Top Things To Do in Arches National Park

Arches National Park has over 2,000 natural stone arches, the largest concentration in the world! It is home to the famous Delicate Arch, which is found on Utah license plates. Visitors will also be awed by balanced rocks, spires and pinnacles, whimsical formations, and vast petrified dunes.

Arches is located 5 miles north of the town of Moab, 26 miles northwest from Canyonlands National Park, and 230 miles southeast of Salt Lake City.

Arches is a U.S. National Park

Arches is one of the 63 U.S. National Parks. (A National Park is a scenic or historically important area of countryside protected by the federal government. Its purpose is the enjoyment of the general public or the preservation of land and wildlife).

Designated a National Park in 1971, Arches is one of the 5 U.S. National Parks in Utah. The others are Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion.

Fun fact! Arches National Park was featured in the opening scene of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

Visit Arches National Park

Arches National Park is open 24 hours a day 365 days a year. No reservation is required for park entry. Passes can be purchased online or at the park entrance.

Admission is $30 for private vehicles, $25 for motorcycles, and $15 for individuals with no car. It is valid for 7 days. Or you can purchase a Southeast Utah Parks Pass for $55.00. It is valid for one year from the month of purchase. For more information, call the Arches Visitor Information Line 435-719-2299.

Another option is to purchase a U.S. Park Pass for $80. It is valid for 12 months at over 2,000 federal recreation sites.

Things To Do in Arches National Park

Bryce Canyon features hiking trails, a scenic drive, camping, picnic areas, ATV riding, and helicopter rides.

Driving is the fastest way to see the park, but hiking the trails is the most rewarding. To see the famed arches, the two best trails are Delicate Arch and Landscape Arch.

National Park Service Suggested Itineraries

* If you have 1.5 hours: Drive to The Windows Section and see some of the park’s largest arches. (Add a half hour to stroll beneath either North Windows or Double Arch). Or drive to Delicate Arch Viewpoint and see the world’s most famous arch, a mile distant. Stop at Wolfe Ranch on your way back and imagine what it would have been like to homestead this relatively barren area in the late 1800s.

* If you have 3 hours: Do both of the above.

* If you have 4.5 hours: Drive all of the paved park roads, spending 10 minutes at each viewpoint, and be sure to visit The Windows Section, Wolfe Ranch, and Delicate Arch Viewpoint.

Arches National Park Scenic Drive

The Arches National Park Scenic Drive covers the entire length of the park. It stops at 11 of the 13 most popular sections.

You will see Park Avenue, Courthouse Towers, Petrified Dunes, the Great Wall, Balanced Rock, Windows Section, Garden of Eden, Wolfe Ranch, Delicate Arch, Fiery Furnace, and Skyline Arch.

You will not see Devils Garden or Klondike Bluffs. (They can only be seen by hiking or driving an unpaid road).

Does Arches National Park have a Shuttle?

Unlike some national parks, Arches does NOT have a shuttle system. So unfortunately, during peak season (Spring – Fall from 8:00am-3:00pm) there are long wait times and busy parking lots.

Parking lots at trailheads often fill up before 9:00am, causing the park to temporarily restrict access for 3-5 hours.

I visited Arches the second week of November and there were no lines and plenty of parking. Check out the Arches Traffic & Travel Tips page for more info.

Arches Visitor Center

The Arches Visitor Center is located right next to the park entrance. It features park exhibits, a park movie, and a bookstore. Rangers are on duty to answer questions. Restrooms and drinking water are available.

The Visitor Center is open daily (except for December 25). Hours vary by season.

1) Park Avenue

After you pass the Visitor Center, you will climb steep switchback roads. You will then see Park Avenue, the first major area of the park.

Park Avenue features a flat walled canyon that looks like a big city skyline. There are several oddly shaped pinnacles, and a great cross section of the main sandstone layers.

You can walk among massive monoliths and towering walls and see views of the nearby La Sal Mountains.

Park Ave Trail

Park Ave Trail is a 1 mile one-way hike from Park Avenue to Courthouse Towers.

The moderate hike takes you along a canyon floor. And offers close up views of massive fins, balanced rocks, and lofty monoliths.

The National Park Service suggests that you arrange to be picked up by a driver at the other end. Or for round-trip hiking, please return on the park trail rather than walking along the park road.

1.5) La Sal Mountains Viewpoint

Next you will come upon the La Sal Mountains Viewpoint. It is a great place to see the rock formations of Courthouse Towers (see below).

To the east you can see the La Sal Mountains, a mountain range located in the Utah counties of Grand and San Juan counties along the border with Colorado. Located outside the park, the range rises above and southeast of Moab and north of the town of La Sal.

2) Courthouse Towers

The next area of the park is Courthouse Towers. It contains many large monoliths (freestanding rocks) which are remnants of a large now eroded mesa. This includes the Tower of Babel, the Organ, Sheep Rock, and the Three Gossips.

There are no major arches at Courthouse Towers, but there is a baby arch in the rock wall to the left of Sheep Rock.

The Rise and Fall of an Arch

Stone Arches erode over millions of years and then eventually fall. Experts think that Sheep Rock once had an arch that connected the “sheep” to the rock mass that it faces. Look at the pictures below and see if you agree.

3) Petrified Dunes

This vast area was once covered by extensive sand dunes. 200 million years ago winds from the northwest carried tons of fine grained sand into this area, creating an immense desert.

Over time, the sand drifts were covered by other layers of sediment, compressed, and cemented by quartz and calcite into Navajo Sandstone.

Erosion has since washed away the overlying layers, exposing the “petrified” dunes. (They are not actually “petrified” since they were never organic like wood. In this situation it means sand cemented into rock).

4) The Great Wall

The Great Wall is a long line of sandstone cliffs that parallels the main park road for several miles. It marks the front line in the battle between the forces of erosion and ancient sandstorms.

5) Balanced Rock

Balanced Rock is a boulder that is precariously balancing on an eroding pedestal. Contradictory to its name, Balanced Rock is not balanced. In fact, the 128 foot tall, 3,600 ton formation is going to fall one day.

Balanced Rock shows the contrast between two layers of rock. The stronger layer of Entrada Sandstone forms the massive cap. Conversely, the lower layer shows how easily some sandstone types (in this case Dewey Bridge mudstone) can be eroded.

There is an easy (.3 miles round trip) walk from the parking lot to the base of Balanced Rock.

6) The Windows

The Windows Section of the park contains some of the largest and most accessible arches. North and South Windows – together known as the Spectacle – are classic rounded arch shapes.

Turner Arch

Turner Arch has two oddly shaped openings.

Double Arch

Double Arch is my favorite arch. It is beautiful to see the blue sky though its openings

One of the Double Arch openings has a height of 112 feet, which is the highest in the park. And it has a span of 144 feet, which is the third longest in the park.

Windows Trails

The Windows Trail leads to North and South Windows. It is a gentle .7 mile roundtrip climb up a gravel trail. The payoff is to stand in the opening of North Window.

You can return to the parking lot via the same trail, or take the slightly longer Primitive trail around the Windows by starting at South Window Viewpoint (1 mile roundtrip).

An offshoot leads to Turret Arch, a distinctive landform with two openings. It is a relatively easy 1.1 mile trail that starts and ends at the Windows parking lot.

Travel Tip: The first 100 yards may be accessible to wheelchairs with assistance.

Double Arch Trail

Double Arch Trail is a .25 mile short, easy stroll through some loose sand to the awe inspiring twin arches.

You access the Double Arch Trail from the other side of the loop road. There is a smaller parking area there. Or you can walk on a trail between the Windows trailhead and the Double Arch trailhead.

7) Garden of Eden

The Garden of Eden contains whimsical and intriguing pinnacles and walls.

8) Wolfe Ranch

Wolfe Ranch is a log cabin built in 1988 by a settler named John Wesley Wolfe. The Wolfe family tried to eke out a living here for over 10 years. Imagine trying to survive in this inhospitable location!

You can see the cabin on the Delicate Arch Trail.

Delicate Arch Trail

There are 3 different hiking trails to Delicate Arch.

The 3 mile (round trip) Delicate Arch Trail is the best one; it literally takes you to the base of the arch. (In contrast, Lower Delicate Arch Viewpoint and Upper Delicate Arch Viewpoint Trails dead end up to one mile from Delicate Arch).

Delicate Arch Trail is a moderately strenuous hike that takes around 2 hours. It starts and ends at the Wolfe Ranch parking lot. As an added bonus, the trail passes the Wolfe Ranch cabin and a wall of Ute Indian petroglyphs.

The trail is well defined for about the first half mile, then steeply climbs up an open slickrock. Just before reaching the arch, the trail traverses a narrow Rick ledge for about 200 feet.

Straight uphill!

On the way to the arch, the trail is uphill the entire way. A 480 foot climb with no shade, Delicate Arch Trail is a difficult trail, especially in hot weather. It is not safe for small children as there are drop-offs.

The National Park Service asks potential hikers to carefully consider weather conditions (summer heat or winter ice) and their own health and fitness before beginning this hike. Rangers frequently rescue people who underestimated the trail’s difficulty!

9) Delicate Arch

Delicate Arch is the most famous arch in the world, and the most well-known rock formation in all of Utah. It is not the longest, widest, or tallest arch. But it is the most photographed. A picture of Delicate Arch is on all Utah license plates.

Delicate Arch stands on the edge of a smooth sandstone bowl, with the dramatic La Sal mountains in the background. Carved in Entrada Sandstone, this freestanding arch is composed mostly of the Slick Rock Member. The top is a 5 foot thick layer of Moab Tongue.

A remnant of an agent fin, Delicate Arch has an opening 46 feet high and 32 feet wide. Water and time have sculpted the arch, and erosion continues to slowly wear away the features of this mature span.

Lower Delicate Arch Viewpoint

There are two ways to see Delicate Arch from the Delicate Arch Viewpoint Parking Lot.

The lower trail on the right is an easy 5 minute walk. It is the worst view in the world!!! The arch is.75 miles in the distance. It is the size of a dime, even when I pressed zoom on my iPhone camera.

Upper Delicate Arch Viewpoint

The upper trail on the left winds up the slickrock ridge where you can get a closer look at Delicate Arch from a different angle. It is a 15 minute walk that includes stairs. However, you are still far away from the arch.

10) Fiery Furnace

Fiery Furnace is a maze of cool, shady canyons between towering sandstone walls. Contrary to its name, Fiery Furnace is not a hot place. It is named for the warm glow seen on the rocks in the afternoon.

Fiery Furnace Hikes

Although there are no trails, the Fiery Furnace area is a popular hiking destination. You need to get an individual permit. Or you can take the Ranger led hike. It is 2 miles and takes 3 hours. Tickets go on sale 6 months in advance and are in high demand. Reservations are required.

During this physically demanding hike, you will walk and climb on irregular and broken sandstone, along narrow ledges above drop-offs, and in loose sand. There are gaps you must jump across and narrow places that you must squeeze into and pull yourself up and through. In some places, you must hold yourself off the ground by pushing against the sandstone walls with your hands and feet.

Check out this video of the Fiery Furnace Ranger led hike. In order to get an individual permit, you have to watch this Fiery Furnace Permit Video.

11) Skyline Arch

Skyline Arch is an arch in a high wall. In 1940 a large boulder suddenly fell out of Skyline Arch, roughly doubling the size of its opening. It now has a span of 71 feet and a height of 33.5 feet.

A short, 15 minute out-and-back hike on a well defined trail leads to the arch.

Or you can get closer to the arch by taking a sidewalk from the Devils Garden Campground. Drive into the campground and park at the amphitheater parking area. Follow the path to the amphitheater for a view of Skyline Arch. This path is accessible to wheelchairs.

12) Devils Garden

Devils Garden is located at the end of the scenic drive; 18 miles from the park entrance. If features a campground, picnic area, and the Devils Garden Trail.

Devils Garden Trail

The Devils Garden Trail is a 7.8 mile loop that is the longest trail in Arches. It takes you to 8 arches (Tunnel, Pine Tree, Private, Dark, Double O, Navajo, Partition, and Landscape).

Landscape Arch

Landscape Arch is the longest arch on the planet!!! It has a span of 290 feet, and is only 6 feet thick at its center; which is very thin for its length. Erosion, weather, and gravity are constantly wearing away at the rock. Like all arches, it could collapse at any time.

If you don’t want to walk the entire Devils Garden Trail, you can walk 1.6 miles round trip to Landscape Arch.

Sand Dune Arch

Sand Dune Arch cannot be seen from the main road. You have to take the Sand Dune Arch Trail, which is a .2 mile easy stroll through a sandy area.

Well concealed between two sandstone fins, the shady area around the arch is a great spot on hot days.

My Spiritual Experience

When I got to Devils Garden the sun was setting on the rock monoliths and made them look orrange. I got out of my car to take pictures and stumbled upon a narrow trail between 2 large rock mountains that intrigued me.

I had to walk sideways in between the “rock mountains” (which I now know are called fins). It made me kind of nervous but kept going. When I walked past the rock mountains, I was in a square “room” sized place with red sand on the ground surrounded by large rock walls.

Solitude

And then it happened. I finally reached the silence and solitude that people hope to find in national parks.

Even though it was November, there were people at every other place I had been to in the park. But since the sun was about to go down, there was no one in the “rock enclosure” but me. And I was far enough away from the main road that I could no longer hear cars driving by.

It was silent. Pure unadulterated silence. Something I had not heard (or not heard) for years if ever. I was enamored with being alone with nature. It was pure unadulterated bliss.The fact that I had this serene experience in a place named after the devil is not lost on me. May you all find your special place!

I now think that I was on Sand Dune Arch Trail, and if I had waked just a little while further I would have seen Sand Dune Arch. Next time!

13) Klondike Bluffs

Klondike Bluffs is a remote area that can only be accessed by an unpaved road. You take Salt Valley Road from the main park road to Klondike Bluffs and the Tower Arch trailhead. The road is two-wheel-drive in normal conditions.

13.5) Salt Valley

Underneath the Salt Valley floor is a thick layer of salt thousands of feet deep. It was formed by the evaporation of ancient oceans.

For 290 million years, the salt was buried by sand, salt, and other sediments. Under pressure, the less dense salt rose into a dome, partly dissolved, and then collapsed, creating Salt Valley.

Wildlife

Wildlife sightings are not common in Arches National Park, but signs of life are everywhere. Tracks, burrows, webs, and nests reveal the activity of animals adapted to the environment.

Mule deer are the most commonly seen large mammals in the park. They are named after their large ears, which helps dissipate heat.

The eerie howl of the coyote is a classic desert nighttime sound. They are omnivorous (which means they eat anything) and opportunistic. Therefore, they are sometimes seen begging humans for food.

A small population of Desert Bighorn Sheep lives in Arches. However, they are rarely seen. Big Horn Sheep like to eat Blackbrush, a common shrub that is not eaten by most animals. The magnificent curled horns are more massive on the male rams. Female ewes grow shorter, spiked horns.

Dining in Arches National Park

There are no dining options (or lodge) inside Arches National Park. Therefore, you should bring your own food. (Maybe grab some food at your hotel’s continental breakfast?)

I have a theory that there is a Subway sandwich shop at the entrance of every national park. There is no Subway at the Arches entrance, but there is one in nearby Moab.

Dining & Lodging near Arches National Park

Arches National Park is 5 miles from the city of Moab. It has a lot of restaurants and hotels. Questions? Contact the Moab Visitor Center, located at 25 E. Center Street. Or call 435-259-8825.

You Might Also Like…