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Arches · January
January is a good time to visit Arches — about as busy as December, quieter than February.
Expect moderate crowds (4/10), highs near 44°F, and about 9.8 hours of daylight.
Crowd score
A comfortable middle ground: some company on popular trails, but no gridlock.
About 33% of this park's busiest month.
Source: NPS Visitor Use Statistics, 2023–2025
Data: NPS visitation 2023–2025 · crowd scores computed Jul 2026 · alerts checked Jul 11, 2026. How this is calculated →
Computed from federal data · Methodology by Sharon Ben-Moshe
Visitation
January draws about 4% of Arches’s yearly visitors.
Typical monthly recreation visits, averaged over the most recent three full years.
Source: NPS Visitor Use Statistics, 2023–2025
Weather
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Moab
What's open
Open 24 hours; timed entry required most daytime hours in peak season
No seasonal road or area closures reported for this park.
Source: NPS Data API
Conditions
From April through October, a timed-entry ticket is required to drive into the park between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Details on nps.gov →Planning to visit Arches this year? To ensure the best experience, please anticipate potentially long wait times at the entrance station. If trailhead parking is full, plan to return a little later. Please avoid parking on vegetation and roadways to help preserve this beautiful place for everyone to enjoy.
All fires are prohibited. Only petroleum or propane-fueled stoves or grills are allowed in backcountry campsites, campgrounds, and picnic areas. Fireworks are never allowed. Smoke only inside vehicles or in developed areas over 3 feet from flammables.
Details on nps.gov →Source: NPS Data API
Context
Alternatives
FAQ
January rates 4/10 for crowds (Moderate) at Arches National Park — about 33% of its busiest month. Typical recreation visits: 59,162.
In January, Arches averages a high of 44°F and a low of 22°F, with about 0.7 inches of precipitation.
Entrance to Arches costs $30 ($30 per private vehicle, valid 7 days; timed-entry reservations Apr to Oct).
A reservation may be required: Timed-entry reservations required. From April through October, a timed-entry ticket is required to drive into the park between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. Confirm current requirements on nps.gov before you visit.
Arches is quietest in January and December. If your dates are flexible, those months bring the thinnest crowds of the year.
In mid-January, Arches gets about 9.8 hours of daylight, with sunrise around 7:34 AM and sunset around 5:21 PM.