After seeing places like Glacier National Park and Yosemite National Park making recent headlines for issuing PSAs letting visitors know that its open season to knock over stacked rocks known as cairns, it may come a surprise that Arches National Park in Utah has a completely opposite policy:
“If you see a cairn in Arches National Park and are tempted to knock it down, please do not! Cairns are very important in rocky desert landscapes to help with navigation.”
Unlike many other National Parks, Arches has trail system that traverses loose sand and slickrock (a general term for any bare rock surface) making the installation of permanent trail signage difficult. Because of this challenging terrain, Arches has to rely on the ancient method of cairn building to create waypoints for their guests to safely navigate the densest concentration of natural stone arches in the world.
Visitors are not free to knock over rock stacks but are encouraged to report any that appear to be ornamental:
“If you do see cairns that seem to be out of place or large groupings of cairns, please let us know! Stop by our visitor center or contact a ranger on trail to report out of place cairns.”
ARCHES NATIONAL PARK:
When hiking in Arches, you might notice cairns (rock stacks) on some trails. While cairns are unneeded and discouraged in some national parks, recreating in the Southwest is different. Many trails in Arches take visitors across loose sand and open slickrock – both surfaces where it is difficult to maintain a permanent, clearly-marked trail.
Arches uses primitive markings such as cairns for trail navigation in more remote areas of the park, such as the Devil’s Garden Primitive Loop. Cairns, lines of rocks (“necklaces”), dead branches, and other “primitive” trail markings are used to guide hikers across difficult open terrain without damaging sensitive resources or distracting from the natural beauty of the landscape.
While kicking cairns over – or building your own – might seem like fun, it could easily mislead the hikers coming after you. In general, it’s best to leave them alone! If you encounter one that seems to be in the wrong spot, note the location and report it to a ranger. Remember that rules for trail management and etiquette are not universal across every park, and consider the unique challenges posed by an open desert landscape.
Arches National Park rangers recently celebrated National Tell a Joke Day and there are a few geological zingers that will brighten up your day: