6 Best Hikes in Arches National Park

The hiking trails in Arches National Park are strikingly diverse. You can be walking on simple paved paths on one trail and scrambling up steep, narrow fins of slickrock on another, but one thing is uniform across all trails: endless impressive landscapes oozing with otherworldly features.

So what are the best hikes in Arches? In this guide, I’m going share the six best hiking trails in Arches National Park that I recommend everyone hike. As a bonus, I will reveal two extra trails to add to your list just in case you have additional time.

These Arches National Park trails feature sandstone fins, slot canyons, jumbo rocks, and slickrock on a spectrum of easy paved paths all the way to complicated rock scrambles – a special kind of diversity that appeals to any level of skill and ability.

All of these Arches hiking trails are accessible via the main paved park road. You do not need a 4×4 vehicle to access any of the trails on this list.

Reminder: As always, practice exemplary trail etiquette and leave no trace when recreating outdoors.

Things to Know Before Your Visit

• Timed-entry reservations are required for all vehicles entering Arches National Park between 7 AM and 4 PM from April 1-October 31, 2024. Reserve your tickets in advance here.
• Entrance into the park is $30/per vehicle. The pass is valid for 7 consecutive days. If you’re going to be spending your time at the other Utah Mighty Five National Parks, I’d suggest investing in an $80 annual National Parks pass. It’ll pay for itself after visiting 3 parks!
• The best time of year to visit Arches National Park is spring and fall.

Tips for Hiking in Arches National Park

• Pack the 10 essentials. No matter what length of trail(s) you’ll be hiking, it’s important to always carry the 10 Essentials in your backpack.
• Start early and stay late. Bring a headlamp and prepare to hike in the dark because this park gets crowded during the day.
• Leave no trace. As you should in every destination, leave no trace. Read my guide on how to practice the leave no trace principles when you’re hiking and camping.

6 Best Hikes in Arches National Park

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1. Devil’s Garden Primitive Loop

• Distance: 7.9 miles
• Type of Trail: Loop
• Elevation Gain: 1,085 feet
• Difficulty: Strenuous
• Pet-Friendly: No

The primitive trail at Devil’s Garden is without a doubt the best trail in Arches National Park. If you only have time to hike one trail, I’d spend your time here.

Why here, and not the more famous Delicate Arch? Fewer crowds flock to the primitive section of the loop, making the hike more enjoyable.

This fun trail is 100% customizable, which is what makes it attractive to a wide variety of hikers. You can hike to Landscape Arch (the most popular arch in Devil’s Garden) and turn around, you can take all or none of the spur trails, or you can choose to scramble up and around the entire primitive loop.

No matter which path you take, you’ll get to see much of what Arches has to offer.

If you hike the entire primitive loop, you’ll get to see eight spectacular natural arches, scramble across colossal rock features, and hike along steep slickrock.

Note that the primitive portion is poorly marked due to its complex trail terrain. Cairns are used sparsely to indicate the path, but it’s recommended that you download a map to your phone before your hike (along with referring to a paper map). You can learn more about trail navigation here.

2. Delicate Arch

• Distance: 3.2 miles
• Type of Trail: Out & back
• Elevation Gain: 629 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Pet-Friendly: No

This is another iconic hike in Arches National Park. Delicate Arch is one of the most famous and recognizable geologic features in the world. The 52-foot freestanding natural arch stands prominently in a bowl of smooth sandstone.

Unlike the Devil’s Garden primitive loop, you will be surrounded by many people on this well-liked hike. Due to the intense popularity, I’d recommend arriving before sunrise and hiking in the dark so that you can snag a coveted parking spot.

Delicate Arch happens to be the best sunrise hike in Arches National Park. Don’t forget your headlamp!

Throughout the Delicate Arch trail, you’ll be climbing up a semi-steep slab of slickrock, skirting sheer ledges, and completing the hike at the base of the imposing natural arch.

PRO TIP: If you aren’t up for the hike but still want to see the arch, consider hiking the Lower Delicate Arch Viewpoint trail. It is a much easier, shorter hike with views of the backside of the arch.

3. Landscape Arch

• Distance: 1.9 miles
• Type of Trail: Out & back
• Elevation Gain: 252 feet
• Difficulty: Easy
• Pet-Friendly: No

The Landscape Arch hike is part of the Devil’s Garden trail, but I’m including it as a separate hike on this list because not everyone will choose to complete the entire loop.

The best piece of the loop, aside from the primitive section, is Landscape Arch. So whether or not you choose to hike all of the spurs or continue on to the primitive loop at Devil’s Garden, Landscape Arch is a must-see.

This easy trail leads you to a spectacular ribbon arch that also happens to be the longest arch in North America.

Fun Fact: A piece of Landscape Arch collapsed from a rock fall in 1991. Watch the video of the rock fall here.

4. Fiery Furnace

• Distance: 2.1 miles
• Type of Trail: Loop
• Elevation Gain: 492 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Pet-Friendly: No

Fiery Furnace is another sought-after trail that is a little more difficult to access. The reason for this is that a permit is required to hike this trail. And the permits are really hard to get.

You’ll need to obtain a permit in advance to hike it either by yourself or with a ranger. This trail isn’t exactly challenging but it is difficult to navigate, making it potentially dangerous.

If you’re going to hike it by yourself, prepare to watch an orientation video, fill out paperwork, and engage in a Q&A session with a park ranger before your hike.

If you opt to go with a ranger instead, you’ll get to learn about the geology of the trail as you safely navigate the complicated terrain.

This complex but adventurous hike involves traversing demanding terrain, climbing on broken sandstone, hiking across narrow ledges, jumping across gaps, and squeezing through narrow spaces.

If you’re going to be hiking without a ranger, don’t forget your map, compass, and GPS! Getting lost is a real concern out there. Here are some tips on how to avoid getting lost on trails.

See where Arches National Park ranks on my Utah National Parks Ranked Best to Worst blog!

5. Sand Dune and Broken Arch

• Distance: 1.4 miles
• Type of Trail: Out & back
• Elevation Gain: 154 feet
• Difficulty: Easy
• Pet-Friendly: No

This hike tends to be less crowded than many of the other hikes in the park. Its lack of the “wow factor” that some of the other trails boast causes many visitors to skip this one. But because of the solitude (and the delightful shade), this was actually one of my favorite trails in the park.

The hike to Sand Dune Arch is unique to the rest of the trails in the park. You’ll walk through two sandstone fins that narrow to form a slot canyon on the way to the arch. Squeeze through the slot and cool off in the rare, luxurious shade that the trail provides.

Once you reach the arch, the fun doesn’t end there. Wander around the sandy area and see what you can explore! Or rehydrate and fuel up for your next hike by enjoying a snack in the comfort of the pleasant shade.

Once you hike back from Sand Dune Arch, follow the signs to the Broken Arch trail.

Fun Fact: Broken Arch isn’t actually broken; there’s just an indention at the top.

You can hike this trail as an out & back to the arch or make it a loop by following the path to the campground and back around via a moderate rock scramble.

Mileage and elevation gain will change depending on the path you decide to hike. Customize the trail to meet your time and physical needs!

The roundtrip distance from the campground to Broken Arch is 1.4 miles while the entire loop is 2.3 miles. If you just hike to Broken Arch from Sand Dune Arch, you’ll be hiking about 1.2 miles roundtrip.

6. Windows Loop

• Distance: 0.7 miles
• Type of Trail: Loop
• Elevation Gain: 98 feet
• Difficulty: Easy
• Pet-Friendly: No

The Windows area contains the highest concentration of arches in the park. It is an extraordinary section of the park because you can see many spectacular arches with little to no effort, making it very family-friendly and accessible.

You can spy many arches from the parking lot, but if you can, get a closer look by hiking on the gravel trail to the face of the formations. North Window is my favorite because you can walk up and look through the arch from beneath its expanse.

In this Windows area, you’ll also pass by more natural arches like Turret Arch and South Window, and natural features like the Garden of Eden, Elephant Butte, and Parade of Elephants.

PRO TIP: Combine this trail with another easy trail, Double Arch (mentioned below), for one bang-for-your-buck hike.

2 Bonus Hikes in Arches National Park

If you have extra time to spend in the park, here are two more trails that I’d suggest hiking!

1. Balanced Rock

• Distance: 0.3 miles
• Type of Trail: Loop
• Elevation Gain: 55 feet
• Difficulty: Easy
• Pet-Friendly: No

The balanced rock is an extremely recognizable feature in Arches National Park. This massive rock formation resembles a football trophy and is believed to weigh over 3,500 tons.

The way that its oversized “head” teeters confidently on its smaller-sized pedestal is what attracts many to crane their necks and stop their vehicle for a photo.

While you can see the jumbo rock from the parking lot, and even from the road, I’d encourage you to walk the easy trail that winds around the impressive formation. The views of the rock morph as you wander around it.

2. Double Arch

• Distance: 0.6 miles
• Type of Trail: Out & back
• Elevation Gain: 95 feet
• Difficulty: Easy
• Pet-Friendly: No

Double Arch is an impressive arch that consists of two arches that share the same “outer leg” foundation.

This easy trail takes off from the Windows area parking lot, so before or after you complete the Windows loop, consider hiking to the Double Arch!

Looking for a complete guide to exploring Arches National Park? Read my guide here to find out where to stay, when to go, the best things to do, the best places to watch the sunrise and sunset, and more!

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