Everything you should know about Arches National Park

A breathtaking landscape of more than 2,000 red rock arches, sandstone pillars, and massive, oddly balanced boulders makes Utah’s Arches National Park one of the nation’s most popular parks in the U.S. In fact, this 76,500-acre stretch of federally protected land is home to the largest concentration of stone arches in the world. 

Native American tribes first explored the area around Arches nearly 10,000 years ago, mining materials for stone tools and exploring as nomadic hunters and gatherers. Centuries later, traders and settlers of European descent followed, but the landscape of Arches National Park has long drawn travelers with its striking beauty. The region’s intricate rock formations never fail to impress hikers, photographers, and those who love the solitude and stark beauty of the desert. Arches, along with Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion, are frequently referred to as Utah’s Mighty 5 and rank among America’s most beloved national parks. 

Two small sections of today’s parkland, Devils Garden and the Windows, were designated as Arches National Monument by President Herbert Hoover in 1929. Additional swaths of land were added to the monument over the years, until in 1971, when President Richard Nixon upgraded Arches to national park status.

Best times to visit Arches National Park

The majority of Arches’ 1.5 million annual visitors arrive between March and October. Spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons to visit the park, when daytime highs range between 60-80°F (15-27°C), and hiking the park’s trails is most pleasant. In summer, high temperatures regularly exceed 100°F (38°C).  However, the temperate seasons can be extraordinarily busy, leading to long wait times and full parking lots by 7:30 a.m. Since the park is open 24 hours a day, consider visiting before sunrise or in the evening. 

Winter brings its own beauty to Arches. Daytime highs range between 30-50°F (0-10°C), with low snowfall totals and crowd-free trails. But temperature swings are not uncommon in the high desert. No matter when you visit, carry plenty of water.

Where to find the best views in the park

Of the park’s more than 2,000 stone arches, its most popular—and the can’t-miss stop for most visitors—is Delicate Arch. Measuring 52 feet (16 meters) high and 32 feet (10 meters) wide, Delicate Arch ranks as the park’s largest freestanding arch. The three-mile (4.8 km) round-trip Delicate Arch Trail and 480-foot (146-meter) climb lead to the base of the rock formation and provide sweeping views of the red rock landscape with the snow-capped La Sal Mountains as a backdrop. 

Other spectacular viewpoints include Arches’ Petrified Dunes and Panorama Point. Both sites can be reached by car and feature wide-open vistas of the park and the mountains. Panorama Point is considered one of the best spots for stargazing in Arches National Park. 

Where to find the best hiking trails

Although much of the natural beauty in Arches can be enjoyed from your vehicle, to get the most out of your visit, you should venture out on its trails. Even some of the park’s shortest and easiest trails, such as Sand Dune (0.4 miles/0.6 km round-trip), Broken Arch (1.2 miles/1.9 km round-trip), and Balanced Rock (0.3 miles/0.4 km round-trip), offer remarkable perspectives of the park’s arches and pinnacles. 

Visitors will find a range of hiking at the Windows Viewpoint and Trail loop. It’s an easy one-mile (1.6-km) walk to the base of the North Window. From there, additional short trails lead to South Window and Turret Arch, while another 0.6-mile (one-km) trail leads to the impressive Double Arch, the tallest and second-longest arch in the park. 

Similarly, Devils Garden Trailhead offers a grouping of trails of differing lengths and difficulty levels. The entire Devils Garden loop measures 8 miles (12.7 km). But the route includes spurs to structures like Landscape Arch (North America’s longest), Double O Arch, and Dark Angel, ranging from easy to strenuous, allowing visitors to select the right route based on their ability. 

Easy footpaths lead to two Delicate Arch Viewpoints, ranging from 200 feet (61 meters) to 0.5 miles (0.8 km) in length, both offering views of Arches’ most famous stone feature in the distance. Alternatively, the strenuous Delicate Arch Trail (three miles/4.8 km) rewards hikers who tackle its steep exposed rock slope with amazing close-ups of the arch and the La Sal Mountains beyond. 

For hikers and climbers looking for a more challenging excursion, there’s the Fiery Furnace, a natural maze of passageways between towering sandstone walls. Outside of one route, there are no marked trails in this section of Arches. Instead, visitors choose their own path through the landscape. Hikers must reserve space on a ranger-led hike or obtain a self-guided permit to access the Fiery Furnace. 

The best spots to see wildlife

Although an estimated 50 mammal species inhabit Arches National Park, most are seldom seen. In this harsh environment, many animals have adapted to nighttime activity, hiding in cool rock outcroppings or sheltering underground during the searing daytime hours of summer. Bighorn sheep are occasionally seen climbing the rocky terrain along Highway 191 near the visitor center. Mule deer, kangaroo rats, and cottontail rabbits are readily seen throughout the park, as are lizards, snakes, hawks, and eagles. 

Expert recommendations and tips

“I can’t imagine not having my camera at Arches National Park,” says Eric Lindberg, a professional photographer who has shot national parks around the world and explored Arches six times. “I like the silence of desert hiking, the long sightlines in every direction, and of course, those exquisite arches. There’s no other place like it on earth.”

Lindberg recommends Devils Garden for a good assortment of iconic arches or, if visitors have time and ability, Arches’ remote, less crowded trails, such as Tower Arch. 

“Wherever you go, walk around your subject and look for angles that go beyond the standard Instagram shots,” Lindberg advises. “To dramatically improve your photos, avoid the bright light of midday and aim for the golden hours of early morning and late afternoon.”  

Ranger recommendation: Drive to Klondike Bluffs on the unpaved, unmaintained road by the same name. On arrival, visitors will find stunning views of Salt Valley and other formations. Walk a trail from this less-visited region with views of the seven Marching Men pillars and Tower Arch. Keep an eye on the weather before you make the trip.

Things to do in Arches National Park 

Auto touring and hiking are the primary activities in Arches, but bikes and e-bikes are permitted on any of the park’s paved roads. While bikes are not permitted on Arches’ trails, there are numerous mountain bike trails outside official park boundaries and in the nearby town of Moab. Arches is also a popular site for rock climbing and canyoneering, which require permits. 

Park visitors can also explore Arches via commercial tours. These half- and full-day 4x4 excursions take travelers deep into the backcountry and are fully customizable to include your chosen itinerary, hiking time, and photography stops.  

Best things to do for families

Arches National Park preserves its rich history of human settlement. Traces of prehistoric Native American presence can be seen at Courthouse Wash, where a short hike (0.8 miles/1.4 km) leads to a pictograph panel estimated to be 4,000 years old. Further inside the park, near Delicate Arch, you’ll see some of the clearest petroglyphs in the Southwest, a scene depicting bighorn sheep, horses, and riders thought to have been created by the Ute around the year 1600. 

Also near the Delicate Arch Trail is Wolfe Ranch, a well-preserved one-room cabin from the late 1800s, once home to the settler John Wesley Wolfe and his family. Kids find the petroglyph panels and historic cabin fascinating, and the sites encourage discussions of the long line of people who have left their mark on Arches National Park.  

Where to stay

Camping: The only lodging within Arches National Park is Devils Garden Campground. Campsites are tucked between rock outcroppings and are primitive, with no electrical or sewage hook-ups, but the beauty of Devils Garden and the park’s superb stargazing keep this campground fully booked spring, summer, and fall. Reserve a campsite at Recreation.gov between March 1 and October 31. For other months, it’s first-come, first-served.

Outside the park: Additional camping and hotel options can be found along Route 128 and in nearby Moab.

What else you should know 

Entrances and visitor center: Arches’ sole entrance station and visitor center is located near the southern park boundary, approximately five miles northwest of Moab.  

Entrance fees: Visitors must pay $30/vehicle, $25/motorcycle, or $15/individual arriving on foot or bicycle. 

Are pets allowed: Pets are not allowed on park trails, scenic overlooks, or in the visitor center. Animals on leashes are permitted along established roads, campgrounds, and picnic areas, as well as within designated parking areas. Service animals are allowed anywhere within the park.

How accessible is the park? 

Many of Arches’ most beautiful rock formations, including Balanced Rock, Double Arch, and the North Window, can be seen from the park’s paved scenic road or its parking areas. Additionally, several trails are either wheelchair accessible or level, including the Lower Delicate Arch Viewpoint, Double Arch, and Landscape Arch Trails. Devils Garden Campground has two ADA-accessible campsites available on a first-come, first-served basis.