Peak Design Travel Tripod (Carbon)
$599 - $699
Arches needs no permit for ordinary small-group shooting after the EXPLORE Act and dropped timed entry for 2026, but Fiery Furnace reservations and the no-climbing-on-arches rule still shape shoots.
Permit: conditional
Shoot decision
Depends on setup
Groups of eight or fewer using hand-carried gear in public areas, without exclusive use and without extra cost to the park, generally need no permit under the EXPLORE Act.
Permit
Conditional
Issuer: Arches National Park (Southeast Utah Group) Special Park Uses office
Cost: $280 nonrefundable application fee paid on pay.gov, plus still-photography location fees ($50 to $250 per day by group size) and monitoring cost recovery
Processing: Apply as far ahead as possible and email the coordinator to check dates first; shoots that need additional compliance review can take 6 to 8 weeks
Groups of eight or fewer using hand-carried gear in public areas, without exclusive use and without extra cost to the park, generally need no permit under the EXPLORE Act. Larger or higher-impact productions still require one: submit NPS Form 10-932 with your pay.gov confirmation.
Drone / airspace
Effectively banned: launching, landing, or operating a drone within park boundaries is prohibited
NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05 directs each superintendent to close the park to drone use under 36 CFR 1.5. For airspace, Part 107, and legal flying nearby, see Drone Authority.
Street / public space
Yes for personal and editorial photography throughout the park
Standard visitor photography is welcome.
Practical notes
- Arches is not requiring timed-entry reservations in 2026 (announced Feb 18, 2026). Expect entrance lines and full lots at peak times; staff may temporarily restrict access to busy areas.
- Reservations are still required for Fiery Furnace hikes (self-guided and ranger-led) and for Devils Garden Campground.
- Climbing, scrambling, walking or standing on any named or unnamed arch with an opening greater than three feet is prohibited, and Balanced Rock is closed to climbing.
- Arches is an International Dark Sky Park and the park encourages after-hours visits, which suits night and blue-hour work.
Guidance, not legal advice
Rules change and enforcement varies. Confirm with the issuing authority before you shoot. Drone law depth lives at Drone Authority.
Drone Authority
Check the flight side
Rules answer the ground-photo side. Drone Authority handles the NPS flight ban, airspace, and legal flying nearby.
Kit Authority
Plan the park side
Rules answer whether you can shoot. Kit handles where to go, when to go, and what to pack. Once the permit question is settled, use Kit for Arches timing, access, and packing.
9.0
Fujifilm X-S20
$1,490 - $1,680
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