RT Delicate Arch

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

General Information

Length:

Delicate Arch Viewpoint
0.7 mile round trip

Delicate Arch Trail
3.2 miles roundtrip

Elevation Gain:

Delicate Arch Viewpoint
141 ft

Delicate Arch Trail
629 ft

Pet Policy:

Pets NOT allowed on trails

Seasons:

All year; Summer is very hot and no shade onlong trail

Trailhead:

Along the side road to Wolfe Ranch

Location:

Delicate Arch Trailhead, Arches National Park, UT

Website:

Delicate Arch Trailhead, Arches National Park, UT

How to Get There

From Moab (15 mi): Drive north on US-191, turn right onto Arches Entrance Road, follow the scenic drive past Balanced Rock, and turn onto the Wolfe Ranch spur road to reach the Delicate Arch Trailhead parking area.

Overview

Delicate Arch is a 52-foot freestanding arch of Entrada Sandstone near Moab, the most recognizable landmark in Utah (it is on the state's license plates). It is what remains of a sandstone fin worn away by weathering and erosion. The classic view is at sunset, with the La Sal Mountains behind, so bring a headlamp for the walk down.

Top Trails

Trail	Length	Elevation Gain	Highlights
Delicate Arch Trail	3 miles round trip	About 480 feet	Moderate to strenuous, over slickrock with little shade; carry plenty of water
Lower Viewpoint	0.6 mile round trip	Minimal	A distant view of the arch, easy
Upper Viewpoint	0.5 mile round trip	About 100 feet	A closer view across a canyon, moderate

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Delicate Arch", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0