Arches National Park in southern Utah contains the largest concentration of natural arches in the entire world! In the midst of these arches are fantastic hiking trails, primitive backpacking trails, spectacular off-roads, and fabulous camping opportunities.
So whether you’re into off-roading or on-roading, primitive backpacking or easy hiking, or sunrise or sunset, Arches has a little something for everyone!
In this Complete Guide to Arches National Park, I will share the top hikes, the best things to do, when to go, where to stay, and more!
Complete Guide to Arches National Park
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Quick Facts About Arches
- Location: Utah, USA
- Established: 1929 (National Monument), 1971 (National Park)
- Size: 76,519 acres
- Annual Visitors: 1,460,652 (2022)
- Fee: $30/vehicle for 7 days or free with an annual pass
- Visitor Center: Arches
Fun Facts About Arches
There have been several significant rockfalls over the last century.
- 1940: Skyline Arch
- 1975: Balanced Rock
- 1991: Landscape Arch
- 2008: Wall Arch collapsed.
The highest elevation in the park is Elephant Butte at 5,653 feet. The lowest elevation is the Visitor Center at 4,085 feet.
The longest arch in the park is Landscape Arch, which has an opening of 306 feet across. It not only has the longest span in the park but has the fourth-longest span in the entire world.
The tallest arch in the park is Double Arch South, which has a vertical opening of 112 feet.
The park only sees 8-10 inches of rain annually.
There are over 2,000 natural arches in the park. Over the years, many have either fallen, eroded, or collapsed, but new ones may be forming.
Arches National Park contains the highest concentration of natural arches in the world.
The most famous natural arch in the world is Delicate Arch.
Balanced Rock, a famous rock in the park, weighs about 3,577 tons!
There have been at least 11 movies filmed in the park over the years: most notably, Indiana Jones.
Top Hikes in Arches
Delicate Arch
- Distance: 3.2 miles
- Type of Trail: Out & back
- Elevation Gain: 629 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
Delicate Arch is not only the most famous arch in the park but in the world. It’s the face of many Utah license plates and is located at the top of most visitors’ Arches hiking lists.
To get there, you must hike the 3-mile roundtrip trail. The trail is easy at the beginning, moderate to difficult in the middle, and easy again at the end. There are some steep drop-offs at the end and some rigorous ascents and route-finding on sandstone slabs in the middle.
Since the trail is so popular and the ascent is steep in some parts, I’d recommend not hiking this midday in the summer months. We hiked it pre-sunrise in September, and the crowds were minimal, the main parking lot was not quite full, and the air temperature was perfect. Keep in mind that the trailhead is about 12 miles from the entrance station, so allow yourself extra time.
Unless you are hiking Delicate Arch in the middle of winter or the middle of the night, chances are high that there will be a crowd. To ensure everyone can get a photo taken underneath the arch without other people in the background, there is a line. The location of the line might differ when you go, but for us, it was to the left of the arch, several yards away. Ask a bystander or someone in line to snap your photo under the arch!
Devil’s Garden
- Distance: 7.9 miles
- Type of Trail: Loop
- Elevation Gain: 1,085 feet
- Difficulty: Strenuous
Devil’s Garden is the hub for many hiking trails and natural arches in the park. If you choose to hike the entire 7.9-mile Devil’s Garden Trail, you will pass eight natural arches along main, primitive, and spur trails.
If you don’t have time for the whole loop or aren’t comfortable with hiking the primitive section, here are some recommended routes:
- Landscape Arch: 2 miles out & back. This easy trail features the arch with the longest span in the entire park.
- Pinetree and Tunnel Arches: 0.5 miles out & back. This easy trail features two arches. Pinetree is the highlight!
If you have time for the whole Devil’s Garden Trail and are comfortable with hiking the primitive section, I’d highly recommend doing that! It involves route finding and quite a few steep rock scrambles.
→ Read Next: 6 Best Hikes in Arches National Park
Sand Dune Arch and Broken Arch
- Distance: 2.8 miles
- Type of Trail: Loop
- Elevation Gain: 321 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
Sand Dune Arch begins at the Broken Arch Trailhead and is only 0.4 miles roundtrip.
The sandy trail ascends a narrow slot canyon surrounded by two large sandstones that provide ample amounts of shade. You will reach Sand Dune Arch shortly, but the trail continues past it for a little before the slot canyon becomes so narrow that it’s impossible to advance further.
Sand Dune Arch, as its name suggests, is surrounded by sand and is known to see very little sun. If you are hiking in the summer, this makes for a perfect spot to take your shoes off, sink your toes into the sand, and cool off before embarking on the Broken Arch Trail.
Broken Arch Trail is a loop but can be treated as an out & back if you want to see the arch and then return to the trailhead. The trail winds through low brush and spills off at Broken Arch, which earns its name due to the crack that runs the top of the span.
After you climb the rocks under the span, climb back down and return the way you came, or continue on the loop to Tapestry Arch.
Fiery Furnace
- Distance: 2.1 miles
- Type of Trail: Loop
- Elevation Gain: 492 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
The Fiery Furnace is another iconic hike in Arches. This natural maze of narrow slot canyons is unlike any other trail in the park.
If you embark on this adventure, be prepared to crawl, squeeze, and slide through tight spaces, get lost due to the lack of paths and trail markers, and have the absolute time of your life.
Reserve your permit in advance or follow along on a daily ranger-guided tour!
Where to Stay in Arches
Lodging (Inside the Park)
There is no lodging inside the park. Consider camping inside the park or staying outside the park.
Lodging (Outside of the Park)
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott
Camping
Devil’s Garden. This is the only campground in the park. It is 18 miles from the entrance, and sites must be reserved in advance from March 1-October 31. Sites are first-come, first-served between November and February. Facilities include drinking water, picnic tables, grills, and both pit-style and flush toilets.
Backpacking
Backpacking is allowed in designated sites in the park. You must have a permit for all overnight stays in the backcountry at Arches. According to the NPS, most backcountry terrain in Arches is rough and devoid of water, so you must be prepared for things like loose rock, flash floods, steep terrain, and lightning.
For more information on backpacking, visit the NPS webpage.
Getting Around Arches
There are no shuttle services in Arches. All vehicles are welcome, making traffic congestion a real possibility, especially from March through October. Consider visiting in the off-season or arriving early in the morning. Busy trailheads like Delicate Arch and Devil’s Garden begin filling up before sunrise.
The park’s main road is 36 miles roundtrip. On average, it might take you 45 minutes to reach the end of the road from the entrance station if you made no stops. There are several pull-offs, trailhead parking areas, and overlooks to stop, stretch your legs, and soak in some unbeatable panoramic views.
In 2023, timed-entry reservations are required to enter Arches National Park. Visit the NPS website to find out more information. And read my guide on Visiting the National Parks in 2023 or details regarding timed entry for every park in the system.
When to Visit
Arches is open year-round, so which season is the best to visit?
Overall, the best time to visit Arches National Park is spring and fall.
But here are the perks of visiting in each season.
Spring. Air temperatures are tolerable, but crowds are high since this is the most ideal time to visit the park. April and May are the best months to see wildflowers.
Summer. Temperatures can reach above 100 degrees. Crowds are high, and popular trails like Delicate Arch and Devil’s Garden can be unbearable in the high heat. But everything is open, and heat can be tolerated with proper sun protection and by hiking at either sunrise or sunset.
Fall. Air temperatures are tolerable, ranging from 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Crowds are lesser than they are in the peak summer season, making the trails potentially less congested.
Winter. Daytime temperatures are in the forties and fifties but can dip down below freezing during the night. Winter offers a new perspective that not many get to see. Snow is possible but it rarely sticks around for more than a couple of days. The snow offers a pretty juxtaposition to the vibrant red rock.
Best Non-Hiking Activities
Drive Through the Park Road
The park’s main road is 18 miles long with no outlet. You could easily spend the majority of the day driving along the road and stopping at all of the pull-offs and viewpoints before turning around and heading back down.
Here are some of the best spots to pull over and admire the scenes:
- La Sal Mountains Viewpoint. The La Sal Mountains are Utah’s second-highest mountain range. The mountains backdrop the fiery red rock of the natural arches, making it quite an incredible scene.
- Balanced Rock. This is a must-see on your drive. Pull over, get out of your car, and either admire the formation from the parking lot or walk the short distance that loops around the unique rock.
- Windows District. You can see windows, arches, and caves by winding through the loop. You don’t even have to get out of your car! But it is worth it to park and walk the short trail to admire the formations up close.
If you have a 4×4 or high clearance vehicle, consider driving along the less-trafficked, unpaved sections of the park:
- Salt Valley
- Willow Flats
Stargaze
In 2019, Arches National Park became the newest addition to the elite International Dark Sky Park list.
These are the best places to stargaze in the park:
- Balanced Rock
- Windows District
- Garden of Eden Viewpoint
- Delicate Arch
- Panorama Point
Have a Picnic
I can’t think of a better spot to enjoy a picnic than a National Park. Bring a cooler full of your favorite food and drinks, and a comfortable camp chair, and stay awhile!
Here are the best picnic spots in the park:
- Panorama Point
- Devil’s Garden
- Balanced Rock (across the road)
- Delicate Arch Viewpoint
Go Rock Climbing
Arches National Park offers a treasure trove of climbing opportunities. The sandstone rocks and slot canyons beckon many climbers to scale their walls.
Here are some of the best and most popular climbing areas and routes:
- Elephant Butte
- Devil’s Golf Ball
- The Three Penguins
- Dark Angel
For rules, routes, permits, and closure updates visit the NPS site.
The Best Spots for Sunrise and Sunset in Arches
Sunrise
- Delicate Arch
- Turret Arch
- Panorama Point
- Devil’s Garden
Sunset
- Delicate Arch
- Panorama Point
- Balanced Rock
- Fiery Furnace
What to Explore Around Arches
If you’re visiting Arches, I’d highly recommend stopping by the other four National Parks in southern Utah: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, and Canyonlands. Aside from these Mighty Five parks, here are some other beautiful places to visit around Arches:
- Dead Horse Point State Park
- Bears Ears National Monument
- Colorado National Monument
- Natural Bridges National Monument
- Mesa Verde National Park
- Sand Flats Recreation Area
