These great Arches National Park Hikes put you right in the middle of the world’s highest concentration of natural sandstone arches with over 2,000 arches identified within the park. It is no longer a hidden gem within the National Park System either. Photos of icons like Delicate Arch have led the general public to fall in love with Arches and has made it one of the most visited National Parks in the United States.
You can anticipate a line to get into the park and full parking lots once you do get in. The Arches National Park hiking trails will be full of people and there will be photographers jockeying for the perfect spot to get their favorite photograph to take back home and show their friends. It is also common to see several international tourists making the trek to Arches as they too have seen photos of this magnificent place.
You may ask yourself if it is worth going? I will tell you the answer is without a doubt Yes! I have visited Arches several times and hiked the best hikes in Arches National Park and have come up with my list of the best hikes in Arches National Park.
Arches National Park Hikes
Park Avenue Trail
- Distance: 1-Mile One Way or 2 miles round trip
- Elevation change: 320 feet
- Hiking time: 30-60 minutes each way
- Trail Rating: Moderate
Park Avenue is the first trail you will run into after entering the park. This is a moderate trail with epic views of monoliths, The Three Gossips, Sheep Rock, The Organ and Tower of Babel!
You can make this a one-way 1-mile hike if you have someone that can pick you up at the Courthouse Towers Viewpoint. I see many people itching to get out of the car and hit the first trail head when they get to Arches National Park.
I suggest visiting Park Avenue in the evening as it is better for photography. If you are in the morning hours make sure to stop at the Courthouse Towers Viewpoint as the Three Gossips are beautiful and do photograph better in the morning light.
Delicate Arch Hike
- Distance: 3 Miles Round trip
- Elevation change: 480 feet
- Hiking Time: 2-3 hours
- Trail Rating: Difficult
Delicate Arch is more than an arch, it’s a symbol of the American Southwest. Delicate arch replaced Utah’s Olympic Winter Games license plate and has been easily recognized as the symbol of Utah ever since. This is also one of my most memorable hikes and is one of my top 10 all time hikes in the National Parks!
Delicate Arch Trail is considered a difficult trail for a good reason; it’s not just the distance and elevation gain/loss, it's because you will be hiking on the exposed slick rock with the Southwests baking sun bearing down on you the whole hike with absolutely no shade.
The hike starts off going straight uphill in direct sunlight and not much to see. If it were not for the huge crowds you would think that you were off the trail as you don't see the arch and only red rock in front of you.
Something happens after hiking over a mile, you begin to walk along a rock a short rock wall. I personally will never forget the moment when I walked around the rock wall and Delicate Arch stood there in it's full beauty! It all but took my breath away.
I stood in amazement soaking in the moment. When I came back to my senses I noticed the sheer number of people and the whole one side was nothing but photographers fighting for position for the perfect shot.
Delicate Arch itself brings in photographers from around the world. You don't need to be a pro to get a good photograph, just know the best time to photograph Delicate Arch is in the Late Afternoon. Also make sure to be prepared if there is a full moon. Photographers flock to Delicate Arch on full moons attempting to get the perfect shot with Delicate Arch and a Full Moon.
For a fun perspective go to the lower Delicate Arch overlook. Here you will see what looks like hundreds of ants climbing up and around the arch. Upon closer inspection, you will notice it is all the hikers making their way to Delicate Arch.
Devils Garden Trail
- Distance: 7.2 miles round trip
- Hiking Time: 3-5 hours
- Trail Rating: Difficult
The Devils Garden Hike is not your typical hike where you go to see a single destination. This incredible trail has seven Arches including: Landscape Arch, Tunnel Arch, Pine Tree Arch, Partition Arch, Navajo Arch, Double O Arch and if you decide to make it a loop trail along the primitive trail you can see Primitive Arch. You can also hike to the 150-foot sandstone tower named Dark Angel and a primitive loop where you can hike among the sandstone fins that will someday become future Arches.
Devils Garden is a difficult trail and should not be attempted when the rock is wet or icy. The trail becomes more challenging after passing Landscape Arch at .8 miles with narrow ledges, rock scrambling up the slick rock, uneven trail surfaces, and exposure to heights. You can go as little as a half mile or hike the full loop depending on what you want to see and do just make sure you show up early as the parking lot will fill up.
The Devils Garden Trail, along with the Delicate Arch Trail is on my top ten hikes in all of the National Parks! That's right, you get 2 jaw dropping hikes in one national park! It is here that you get to see why Arches was named as Arches National Park has the highest concentration of Arches in the World!
Sand Dune Arch
- Distance: .3 mile round trip
- Hiking Time: 15-30 minutes
- Trail Rating: Easy
Sand Dune Arch is an easy short hike from the parking lot. It is still enough to get your blood pumping as it is a slight uphill climb in the soft deep sand. If you want to take a longer hike you can also hike to Broken Arch then to Tapestry Arch located just behind the Amphitheater in the Devils Garden Campground.
The parking lot at Sand Dune Arch is generally full in the summertime. This is a good time to exercise some patience and wait a few minutes for a parking space. Remember that this is a easy .3 mile round trip this and hikers move through this hike rather quickly and off to the bigger hikes in the park.
Click here to read more about Sand Dune Arch Trail.
The Windows Section
- Distance: 1-mile round trip
- Hiking Time: 30-60 minutes
- Trail Rating: Easy
The Windows area of Arches includes Turret Arch, North Window, and South Window. Most people recognize this section by the famous photograph of Turret Arch seen through the North Window.
This is a nice 1-mile hike with incredible views!
Double Arch Trail
- Distance: 0.6 mile round-trip
- Hiking Time: 15-30 minutes
- Trail Rating: Easy
My personal favorite arch in the Windows Section is Double Arch. Each time I see this arch I start humming the tune from the opening of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The opening scene started here however the cave and railroad do not exist.
Double Arch is the tallest arch in the park at 122 feet and is visible from the parking lot. Its fun to hike up to the base of the arch for a completely different perspective.
Balanced Rock Trail
- Distance: .3 mile roundtrip
- Hiking Time: 15-30 minutes
- Trail Rating: Easy
You can easily see Balanced Rock from the road and many people simply drive past it taking photos from the window of their moving cars, seriously you can see people doing this from the trail!
It’s a pity because this short .3-mile paved loop gets you up close and personal to this rock. It feels like you are flirting with danger standing below while this rock is perched on top and looks like it could fall at any moment.
Fiery Furnace Hike
- Distance: Approx. 2 Miles, Ranger Led Hike
- Hiking Time: 2 Hours
- Trail Rating: Difficult
The Fiery Furnace is an incredible labyrinth of narrow sandstone canyons. There is no trail here so it is strongly recommended to take the Ranger-led tour.
You can obtain a day-use permit to enter the Fiery Furnace on your own, but it is easy to get lost, and you could easily miss the highlights of this incredible area of Arches NP!
I loved the Ranger Led hike and would recommend it to anyone! It gives you the thrill of exploring an area without trails but make sure you choose your steps carefully as this area requires agility and scrambling.
This is not an exaggeration, it is a trail for the thrill seekers needing more than a hike! My personal highlight was laying down and looking up at Hidden Arch.
There are many more trails within Arches to explore but the reality is that most people only spend an average of four hours in a National Park. If there is ever a park to spend more time, Arches is one of them! I guarantee you that you will be dreaming of your next visit to Arches NP and your desire to try out each of my 7 epic hikes in Arches National Park!
Skyline Arch Trail
- Distance: Approx. .4 Mile, roundtrip out and back trail
- Hiking Time: 10-20 minutes
- Trail Rating: easy
Skyline Arch can also be seen from a distance at the Devils Garden Campground Amphitheater and is ADA Accessible. However, the trail up to Skyline Arch is not accessible, with several stairs at the beginning of the trail. This is not one of the most awe-inspiring trails in Arches, but it does have nice views and fun when you have a little extra free time.
Tower Arch Trail
- Distance: Approx. 2.6 Miles, roundtrip
- Hiking Time: 2-3 hours
- Trail Rating: Strenuous
Tower Arch is in a more remote northwestern portion of Arches along Salt Valley Road. Before arriving at the trailhead, you must travel an unpaved 8-mile route off the main park road. The bonus is that you will find smaller crowds, but it is up to you to come prepared. Remember that you are in a remote part of the park, and cellular service is not available, so your personal safety relies on you.
The trail climbs a steep, short rock wall, cuts across a valley, then through sandstone fins and sand dunes. Climbing the sand dunes can be very difficult, and there is no shade on the trail, so head out early and carry at least 2 liters of water per person. This is a great trail for those who have been to Arches before and are searching for a new adventure, and not afraid of a good workout.
Best Hikes in Arches National Park
My number one question about Arches is, what are the best hikes in Arches National Park? Personally, I love all of them, but here are the top hikes not to miss at Arches.
- Devils Garden Trail - There are several arches including Landscape Arch and Double O Arch
- Delicate Arch - It's an Icon of the National Park and I will never forget the first time I saw it in person!
- The Windows Section - It's wrong to go to Arches and not walk to the base of Double Arch without humming the theme to Indiana Jones.
- Bonus points for taking the ranger-led Fiery Furnace Hike - Take a tour through the maze of sandstone fins, arches, and more!
Arches National Park Hours
Arches National Park is open Year-round, 24 hours a day.
Why is this important? Arches National Park camping has only 50 campsites at the Devils Garden Campground. Arches National Park has had over a million visitors each year since 2010 and in 2018, Arches had 1,663,557 reported visitors and continually shows a dramatic increase in visitation. So where do all the visitors come from?
Most park visitors stay in Moab Utah approximately 11 miles/20 minutes away. If you want to get to the Devils Garden Trail, expect to add on another 18 miles/ 45 minutes to get to he far north end of the park and the Devils Garden Trail head. You also have to consider traffic with this much day use traffic!
Arches busiest months are from March through October. If you arrive at the park between 9:00 am-2:00 pm, you can also expect long lines sometimes taking over an hour to get into the park.
The park will oftentimes reach capacity and will have to initiate temporary entry delays. This is why it is important to plan ahead and try to get into the park early or later in the afternoon.
There is several reasons to avoid the busy times; easier parking, its much cooler and more comfortable to go on a hike, and photographing Arches National Park lends itself to the early morning and late afternoon light as opposed to the harsh direct light of mid day.
Arches National Park Photography
I personally think that social media is a big reason for the success of Arches National Park along with numerous other sites in the American Southwest. Sites like Antelope Canyon were relatively unheard of thirty years ago but have now become household names as their images are found throughout the internet and calendars. Here is a quick reference for what sites to see and when to see them.
Sites in Arches National Park to see in the early morning: Moab Fault, The Three Gossips, Sheep Rock, The Great Wall, Turret Arch, The Spectacles, Double Arch, Cache Valley, Wolfe Ranch, Landscape Arch, and Double O Arch.
Sites in Arches National Park to see in the late afternoon: Park Avenue, Courthouse Towers, Petrified Dunes, Balanced Rock, The Garden of Eden, North and South Windows, Delicate Arch, Fiery Furnace, Skyline Arch, Fins in Devils Garden, and Tower Arch.
The reason for photographing a subject in the early morning or the late afternoon is all about lighting. You will often hear photographers talking about the magic hour; the first and last hour of sunlight in the day. During this time to have less contrast, shadows are less dark, and highlights are less likely to be overexposed. the warm color of the low sun enhances the color of the scene and will deepen the redness of the rock turning them into brilliant hues that give this region the name of color country.
Knowing this, make sure to know when sunrise and sunset is each day of your trip and plan accordingly. You will be extremely pleased to beat the crowds and have photographs that everyone will rave about once you get back home.
Camera Gear we use
We are big fans of using great camera gear to get amazing photos while traveling.
Canon R5 - We recently upgraded to the R5 after using a Mark 5 for years. We are loving the camera shutter speed and quality of images.
Canon 100 - 500mm - We use the Canon 100-500 for wildlife photography.
Camera Rain Cover - A rain cover will help protect your camera during rain showers but also when photographing waterfalls.
Camera Cleaning Kit - Cameras can get dirty, beat up, and dusty while in the parks. We like having a cleaning kit with us so we can do on the spot touch ups.
Extra Camera Batteries - We suggest always having one or two extra camera batteries with you. There is nothing worse than going to take a shot and the battery dies.
Extra Memory Cards - We use Extreme PRO SanDisk cards
Arches National Park Entrance Fee
Park entrance fees are separate from camping and lodging fees.
Park Entrance Pass - $30.00 Per private vehicle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Park Entrance Pass - Motorcycle - $25.00 Per motorcycle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Per-Person Entrance Pass - $15.00 Visitors 16 years or older who enter on foot, bicycle, or as part of an organized group not involved in a commercial tour.
Annual Park Entrance Pass - $15.00, Admits pass holder and all passengers in a non-commercial vehicle. Valid for one year from the month of purchase.
Non-commercial Groups (ex. scouts, a club, a church)
$30.00 for Non-Commercial Group with vehicle capacity of 15 or less.
$ 15.00 per person, not to exceed $40.00 for Non-Commercial Group with a vehicle capacity of 16-25
$ 15.00 per person, not to exceed $100.00 for Non-Commercial Group with a vehicle capacity of 25+
Commercial Tours
If you are providing these services, you must have a current, signed commercial use authorization to enter the park.
- Road-based commercial tours
- Guided Day Hikes
- Photography Instruction
For more information on commercial use authorizations, permit fees, and commercial entrance fees, visit this site.
If you are driving a bus in Arches, please click here for more information.
Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.
$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.
Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the five free entrance days the National Park Service offers annually.
Arches National Park Timed Entry Tickets
From April 1 to July 6 and August 28 to October 31, visitors are required to have a timed entry ticket to enter the park between 7:00 AM and 4:00 PM.
To enter the park, visitors will need two things:
- Timed Entry Ticket
- Park Entrance Fee OR valid Park Pass (includes Annual, Senior, Access, Military, 4th Grade, or Volunteer passes).
Ticketed entry will run from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM daily.
Exceptions
Timed entry tickets are not required for those with camping, backcountry, Fiery Furnace, or special use permits; nor those with concessions contracts, commercial use authorizations, or academic fee waivers; nor people from associated Tribal Nations
How do I get a timed entry ticket to Arches?
There are several ways to get a timed entry ticket
1- Download and use the Recreation.gov mobile app
2- Click this link to Recreation.gov to secure your ticket
3- Call the reservation line at (877)444-6777
4- Reservation International Line: (606)515-6777
5- Reservation Line (TDD) at (877)833-6777
How far in advance can I get a timed entry ticket to Arches?
The park will release tickets on a first-come-first-served basis three months in advance in monthly blocks on dates listed below
Starting January 2 at 8 am MST, you can get timed entry tickets for (April 1-June 30)
Starting February 1 at 8 am MST, you can get timed entry tickets for (July 1- July 6)
Starting March 1 at 8 am MDT, you can get timed entry tickets for (August 28- August 31)
Starting April 1 at 8 am MDT, you can get timed entry tickets for (September 1 - September 30)
Starting May 1 at 8 am MDT, you can get timed entry tickets for (October 1 - October 31)
Starting March 31, an additional batch of tickets will be released at 7:00 PM MDT for park visits the next day. Any unbooked tickets remain available for same-day visits. Morning time slots book up first.
Arches National Park Tours
Moab: 3-Hour Jet Boat Tour to Dead Horse Point State Park - Are you ready to take a jet boat down the Colorado River and experience the canyons of Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point from the bottom looking up? We had a great time on this tour and loved a relaxing day on the water with the wind in our hair! It was also impressive seeing these massive canyons from the bottom looking up! I would do this tour again the next time I am in Moab.
Click here to learn more/book your Moab 3-Hour Jet Boat Tour to Dead Horse Point State Park.
Arches 4X4 adventure from Moab - Do you want to see a more remote side of Arches? This is an excellent opportunity to see Arches and not fight to find a parking spot or hike in a crowd. Your tour guide will pick you up in Moab (if you are staying there), take you to the park, navigate the more remote areas of Arches, and see seldom seen arches by the masses of tourists like Tower Arch, Marching Men, and Eye of the Whale. For a bonus, you take the remote back exit out of Arches and stop to see fossilized dinosaur tracks!
Click here to book your tour for the Arches 4X4 Adventure from Moab!
Private Guided Hike in Arches National Park - Your guide will pick you up in Moab and take you to the park to see some of the park's most impressive and awe-inspiring geologic formations in the park. You will learn how these ancient sand dunes first turned to stone and continually eroded into fins, arches, domes, and canyons.
Click here to book your Private Guided Hike in Arches National Park.
Canyonlands and Arches National Parks Airplane Tour -Are you ready for an amazing experience? Don't believe me, look at the reviews! On this tour, you meet at the Canyonlands Field Airport and then fly over two incredible national parks with live commentary while having a bird's eye view of some of the park's most iconic sights, including Upheaval Dome, Green River Gooseneck, Island in the Sky, White Rim, The Maze, the confluence of the Colorado and Green Rivers, Landscape Arch, Fisher Towers, Devil's Garden, Klondike Bluffs and more!
Click here to book your airplane tour over Canyonlands and Arches National Park!
There is also a great introduction to mountain biking in Moab tour that gives you the chance to experience mountain biking in Moab.
Arches National Park Lodging
There are no National Park Lodges within the park.
The majority of lodging options can be found in and around Moab, Utah.
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Moab - We have stayed here many times and it has been great. There is easy access to the main road into Moab and to Arches. The pool area is amazing and the hotel has great amenities.
Under Canvas Moab - Stay in luxury safari tents under the stars. This is an amazing place to spend time soaking in the red rocks and epic views.
Moab Resort, WorldMark Associate - look forward to a firepit, a playground, and a 24-hour gym. Stay connected with in-room Wi-Fi (surcharge).
Hyatt Place Moab - free breakfast buffet, a terrace, and a coffee shop/café at Hyatt Place Moab. Free in-room Wi-Fi is available to all guests, along with a garden and a playground.
Comfort Suites Moab - free breakfast buffet, a grocery/convenience store, and laundry facilities. For some rest and relaxation, visit the hot tub. In addition to a gym and a business center, guests can connect to free in-room Wi-Fi.
Click on the map below to see additional lodging options near Arches NP.
For hotels check-in Moab, Utah for the closest hotels
Traveling to Utah? Check out all of the Utah National Parks to help plan your trip. From Arches, it is a quick and easy trip to check out Mesa Verde. If you are heading that way check out these Mesa Verde Travel Tips.
Do you know how many National Parks you have visited? You can print this list of National Parks in alphabetical order to count how many of the 63 parks you have visited.
Wonder what it is like to work in a National Park? Check out this post on how to become a Park Ranger to learn a bit more about what it takes to be a Park Ranger.
Additional National Park sites near Arches National Park
Canyonlands National Park (Utah) - Complete guide to discovering Canyonlands National Park
Capitol Reef National Park (Utah) - Complete Guide to Exploring Capitol Reef National Park
Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado) - Complete Guide to Exploring Mesa Verde National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah) - Complete guide to exploring Bryce Canyon National Park
Zion National Park - Complete guide to exploring Zion National Park
Additional State Parks and attractions near Arches
Check out all of the National Parks in Utah along with neighboring Colorado National Parks, Idaho National Parks, Wyoming National Parks, Nevada National Parks, Arizona National Parks, and New Mexico National Parks.
National Park Service Website
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Jim Singer says
Loved both the Zion and Arches articles, John! We plan on visiting both next year; expect to be in that area beginning of April.
Darlene T says
Thanks so much for the valuable information on all the trails, arches, and hikes Park Ranger John! My husband and I will be visiting here in October of 2018. This information has put in to perspective what we need to train a bit more for versus what might be an easier trail. Thanks again!
JohnTillison says
Darlene,
You should be close to your trip or back from an awesome adventure to Arches! I hope you had a great time and don't forget to share a photo
Christine & David Lentz says
We have been told to have a guide take us to "Devil's Cauldron", but can not find this reference anywhere on the Arches National Park site. Can you help us? Our friend suggested a guide because the trails are not clear and as hikers we would not find the safe way to go.
We're going to be in the Park 10/15-18 (3 nights).
JohnTillison says
Hi there! I am unaware of a Devil's Cauldron in Arches National Park. They may have been talking about the Devils Garden Area. Have a great trip & don;t forget to share a picture