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Proposed Day Use Permit for White Rim

Original Post
ddriver · · SLC · Joined Jul 2007 · Points: 2,084

NPS has published a proposal to start requiring day use permits for the White Rim as well as Elephant Hill Rd in the Needles. They're proposing 50 permits per day for vehicles and 50 for bicycles for the White Rim Road. It is not clear whether this would affect Mineral Bottom and Taylor Canyon.

Comment period ends Apr 14.

See news release and make comments at

News Release

From the link:

Comments regarding this day use permit proposal may be submitted electronically by clicking on the attached news release and selecting the Comment Now button. If comments are not able to be made via this website they may be sent to: National Park Service, Southeast Utah Group, Attn: Planning and Compliance Coordinator, 2282 S. West Resource Blvd, Moab, Utah 84532. Faxed comments may be sent to (435) 719-2300.

There are a number of routes off the White Rim that can be done as day climbs, e.g. Washer Woman, Monster Tower, Chip and Dale, etc. from camps outside the White Rim. I'm not against day permits but this could be an impediment to early starts for these towers. Maybe they could write in an exception for climbers or provide some alternate accommodation.

Thoughts?

Eric and Lucie · · Boulder, CO · Joined Oct 2004 · Points: 140

Oh no!

This will make one-day trips to Washer Woman etc all but impossible!

It's likely that day use permits will be booked months in advance by 4wheelers, leaving none available for climbers (it's hard to plan climbs like this ahead of time, since they are so subject to weather).

I've submitted my comments.
Here's the direct link to the comment form: parkplanning.nps.gov/commen…

oldfattradguuy kk · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2006 · Points: 170

As a bicyclist my comments:

I do not support the plan for the following reasons:

The NPS has not specified a data-driven "Need" as defined by NEPA for permitting single day use bicycles.

NPS has not demonstrated that single day use bicycles have had a significant impact on park ecology.

Single day use bicycles do not have a significant impact on park user experience. In addition all encounters that I have had with other park users while riding the White Rim in a day have always been positive. Meeting single day riders may actually enhance the experience of other park users.

Impacts from day use cycling are minimal as demonstrated by the fact that bicycles cause minimal disturbance to the roads when compared to other users. Due to time constraints, most day single day riders are less likely to impact off trail resources than other users.

The White Rim Road is a road, not a wilderness setting, it is an ideal place to encourage and concentrate bicycle use. If NPS wants to simulate a wilderness setting, it should consider not allowing motorized vehicles.

Most single day riders plan their trip based on weather and quite often spontaneously. Requiring a permit would place an undue burden on this activity.

Most of the typically inexpensive permits would be purchased in advance. Day cycling permits would likely be inexpensive enough that people would just buy them up if they think they even might use them. With essentially no incentive to cancel, many permits will surely go unused and many who would otherwise actually go wouldn’t be able to get a permit. Picking up a no-show permit isn’t practical because of the early start required to do a single day ride.

DaveC · · Louisville, CO · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 65

Join the Access Fund

Rich Farnham · · Nederland, CO · Joined Aug 2002 · Points: 297

This is really strange. Is that news release the only information available on this? Or, did I miss something? This would make day trips to Moses or Washer Woman (among others) nearly impossible.

What problem are they trying to solve? What data supports this as a solution to that problem?

I submitted comments making the above points. Thanks for posting this. I wouldn't have seen this otherwise.

Mark Hammond · · Eldorado Springs, CO · Joined Oct 2006 · Points: 466

I posted a comment, thanks for the heads up and the link. Bump to the top so others will see this!

ddriver · · SLC · Joined Jul 2007 · Points: 2,084

A newspaper article here:

Moab Sun News

ben jammin · · Moab, UT · Joined Jul 2008 · Points: 852

Thanks for the link. Wanna do Moses in the Spring or Fall?? Forget about it with these new regs.

BenCooper · · Broomfield, CO · Joined Apr 2007 · Points: 585

Please comment! This is a big deal. This type of regulation could seriously hinder most of the climbing in ISKY.

Comments submitted. Thanks for posting this.

Airbiscuit · · Grand Junction, Co · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 1,500

Bump for this, comments posted.

smassey · · CO · Joined Dec 2008 · Points: 200

Hell No. Bump. Post this on your social media, and submit individual letters. Given the amount of traffic, it is not an unreasonable idea, but the devil is in the details. Say how this will impact you, and climbers in general.

ddriver · · SLC · Joined Jul 2007 · Points: 2,084

Reminder that this closes on the 14th.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Southern Utah Deserts
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