In this April 15, 2016, photo, released by the National Park Service shows carved graffiti at Frame Arch at Arches National Park. Officials at Utah's Arches National Park are investigating large graffiti... (Associated Press) 
 
 In this April 15, 2016, photo, released by the National Park Service shows carved graffiti at Frame Arch at Arches National Park. Officials at Utah's Arches National Park are investigating large graffiti so deeply carved into one of the park's famous red rock arches that it might be impossible to erase.... (Associated Press) 
 
 In this April 15, 2016, photo, released by the National Park Service shows carved graffiti at Frame Arch at Arches National Park. Officials at Utah's Arches National Park are investigating large graffiti so deeply carved into one of the park's famous red rock arches that it might be impossible to erase.... (Associated Press) In this April 15, 2016, photo, released by the National Park Service shows carved graffiti at Frame Arch at Arches National Park. Officials at Utah's Arches National Park are investigating large graffiti... (Associated Press) 
 
 SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Rangers at Utah's Arches National Park were investigating large graffiti Thursday that was carved so deeply into a famous red rock arch that it might be impossible to erase, officials said. 
 
 The carvings discovered earlier this month measure about 4 feet across and 3 feet high, park Superintendent Kate Cannon said. 
 
 The vandalism is part of a "tidal wave of graffiti" at Arches and other national parks in recent years, she said. 
 
 Two years ago, at least eight national parks in the West began the delicate task of cleaning up graffiti-like paintings left on famous, picturesque landscapes. The damage was discovered after images were shared on social media. 
 
 The Arches rock formation, commonly known as Frame Arch, is off a popular hiking trail where visitors can look through it and view the park's iconic, stand-alone Delicate Arch. 
 
 Cannon said the graffiti was etched so deeply that it might have taken at least an hour for someone to carve. 
 
 She said park workers can try to reduce the carving's visibility by grinding down the rock around it, but that causes further damage to the surface. She said they could also try to fill in the etchings with some kind of material that blends in, but it's unclear if that would be a permanent or unnoticeable treatment. 
 
 Defacing surfaces in the park is illegal and anyone caught can face up to six months in jail and a $5,000 fine. 
 
 Social media seems to be a driver of increased vandalism, but Cannon said graffiti generally has become inexplicably popular among visitors. 
 
 "It is really overwhelming," she said. 
 
 Officials hope public outrage and vigilance can ease the problem. 
 
 "We take great pains to be out in the park and around where people are," Cannon said of park ranger patrols. "Unfortunately, we can't be everywhere all the time." 

 Workers discovered extensive rock graffiti at Arches National Park last week and the park wants the public's help identifying whoever is responsible. 
 
 ARCHES NATIONAL PARK — Workers discovered extensive rock graffiti at Arches National Park last week, and the park wants the public's help identifying whoever is responsible. 
 
 The markings were found at Frame Arch, Arches National Park Superintendent Kate Cannon said Wednesday. The vandalism was "expansive," according to Cannon. 
 
 "It must have taken a long time," she said. "It may have been (done by) a couple of different people. It’s a very deeply etched piece of graffiti." 
 
 Names etched on the rock at Frame Arch include "Staten" and "Andersen," according to a Facebook post by the park. Cannon said she hopes someone will come forward to ensure those who made the graffiti are held responsible. 
 
 "It's destructive and it mars the experience of those who come to enjoy the place in its natural state," she said. 
 
 The superintendent added graffiti is a growing concern at Arches National Park. 
 
 "We’ve seen an explosion of graffiti over the last several years," Cannon said. "We’re constantly working to remove it. It’s gotten so huge. It gets huge because it becomes accepted in the public mind." 
 
 It requires hundreds of hours of volunteer work to rid the area of graffiti, according to park officials. Graffiti etched on rock has to be ground off or filled in and covered up, but in some instances can only be left as is, Cannon said. 
 
 Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Arches National Park at 435-719-2100 or archinfo@nps.gov. 
 
 — Ben Lockhart
– Rangers at Utah's Arches National Park are investigating large graffiti carved so deeply into a famous red rock arch that it might be impossible to erase, officials say. The carvings discovered earlier this month measure about 4 feet across and 3 feet high, park Superintendent Kate Cannon says. The vandalism is part of a "tidal wave of graffiti" at Arches and other national parks in recent years, she notes. Two years ago, at least eight national parks in the West began the delicate task of cleaning up graffiti-like paintings left on famous, picturesque landscapes, the AP reports. The damage was discovered after images were shared on social media. The Arches rock formation, commonly known as Frame Arch, is off a popular hiking trail. Cannon says the graffiti was etched so deeply that it might have taken at least an hour for someone to carve. She says park workers can try to reduce the carving's visibility by grinding down the rock around it, but that causes further damage to the surface. They could also try to fill in the etchings with some kind of material that blends in, but it's unclear if that would be a permanent or unnoticeable treatment. Cannon says she hopes someone will come forward with information about the vandals, who left the names "Staten" and "Andersen" carved into the arch, the Deseret News reports. (This national park vandal signed the graffiti with her Instagram handle.)