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.
About 300–700 ft elevation gain
Easy to moderate (can become challenging off-trail)
Accessible during daylight hours
How to Get There
From Moab (~15 mi): Enter Arches National Park and follow the main scenic drive about 8.5 miles to the Balanced Rock area. Just before the pullout, turn onto the dirt road (Willow Springs Road) and continue about 0.8 miles to a junction. From there, follow the marked 4WD road for about 2 miles to reach the Herdina Park and Eye of the Whale Arch area.
Overview
The Herdina Park area is one of the most secluded regions within Arches National Park, offering a stark contrast to the park’s busy viewpoints. Set among a maze of Entrada sandstone fins, domes, and shallow canyons, the area is home to striking formations such as Eye of the Whale Arch and Leaping Arch. Despite being located near popular sites like Balanced Rock, it remains largely overlooked due to the rough access road and lack of formal trail infrastructure.
Most visitors follow short paths from the 4WD parking area to the nearby arches, but the true appeal lies in wandering across the open slickrock and exploring the interconnected ravines and ridgelines. Routes are generally unmarked, encouraging a sense of discovery as hikers navigate between rock formations and viewpoints. With minimal signage, no water sources, and full sun exposure, preparation and navigation awareness are essential, but the reward is solitude and an immersive desert experience rarely found elsewhere in the park.
This article uses material from official National Park Service resources and regional trail guides for Arches National Park, which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.
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