Sand Dune Arch is one of over 2,000 naturally occurring sandstone arches in Arches National Park.
The Sand Dune Arch Trail is my favorite short hike in Arches National Park as it is easily accessible for most people and has a lot of adventure for such a short hike. Not only will kids enjoy playing in the sand, but most visitors will welcome the shade and cooler temperatures from the shade the rows of sandstone fins provide.
Sand Dune Arch Trail
From the parking lot to Sand Dune Arch is less than 2/10 of a mile. It also makes a great hike in the summer months as the section of sandstone fins provides plenty of shade and cooler temperatures in the summer months. Having said that, the best time for photography is in the morning for both light and getting to the arch before it gets very busy.
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.
Sand Dune Arch Trail Options
Sand Dune Arch Trail Round Trip from Sand Dune Arch Trailhead Parking Area
Distance: 0.3 Miles Roundtrip out and back trail
Elevation Gain/Loss: 125 feet
Time: 15 minutes to a half-hour
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
ADA Accessible: No
Pets: No pets are allowed on this trail, Service animals are allowed in National Parks. Only dogs are classified as service animals and they must perform a specific task that assists a person with a disability. Emotional support or comfort animals are not service animals.
Trailhead Location: Make a right turn into the trailhead at MP 16 of the 18-mile Arches Scenic Drive to Devils Garden Trailhead and Campground.
From the trailhead, the trail quickly splits into two directions. The trail straight ahead leads to Broken Arch so make sure to take the trail to the right. This short spur trail is in between two large sandstone fins giving the feeling of a narrow slot canyon. At one point, the trail narrows to the point where you may have to wait for hikers to go back out from Sand Dune Arch before proceeding. The sandstone rock turns to soft sand as you continue up the canyon for a short distance. Sand Dune Arch appears shortly afterward on the right side.
It can be a challenge to get a photograph of the arch without other park visitors as this has become a very popular arch to see. Also, remember to not climb or jump off the Arch as they are protected resources.
Once you are done enjoying this arch simply hike back to your vehicle at the trailhead. Don't be surprised to see cars waiting in the parking lot to pull out to take your spot as you finish the trail.
Park Ranger John Pro Tip
Here are 5 great reasons that I highly recommend getting a campsite at Arches National Park.
- Great evening programs in the amphitheater with up-close views of Skyline Arch
- You are not required to get a timed entry ticket if you are camping in Arches.
- You can easily walk over to Devils Garden Trailhead and avoid trying to find a parking space for one of the park's most popular hikes
- You can walk over to the Sand Dune, Broken Arch, and Tapestry Arch trail by the restroom across from campsite #40
- Enjoy beautiful views of the La Sal Mountains
Distance: 2.3 Mile loop trail Roundtrip
Elevation Gain/Loss: 60 feet
Time: Approx. one hour
Difficulty: Moderate
ADA Accessible: No
Pets: No pets are allowed on this trail, Service animals are allowed in National Parks. Only dogs are classified as service animals and they must perform a specific task that assists a person with a disability. Emotional support or comfort animals are not service animals.
Trailhead Location: The trailhead is on MP 16 of the 18-mile Arches Scenic Drive to Devils Garden Trailhead and Campground.
Begin by hiking the Sand Dune Arch Trail described above. The only difference is instead of turning back to the trailhead after seeing Sand Dune Arch, turn right towards Broken Arch. This portion is in the open and you will actually see Broken Arch for quite a distance as you approach it.
The funny part is that the arch is not broken, it just appears to be broken when viewed at the right angle. I love this trail because it is not nearly as crowded as most trails have become at Arches.
From Broken Arch, continue straight to Tapestry Arch.
Keep a look out for the sign that points you to Tapestry Arch.
If you miss the cutoff, you will end up in the Devils Garden Campground by the restroom.
This is not a problem, it just gives you a restroom break opportunity.
You can incidentally start this hike right here if you are camping at the Devils Garden Campground and will save you from having to look for a parking space at the trailhead.
Begin the trail by the restroom across the street from campsites 39 and 40.
The trail runs slightly downhill and will run into a sign that directs you to the left for Tapestry Arch and the right for Broken Arch and Sand Dune Arch.
You will go to the left for maybe 100 yards before Tapestry Arch comes into sight.
This arch is unique for the fact it looks like three arches but only the center one is an arch. This look gives its name of Tapestry Arch.
From here walk back to the intersection and go the opposite direction back towards Broken Arch then Sand Dune Arch to complete your hike.
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.
Sand Dune Arch, Tapestry Arch, and Broken Arch Loop Hike
Arches National Park Resources
Arches National Park - Complete Guide to Exploring Arches National Park
Things To Do Arches - List of popular activities in Arches National Park you won't want to miss
Devils Garden Campground - Complete Guide to planning a camping trip to Arches National Park including how to make reservations
Arches National Park Hiking Guide - List of hiking trails in Arches National Park with details on each trail
Devils Garden Trail - Guide to hiking Devils Garden Trail in Arches National Park
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
For a fun adventure check out Escape Campervans. These campervans have built in beds, kitchen area with refrigerators, and more. You can have them fully set up with kitchen supplies, bedding, and other fun extras. They are painted with epic designs you can't miss!
Escape Campervans has offices in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Denver, New York, and Orlando
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
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (Colorado) - Complete guide to discovering Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Colorado National Monument - Guide to exploring Colorado National Monument
Dinosaur National Monument - Guide to exploring Dinosaur National Monument
Natural Bridges National Monument - Guide to exploring Natural Bridges National Monument
Currecanti National Recreation Area - Guide to exploring Currecanti National Recreation Area
Hovenweep National Monument - Complete guide to exploring Hovenweep National Monument
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
Additional State Parks and attractions near Arches
Make sure to follow Park Ranger John on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok
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