Arches National Park Travel Guide
National park known for more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches, including the well-known Delicate Arch, as well as a variety of unique geological resources and formations and contains the highest density of natural arches in the world
Arches Visitor Center open 9am to 4pm daily
Admission to Arches National Park is good for seven days
Accepts America The Beautiful Pass
How to Get There
From Moab, UT: Head west on E Center St toward N Main St. Turn right onto US-191 N/N Main St Continue to follow US-191 N. Turn right onto Arches Entrance Rd.
Overview
Arches National Park in eastern Utah, next to the Colorado River four miles north of Moab, has the highest density of natural stone arches in the world, more than 2,000, along with balanced rocks, fins, and pinnacles. It became a national park in 1971. The main park road is about 18 miles, and most sights are close to it.
Highlights
- Delicate Arch: the icon, reached by a 3-mile round-trip hike
- Devils Garden and Landscape Arch: the most arches
- Balanced Rock, Double Arch, and Park Avenue: easy stops
- Fiery Furnace: a maze that requires a permit or a ranger-led hike
Good to Know
- Timed entry: a reservation is required from April through October at many times, so check the park's website
- Heat: summer temperatures often exceed 100 °F; hike at dawn or dusk and carry a gallon of water per person
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Arches National Park", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0
Featured Regions and Trails
Balanced Rock
Largest rock of its kind in the park, weighing approximately the same as an icebreaker ship or 27 blue whales with a short loop trail leading around the base of the rock
Broken Arch
Large sandstone arch rising above desert grasslands and pinyon-juniper woodland, offering an easy hike through open scenery and unique rock formations.
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Fiery Furnace
Courthouse Wash Trail
0.7 mile round trip, 141 ft
Delicate Arch Trail
3.2 miles round trip, 629 ft
A scenic desert canyon hike following a sandy wash with seasonal water, shaded cottonwood groves, and ancient rock art, offering a quieter and more natural experience in Arches National Park.
Jeff P from Berkeley, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted
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Delicate Arch
0.7 mile round trip, 141 ft
Delicate Arch Trail
3.2 miles round trip, 629 ft
Freestanding natural arch is the most widely recognized landmark in Arches National Park and is depicted on Utah license plates and a postage stamp commemorating Utah's centennial anniversary of admission to the Union
Devils Garden Trail
Trail leading directly to Landscape Arch, Tunnel Arch, Pine Tree Arch, Partition, Navajo, Double O, and Private Arch, as well as the Dark Angel monolith and Fin Canyon, which are accessed via the primitive loop trail and its spurs
Double Arch Trail
Close-set pair of natural arches in Arches National and is one of the more known features of the park
Fiery Furnace
Collection of narrow sandstone canyons, fins and natural arches named for the reddish hue it exhibits in sunset light located near the center of Arches National Park
Collection of narrow sandstone canyons, fins and natural arches named for the reddish hue it exhibits in sunset light
Fiery Furnace
Herdina Park
0.7 mile round trip, 141 ft
Delicate Arch Trail
3.2 miles round trip, 629 ft
A remote and lightly visited backcountry area in Arches National Park featuring sandstone fins, hidden arches, and wide-open desert terrain, ideal for exploration away from crowds.
Klondike Bluffs
Klondike Bluffs
0.7 mile round trip, 141 ft
Delicate Arch Trail
3.2 miles round trip, 629 ft
A remote desert hike and 4x4-access route in Arches National Park leading to expansive viewpoints of sandstone fins, arches, and cliffs, offering a quieter alternative to the park’s more crowded areas.
Landscape Arch
Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted
Landscape Arch
0.7 mile round trip, 141 ft
Delicate Arch Trail
3.2 miles round trip, 629 ft
Longest of the many natural rock arches located in Arches National Park and the fifth longest natural arch in the world
Park Avenue and Courthouse Towers
Massive monoliths and towering walls and views of the nearby La Sal Mountains
Sand Dunes Arch
Secluded sandstone arch hidden between towering rock fins and surrounded by deep sand, creating a shaded and uniquely enclosed desert landscape.
Skyline Arch
Large sandstone arch set high within a towering rock wall, reached by a short desert walk and known for its dramatically enlarged opening created by a historic rockfall.
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Tower Arch
A massive sandstone arch perched on a rocky fin above a maze of cliffs, towers, and desert formations, offering one of the most secluded and dramatic viewpoints in the park.
Windows Loop and Turret Arch
Area containing a large concentration of arches and is one of the most scenic locations in the park
