiring a physically fit operator or several assistants.
Visiting Arches National Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The access programme began on 8 October 2026 at the Arches Visitor Center in Arches National Park near Moab, Utah.
- The chair is available free on a first-come, first-served basis, with no reservation, and must be returned to the visitor centre on the same day.
- Landscape Arch, Double Arch, Skyline Arch and the Lower Delicate Arch Viewpoint are the recommended routes; prohibited routes include Sand Dune Arch and the Devils Garden primitive loop.
- The park is reached from Moab in the United States, and visitors should check current trail conditions because uneven surfaces, steps, sand and washouts can affect movement.
- 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 wheelchair programme begin at Arches National Park?
The National Park Service announced the programme on 8 October 2026. The chair is available at the Arches Visitor Center.
Who can use the all-terrain wheelchair?
Visitors with limited mobility can use it with an assistant who pushes the non-motorised chair. Both people must complete a waiver, and either one must show identification and proof of insurance.
Where is Arches National Park and how do you get there?
The park is near Moab in Utah, United States. The visitor centre is inside the park and provides the equipment and ranger briefing.
