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Show Bridges still leads the pack Arches National Park still has a higher number, of visitors than other parks in the area, but Natural Bridges National Monument has the greatest percentage increase for the year. At the same time, river visitation has decreased considerably consider-ably from last year. Arches National Park had 51,004 visitors during the month of July, compared with 48,123 in June, bringing the total number of visitors for the year to 194,853. This is an 8 percent increase over the previous year, during which there were 47,161 visitors during July and 180,754 for the year. Visitors are finding out about Natural Bridges National Monument as it continued contin-ued to lead all other area parks in percentage increase for the month as well as the year. Visitation increased 45 percent in July compared with the same month last year, and 67 percent for the year. Visitors numbered 10,335 during July. This year to date, 46,610 visitors have seen the monument, compared with 27,902 visitors last year. Island in the Sky District also had a high increase of 53 percent, with 19,459 visitors this year, 6,756 more than last year at this time. During July, 3,342 visitors came to the district. River visitation was down from last year by 40 percent. The low water levels have taken their toll. Only 2,697 people have taken boat trips down Colorado and Green rivers this year, compared to 4,514 last year. The Needles District, Maze District, and Canyonlands National Park all showed decreased visitation for the year, although except for the Maze District, were up during July compared with June. |