Show I I Ii P b bp i f ft t 1 p t tI I r rf f l rl This air view with Moab an nn La Sal mountains I I In the background shows some of oC the beautiful and fantastic formations to be seen In the Courthouse Towers section of the Arches This section will be crossed by the new V paved Arches entrance road slated slat slat- slated ed cd for construction under the Mission 66 development program Until this time lime a n long hike was necessary to see the section Other points that will be further developed for tor travel In the next ten years yeats are arc Fiery i Furnace and the Windows t I f i EDITORS EDITOR'S NOTE Recently completed ted by Arches National Monument officials and approved tor or publication by the National Park Service the following t report gives a complete outline of pf plans during the next ten years I Intended to fully develop the Arches National Monument as a popular Jar lar scenic and recreational attraction The rhe project is known as MISSION 66 and is explained as a for tor ward looking program for tor the National Park system intended to so BO develop and staff these priceless possessions of the American people as a's to permit their wisest possible use maximum enjoyment for those who use them and maximum protection of 01 the scenic scenic scientific wilderness and historical resources that give Ive them distinction I Total cost of physical development in the Arches during the ten year program is set at and these expenditures will result in a new paved entrance road to traverse the little-known little Courthouse Courthouse Courthouse Court Court- house Towers section of the Arches improved trails to individual arches headquarters facilities to Include a visitor center employee housing maintenance buildings and minor structures campgrounds lunch areas wayside exhibits utilities fencing and many other improvements improvements improvements im im- throughout the monument Until a systematic plan for Cor development of the area was devised improvements to the scenic monument came as a result of traffic measurements and visitor records Until recent years poor road I conditions have made summer traveling in the Arches I for all except the most hardy tourists therefore many visitors passing through southeastern Utah have not made the trip side-trip to the ment In spite of this however numbers have been increasing each earh year due probably in a great part to the widespread publicity t 1 i the area has received In publications throughout the nation t The Arches presents to the photographer a never ending display i of changing colors and fantastic rock formations It is proclaimed by byr i t many m any as being unequaled anywhere ere Development work planned for r the next ten years will surely place it among the m most st popular in int inthe inthe t the entire park system in the western states F Our ur thanks goes to Bates Wilson superintendent of the Arches for f his Is assistance and cooperation in preparing this and other features on n the Arches National Monument i t t f I I INTRODUCTION I r Arches A National Monument a aI I I colorful wonderland of vermilion vermilion vermil vermil- r I ion sandstone has probably the most fantastic and varied display 1 of oC natural arches windows towers towI towers tow tow- I ers needles spires and balanced rocks to be found In the United t Stat States There ar feore than 80 r i known arches I i Here Her in in this scenic area the J r f forces of nature have carved out many natural windows A combInation combination com com- of rain sunshine and laden dust-laden winds acting over millions mil lions of years caused the weaker or thinner sections of vertical rock fins to exfoliate until a hole hol was o opened ened Continual battering by the forces of the theair theair air enlarged these hese openings until a an arch was completely develop develop- I MJ S y JQ N 66 6 DE DEVELOPMENT V E T P PROGRAM R 9 G RA tv F FOR The Arches Nati Monument nt cd ed and in some cases the process process pro- pro cess ceu carried so no tat tar that the arc arch collapsed Outstanding resources resource of th the area are the the- many and varied erosion forms In colorful cane sand sand- stone combined with attractive groupings of ot such features in a rugged arid and land The result 1 Is Isa Isa a tourist paradise a Joy for tor photographers photographers pho pho- pho and painters a fascinating fascinating fas fas- area of f hidden nooks nook and u panoramas for hikers hikers ers a mecca in such sublimely beautiful and inspiring spectacles as Delicate arch for those who seek Inspiration and re creation In n choice and remote places anc and an area of such charm in its stone stonewalled stonewalled stonewalled walled avenues and natural am- am amphitheatres that to camp in such an n environment seems a privilege and nd certainly gives unforgettable memories z IT t c g 7 J I I I. I 1 f i I J I 1 I I I i F IJ I r t tx x t a 1 c AT ri ARH A 1 t te e RAP CUTAH UTAH m RC 6 MU Delicate Arch found In a n section of i the Arches situated between the Wint Windows Win Win- J t 1 dows doves and the Devils Devil's Garden sections i is thought by many ninny to be the most j outstanding feature in the monument x x T 1 A new surfaced trail truit is being built at nt the present time from the end of the spur road rond a distance of around one mile to fo the arch This work falls under Mission 66 improvements J t I t 1 I I N. N I t I f t s. s v ve 4 e tN M t This hij is what happened in August 1953 when a motorist not acquainted i l with desert flash floods attenuated V to I. I rj sa Courthouse wash on the Ih pr pres pres- L. L For the full realization of these Benefits the Visitor should be able to reach characteristic viewpoints vIewpoints viewpoints view vIew- points by weather all roads reach all outstanding areas or strikingly striking strIking- ly unusual features by good trails picnic and camp surrounded by beauty paint or photograph to his hearts heart's content Inform himself himself himself him him- self through self help devices and I through contact with uniformed employees Normal protection of ot the area should be afforded through frequent fre fre- frequent quent patrols with close observance observance vance to prevent cars being driven en off established roadways limIting limiting lim lim- Ring of 01 facilities for visitor ac- ac to certain areas and keeping developments simple to Insure the of the natural beauty yet making points of Interest accessible in varying degrees The Problem From Its establishment In 1929 until 1948 Arches remained remain remain- ed a totally undeveloped area Access was by wagon road In Salt SaIt Valley or very rough road from Highway to Balanced Rock In the late and early hardy and venturesome visitors could see the area only by foot horseback or jeep and even then only with a guide Travel was light There were no camp or other facilities and the solitary employee occasionally occasionally occasionally occasion occasion- ally took parties Into the monument monument monument ment and patrolled the area Betterment and extension of the entrance road In 1948 1048 along with the uranium and oil booms in southeastern Utah have greatly increased the visitation and use Small undeveloped picnic areas now exist and a I meager beginning has been made for an Interpretive program program program pro pro- I gram with a wayside exhibit and contact spot near near Balanced J Rock The problem at Arches is to I provide for maximum enjoyment enjoy enjoy- 1 I ment and understanding of its features without over use or impairment im- im I I of the scenic value I t I ent Arches entrance road Construction Construe Construe- tion of a new road would involve the I building of a bridge across this wash J The Program Basic attack on the problem Is Improvement of the road and trail trait system and development ol ola ot of ota ofa a visitor tent center r and campground The present access road unsafe unsafe un un- safe sale in wet weather and remote from adequate control Is to be abandoned In favor of ot the more scenic route planned to pass the b headquarters 55 5 miles north of ol Moab This road will climb a slope along a cliff base to the summit pass by b the Courthouse Towers section crossing Courthouse wash via a bridge joining the present road system near Balanced Rock This will be an weather all-weather road with view points short trails parking spaces and interpretive devices along its route The entrance road will wUl set the standard for Improvement of the remainder of the present road system in tn the mo monument The spur road to the Windows section section sec sec- section tion is to be bo re built terminating with an adequate parking area the he road from Balan Balanced ed Rock to Devils Devil's Garden will wilt be realigned to bring it t closer to Fiery Furnace Fur Fur- Furnace nace near which a small parking area will be provided and the Hie road to the Delicate Arch trail trait head lead is to be improved Existing trails rails will be rebuilt and realigned realign realign- ed where necessary to provide easy weather all-weather access through sandy areas to all important fea- fea tures ures A visitor center is to be built Inthe in inthe the he headquarters atea containIng containing contain contain- Ing ng the entrance station where a ranger anger can meet and orient all visitors as they arrive This I buildIng wilding with a parking area irea adjacent will serve as information in- in formation center for the entire area rea Supplementing the various exhibits on geology and natural history will be the several self self- guiding nature trails in the monument monument mon- mon area and the road and trailside exhibits explaining various var- var ious sous ous features on the tM spot For the campground planned In Dev bee Devils Devil's ils il's Garden there will be a campfire camp camp- fire tre clr circle le for evening talks In addition to the overnight campground proposed ed at Devils Devil's Garden there will be lunch areas along the roads toads at strategic places es such as cabin at Delicate DelIcate Delicate Del Del- arch trail trait head The problem of trespass es especially especially especially es- es livestock will require ap ap- l 55 53 miles of boundary fencing To provide adequate aid for the superintendent in caring for the needs of ot the area and its visitors the staff will wilt have to be increased and employee housing provided Then It will be possible to meet and orient all visitors to offer museum and campfire talks guid guId- guided ed trips Into the Fiery Furnace area to provide patrol service to to operate maintenance ance equipment on roads and trails and to maintain maintain main main- I tain buildings and utilities I Summary of Construction Costs A rough estimate of costs Inthe Inthe in inthe the various categories will serve as an indication of the scope and orientation of MISSION 66 for Arches national monument Development of Necessary Roads and Trails Campgrounds Lunch Areas Wayside Wayside Way Way- side Exhibits Utilities Fencing Fencing Fenc Fenc- ing etc Visitor Center Employee Housing Maintenance Buildings and Minor Buildings Total cost of w Scheduled for the Immediate future future future fu fu- ture is a entrance road program but the entire project projector of or development cannot be completed completed completed com com- for several years To allow for equal expansion of all areas within the National Park Service without taxing planning forces and schedules and to allow accurate accurate ac ac- curate and detailed planning within with with- in Arches National Monument in logical the above d deVelopment development de de- v lo m nt must be spread out ht k h period of years The process pro cess tess will wilt be one of eliminating the themos themos most mos stressing problems first then regrouping and building up of necessary personnel and knowledge knowledge know ledge for tor further attacks upon the tho next most acute problems The entire improvement program will willi willibe be completed in 1966 1066 Conclusion When the visitor of 1966 1006 comes to Arches National Monument he W o The visitors visitor's first view of Arches National National National Na Na- monument is this scene of oC the Balanced Rock where the visitors visitors' registration station is located The t 1 T This his group of photographs taken many years ago of ot the Arches Rational National Monument show many of the features to be made more readily acc accessible ible through a n year ten development program initiated ed by the National P Park rk Service The project known as Mission 66 plans for the spending 2 million for lor buildings and road fOad improvements im In the Arches before 1966 19 6 chief Items of construction being a paved entrance road museum visitor center and and head will Immediately meet with a representative representative rep rep- of the National Park Service He Ito will find Information about the facilities of ot the monument mon ment meat easily available to him He lie will wilt be assisted in planning his stay so as to obtain the greatest satisfaction from a visit regardless regardless regardless regard regard- I less of the length of his visit or his particular Interest Ho will be assured of 01 adequate information and Interpretation concerning the tha story of the area and he will be beable beable beable able to better understand the ge ge- and processes of erosion which have made the area what It is lie He will be assured a safe sate pleasant and satisfying trip through the monument The wonders of ot Arches National Nation Nation- al Monument will wilt remain unchanged unchanged un un- changed they will merely be made more available and understandable under under- to the thousands of Americans Americans Am Am- seeking enjoyment and Inspiration in natures nature's splendid works 1 11 a I r ti 4 a y St u W. W 1 N 4 a 1 t I. I to I. I S' S 1 I. I t r f I 1 1 J J t. t a r 3 A m Ji new planned paved route slated for Cor construction in 1958 will also pass this spectacular rock formation which seems to defy nature t k I i x S f C n ro- ro X j i fo Jl x t f i a der t i h ia 1 a D v I a t F Fa a X iIIi Y 11 quarters facilities Shown here are Tunnel arch Double Arch the Balanced Rock nock North and South Windows or the Spectacles Adam Adamand Adamand I and Eve nd other oilier wierd wient and beautiful rock formations to be found throughout the Arches Travel in this scenic national monument 1 has been increasing in Jn recent years but most observers feel that the Improvements planned would make It one of the most popular scenic areas in the West |