Arches National Park is located in southwest Utah. It hosts some of the most terrific rockscapes in the world and should be on every nature-lover’s travel bucket list. Featuring more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches as well as other amazing rock formations, open vistas, and big skies, Arches astounds at every turn. The contrasts of the red and beige sandstone against the blue sky is a photographer’s dream.
Table of contents
- Entrance to Arches National Park
- Location / Ease of Access
- How We Visited
- Accommodations
- Arches National Park – an International Dark Sky Site
- Best Activity for Arches National Park: Hiking
- Sights in Arches National Park
- Arches National Park Visitor Center
- Sites by South to North
- Park Avenue / Courthouse Towers
- La Sal Mountains Viewpoint
- Courthouse Towers
- Tower of Babel
- Petrified Dunes Viewpoint
- Balanced Rock
- Windows Section
- Panorama Point
- Delicate Arch
- Hiking to Delicate Arch
- Salt Valley Overlook and Fiery Furnace
- Sand Dune, Broken, Tapestry and Skyline Arches
- Devils Garden Area
- Summary of Roundtrip Hiking Distances at Devils Garden
Before traveling to Arches National Park for the first time in 2002, I read Edward Abbey’s masterpiece, Desert Solitaire (affiliate link). My longings to experience Arches were born. A lot has changed since 1968 when the book was published. Now it is hard to find solitude at Arches National Park, which is not surprising considering its beauty and natural wonders.
We went back to Arches recently and were amazed by the multitudes of people who have now discovered it. Many areas required jostling with crowds. But if you plan ahead, visiting the most popular and iconic places such as Delicate Arch early in the morning or late in the evening, and get off the beaten path by taking less popular hikes during peak tourist hours, you can still fully enjoy the magnificent attractions of Arches.
Entrance to Arches National Park
The Entrance Station to Arches National Park is only 5 miles northwest of Moab, Utah. As noted above, Arches has become quite crowded during the busy seasons of spring, summer and fall. To avoid overcrowding, the National Park Service has implemented a Timed Entry Admission System. You will need a timed entry ticket if arriving between 7 AM and 4 PM from April 1 through October 31. Book your timed entry ticket here. Folks with campground reservations, backcountry permits, or a Fiery Furnace tour booking do not need a timed entry ticket. To purchase your park pass other times of the year, and/or for more information on an annual pass for Arches, or an “America the Beautiful Pass”, which covers all national parks in the USA for a year, click here.
Location / Ease of Access
Arches National Park is quite far from any major city / airport. As such, it takes some effort to get there. The closest major airport is Salt Lake City (SLC) at 4 hours’ drive. Next is Denver, CO at 5.5 hours’ drive. From both Albuquerque, NM and Las Vegas, NV, it is around a 7 hour drive, with Phoenix, AZ being about 7.5 hours from the park.
It is possible to fly into Grand Junction Regional Airport (CO) with a connecting flight through one of many major airports. Check Expedia.com for flights and fares. This airport is less than two hours’ drive from the entrance to Arches.
No matter how you get there, we promise the effort will be well worth it!
TIP: Canyonlands National Park, Arches’ “neighbor,” is about 29 miles to the southwest. Since you are in the area, why not visit both? Check out our guide to amazing Canyonlands by clicking here.
How We Visited
This trip to Arches was part of a larger loop trip (see the detailed southwest itinerary #1) in which we visited the following other national parks: Mesa Verde (CO), Canyonlands (UT), Black Canyon of the Gunnison (CO), Great Sand Dunes, and the city of Santa Fe, NM. Check out our guides to the other national parks by clicking the links above.
We flew into Albuquerque, NM and rented a small RV (see our guide to renting RVs). This allowed us to “camp” in the national parks, preparing our own meals, and not having to pack up between parks. Renting a small RV from an independent company and staying in the parks saves money and time. If we didn’t have our adult son with us, we would have rented a campervan or other smaller camper.
Accommodations
Accommodations Outside the Park
Most visitors to Arches National Park stay in nearby Moab, Utah, which is a cool town with plenty of accommodation options. Moab is also the launching point for tours of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.
Dead Horse Point State Park is quite close to Arches and set high on a plateau overlooking the Colorado River and Canyonlands National Park. The state park offers sites with hookup, tent sites, and yurts. Reservations are handled by Reserve America and can be made up to four months in advance.
Camping in the Park at Devils Garden Campground
There are no accommodations within Arches National Park. In fact, Devils Garden is the only developed campground. Its 51 campsites are located in a beautiful setting in the Devils Garden area of the park, about 18 miles from the entrance. As with many other national parks in the US, there are no hookups at the campsites.
Camping in the park allows you to experience it with lighter crowds in the early morning and in the evening.
Make your campground reservation as early as possible, up to six months in advance. According to the Devils Garden Campground page on the National Park Service’s website: “You can reserve standard campsites up to 6 months in advance for stays March 1-October 31. All sites are usually reserved months in advance. Between November 1 and February 28, sites are first-come, first-served. Facilities include drinking water, picnic tables, grills, and both pit-style and flush toilets.” Make your campground reservations on the Reserve America website by clicking here.
Arches National Park – an International Dark Sky Site
On one of our nights at Devils Garden, we saw the most amazing night sky we’ve ever witnessed. It truly felt that the “heavens” were coming down to earth in the form of millions of brilliant stars. We laid out on the campsite picnic table with our mouths gaping. We, like most people, live in an urban area with streetlights and other light pollution. In 2019 Arches National Park was designated an official International Dark Sky site. If you can be in the park on a clear night, maybe you will experience this goosebump-inducing experience!
Best Activity for Arches National Park: Hiking
Arches National Park is one of our favorite places to hike. Below we’ve described a multitude of hikes.
However, those who can’t hike should still visit the park. There are many overlooks from which to view many of hte arches and other rock formations. Driving through the park is an amazing experience.
Sights in Arches National Park
Arches National Park Visitor Center
The only visitor center at Arches National Park is located about 1 mile past the Entrance Station. You can get information on hikes, ranger talks and walks, and any closures within the park. Opened in 2005, the visitor center includes exhibits on the formation of natural arches, a help desk, and restrooms. There is also potable water here, so fill up your water bottles!
Sites by South to North
There is one main road that runs through Arches, the aptly named Arches National Park Road (also known as Arches Scenic Drive). The road runs 17.8 miles from the Visitor Center to its end at the Devils Garden area. Turnoffs from this road include The Windows Road, Delicate Arch Road, and the short spur road to the Fiery Furnace.
Mileages from Entrance Station and Visitor Center
Click the links in the table below for more detailed area maps.
| Location | Distance | Drive Time |
|---|---|---|
| to Balanced Rock | 9.2 miles (14.8 km) | 15-20 minutes |
| to The Windows Section | 12 miles (19.3 km) | 25-30 minutes |
| to Wolfe Ranch / Delicate Arch Trailhead | 13.2 miles (21.2 km) | 30-35 minutes |
| to Delicate Arch Viewpoint | 14.2 miles (22.8 km) | 30-35 minutes |
| to Devils Garden | 18 miles (28.9 km) | 40-45 minutes |
Upon passing the Visitor Center, you climb a series of steep switchbacks. You are about to witness some of the most amazing rock formations on the planet. Sheer sandstone cliffs, fins and formations await – and this all before you see any arches! Prepare to have your mind blown! After 2.4 miles, you come to your first stop at the …
Park Avenue / Courthouse Towers
Have you ever noticed how cleverly places are named in our national parks? “Park Avenue” was named for the thin, vertical canyon walls that resemble skyscrapers. The narrow fins of rock seem precariously balanced as they rise straight up above you. The trail to the viewpoint is paved and easy.
From the Park Avenue Viewpoint, you can take an awesome hike to Park Avenue with many astonishing sandstone rock formations to enjoy along the way. This trail is 1 mile each way. The hardest parts of the hike are the beginning and the end. The trail drops steeply into the canyon, so of course, on your way back, you face a difficult climb. But walking inside the canyon is a surreal experience, and you pass many amazing and seemingly impossible rock formations including Sheep Rock, Sausage Rock, Queen Victoria Rock, Courthouse Towers, Park Avenue, and the Three Gossips.
La Sal Mountains Viewpoint
The next stop on the Arches National Park Road is the La Sal Mountains Viewpoint. Reached at the 2.8 mile mark along Arches Scenic Drive, a short, paved walk leads to the sandstone bench that forms this viewpoint. In addition to spectacular views of the La Sal Mountain range in the distance, from here you can see the Three Gossips, Sheep Rock, and The Organ in the Courthouse Towers area. Looking to the northeast are Balanced Rock and The Windows section of the park.
Courthouse Towers
After another 1.2 miles, you arrive at the Courthouse Towers Viewpoint. The Towers are on the east side of the road. This amazing stop provides stunning views of the rock formations resembling a large courthouse. From here, you can also see the Three Gossips and the upcoming Tower of Babel. The Three Gossips is just that – a rock formation resembling three women conversing.
Tower of Babel
About 4.5 miles up the road from the Visitor Center, you reach the Tower of Babel, a huge rock fin soaring almost 300 feet into the air. It does indeed evoke a tower to heaven. The Tower of Babel is visible from the Courthouse Towers parking lot, but you will also drive right past it as you proceed up the road.
Petrified Dunes Viewpoint
Continuing along the main park road another 2 miles, you come to the Petrified Dunes Viewpoint on your right. The Petrified Dunes is an area of ancient sand dunes that have been solidified into rock over time.
Passing this viewpoint, you soon come to The Great Wall on your left (to the west). This is a wall of cliffs, fins and spires rising from the valley floor. Hopefully by now your jaw is still dropping and you have not bored of sandstone! More wonders are around the corner.
Balanced Rock
Stop at Balanced Rock to walk the easy 0.3 mile trail, which provides different views of this gravity-defying rock formation.
Windows Section
Just 0.2 miles past Balanced Rock, you come to the turnoff onto The Windows Road. Follow this road about 2 miles to an area known as The Windows. This is a great place to spend some time as it features several arches, windows, and the rock formation known as Parade of Elephants.
Windows Loop and Turret Arch Trail
Ready to stretch your legs? This 1.2 mile loop trail is easy and awesome. You can see North Window Arch from the parking lot. “Windows” are so named because their shape is more angular than an arch. The first highlight of this trail is the aptly-named Turret Arch. You can climb up to this arch and look through it to spy unique rock formations on the other side.
On your way down, look back to the North Window and South Window and note the amazing views through them. Next up is the North Window. Here again you can climb up through the arch to appreciate its grandeur and immensity. A short distance from the North Window is the South Window viewpoint. The South Window is smaller than the North, but still impressive. Continue your loop back to the parking lot.
Double Arch and Parade of Elephants
While both of these features are visible from the road and from The Windows parking area, why not walk up to Double Arch? The hike, which is only 0.3 miles each way, is easy with little elevation change. Double Arch is the second largest arch in the park, and you can climb up into the arches. On a clear day, the color contrasts at Double Arch are eye-boggling. Lie back and look up!
Along the trail, you pass Parade of Elephants, which is part of the remnant of a large fin that has broken down, creating it and Double Arch. The Parade uncannily resembles a herd of elephants on the move.
Travel back out to Arches National Park Road and turn right. After traveling 1 mile north, you come to…
Panorama Point
Panorama Point is a high point in Arches with terrific views. You can get an overview of the park and surrounding area, including the Fiery Furnace, Devils Garden and the La Sal Mountain range. Visit the various lookouts along the parking area.
From Panorama Point to the turnoff to Delicate Arch Road is about 1.3 miles. Then it’s another 1.2 miles to the Delicate Arch parking area.
Delicate Arch
Delicate Arch is the most famous and the grandest arch in all of the park. Its iconic image is readily recognized around the world, even gracing the Utah license plate. To truly appreciate this phenomenal sight, you must hike the 1.6 miles up to it (3.2 miles round trip). The trail is moderately challenging, but worth every step.
Hiking to Delicate Arch
The first part of the hike is relatively easy and on graded gravel. Right after leaving the parking area, you pass the Wolfe Ranch cabin, which was built around 1898. Have a look around the outside of the cabin. According to the Library of Congress: “The walls and foundations of the cabin and dugout are of unhewn, notched Cottonwood and Juniper logs. The roofs are also of log, with shale and Juniper bark on top and in the cracks.”
The hardest section of the hike to Delicate Arch is in the middle, which is up a steep, slickrock climb. The rewards for your pain are the views of the national park from this vantage point.
The last third of the hike includes a section along a narrow ledge, so be careful to stay away from the edge. I have height anxiety – I’m not really afraid but my body starts pumping adrenaline – so this section was stressful for me.
But finally, you round the last turn and arrive!
At Delicate Arch
When you arrive at Delicate Arch, you are at a rock “bench” where you can sit and take in the view. The space is spectacular and huge. Between you and the Arch is a huge “bowl” of slickrock, surrounded by sandstone walls. Beyond the arch lies the magnificence of the surrounding country and the La Sal Mountain range. It’s almost too much to comprehend! Sit awhile and take it in. Then walk down into the bowl for pictures, and finally, stand at or under the arch for selfies or photos.
Delicate Arch can become crowded, making it difficult to fully enjoy your time there. Plan to arrive early or late.
The roundtrip hike to Delicate Arch, including time spent at the arch, takes about 3-4 hours, depending on your hiking speed.
Alternatives to Hiking to Delicate Arch
If you just can’t hike up to Delicate Arch, you can view it from two places. To reach both viewpoints, continue along the road past the Delicate Arch Trailhead to the parking lot for these viewpoints. The first, the Lower Viewpoint, allows you to see the arch from one mile away and requires a paved walk of 100 yards from the parking area. The Upper Viewpoint provides a better look but requires a walk of 0.5 miles with stairs.
Salt Valley Overlook and Fiery Furnace
Travel back out to Arches National Park Road and turn right to reach the Salt Valley Overview and Fiery Furnace stops.
The Salt Valley Overlook, 2.3 miles up the Arches NP Rd from the Delicate Arch turnoff, provides sweeping views of the Salt Valley and more sandstone rock formations. The Salt Valley is a huge area of salt flats. This is a great photography spot and only requires a tiny stroll from your vehicle to access the Overlook.
Fiery Furnace
The Fiery Furnace is an area of sandstone rock formations with walls so tight against one another that a natural labyrinth is created. The Fiery Furnace gets its name from the way it lights up at sunset. The rocks truly appear to be on fire from a distance.
The only way to go into the Fiery Furnace is on a guided ranger walk or with an individual permit. For information on permits, visit this NPS page. Visiting the Fiery Furnace requires squeezing between rock walls and some scrambling, so only those in reasonably good shape should attempt it.
A tour of the Fiery Furnace is a highlight of any trip to Arches National Park!
Sand Dune, Broken, Tapestry and Skyline Arches
After visiting Fiery Furnace, head north again on the main park road. After about 1.5 miles, you arrive at the trailhead for Sand Dune Arch. From the parking area, you can make a 2.8 mile loop hike to visit, in order, Sand Dune Arch, Broken Arch, Tapestry Arch, and Skyline Arch. This hike will also take you through the Devils Garden Campground, so if you are staying in the campground, it’s convenient to start your hike from here. Sand Dune Arch is right off the park road. If you have limited time, or can’t hike, you can access this arch with a very short walk from your vehicle.
Skyline Arch is one of the most impressive arches in the park. Accessed with a short 0.4 mile out and back hike from the park road, or from the Devils Garden Campground, Skyline Arch is set high in a wall.
Devils Garden Area
The Devils Garden Area of Arches NP deserves at least a half day. And that day can be full of world class hiking if you so choose!
The first part of the Devil’s Garden Trail is between sandstone cliffs and fins. This section of the trail is quite flat. You quickly come to a spur trail to Tunnel Arch and Pine Tree Arch.
Back on the trail, and at a distance of .8 miles from the trailhead (not including the spur trail above), your next destination is…
Landscape Arch
This is one of the largest arches in the world, stretching more than 300 feet. Part of the arch fell in 1991 and now Landscape Arch is quite narrow. Do not attempt to climb on it. However, this is an amazing place to take photos and enjoy the views of this massive arch.
The trail to Landscape Arch is relatively easy. Beyond it, the hiking gets more strenuous and even includes some scrambling. But if I can do it, so can you!
Navajo and Partition Arches
From Landscape Arch, you hike up sandstone fins to reach the spur trail to these two arches. Stop to take in the amazing views behind you. Partition Arch is actually two windows, a larger and smaller through which you can view Devils Garden.
Navajo Arch is short and wide, and feels more like a tunnel, giving it a different feel than other arches in the park. It’s also a nice spot to take a break in the shade of the arch and the nearby trees.
Back to the main trail, you are now hiking to Double-O Arch. This arch is reached after 2.1 miles on the main Devils Garden Trail. The section of hiking here is exhilarating as you climb out onto a huge rock fin. It’s easy to miss the markers going up onto the fin, and the climb is a little hard. The views from atop the fin are incredible!
You then walk down the fin for a ways. In places, the fin is narrow (about 5 feet wide). Try hiking this with three young children, which we did the first time we visited Arches! My heart was pounding out of my chest. Of course, the kids were having a blast. You descend the fin and follow the trail to…
Double-O Arch
Double-O Arch is reached after 2.1 miles on the Devils Garden Trail (not including spur hiking). The round, double arches are impressive and there is a bit of an oasis feel to this area. It’s a good place to get out of the sun to enjoy a snack and rest. You can also climb on the lower of the two arches.
Dark Angel
Dark Angel is a 150 foot tall, massive, and impressive pillar of sandstone. Reached after 2.9 miles of hiking straight up the Devils Garden Trail, there is not much to do here except see the pillar. And the area is exposed. But when we first arrived at Dark Angel, a guy was standing on the top of it. That was an amazing sight! He eventually rappelled down. Unless you want to take the Primitive Trail, we advise skipping Dark Angel.
From Dark Angel, you can return back to the parking area on the Devils Garden Trail, or you can take the Primitive Trail.
The Primitive Trail
This trail is an alternate route back out to the parking lot or to the Devils Garden Campground. It takes you through some amazing scenery, but it is important to not lose the trail, which is marked by rock cairns. It’s is a good idea to locate the next cairn as you hike and keep your eyes on it. We lost our way briefly on the Primitive Trail but were able to quickly get back on it. There are places where you must scramble over rocks and jump over pools of water, so this is not the easy way back, but it has plenty of great rewards.
TIP: When hiking a trail like the Primitive, it’s a good idea to map the hike on your device using an app like Maps.Me. You can then follow your location on the app to ensure you are on trail.
Summary of Roundtrip Hiking Distances at Devils Garden
- From the trailhead to Landscape Arch: 1.6 miles
- To Double O Arch: 4.2 miles, from the trailhead
- To Dark Angel via the main Devils Garden Trail: 5.0 miles.
- To Dark Angel returning on the Primitive Trail: 5.9 miles, from thetrail head.
- Spur Trails:
- To Pinetree and Tunnel Arches: 0.5 miles
- To Navajo and Partition Arches: 0.8 miles
If you hike it all: 7.8 miles!
Nearby Canyonlands National Park: After visiting Arches, why not head over to Canyonlands National Park? It’s only 30 minutes away, and while very different, it is also amazing. Check out our guide to Canyonlands here.
Wonderful!
I know this is going to be a great resource for our trip in April!!
Thanks Charlene. Please let us know what you find helpful. Also, let us know what other destinations you have in mind and we will get you info on those (if we have been there).
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