Arches National Park Guide: Best Hikes, When to Visit & Where to Stay

Arches National Park contains the highest density of natural stone arches on Earth -- more than 2,000 cataloged within its 76,519 acres, ranging from three-foot openings barely qualifying for the designation to Landscape Arch, a gravity-defying ribbon of sandstone spanning 306 feet. The park sits on the Colorado Plateau in eastern Utah, just outside the town of Moab, where 300 million years of salt tectonics, erosion, and freeze-thaw cycles have sculpted the Entrada and Navajo sandstones into an improbable gallery of arches, fins, pinnacles, and balanced rocks.

The geology is endlessly fascinating, but the emotional power of Arches is simpler than that: it is a place that looks like it should not exist. Delicate Arch, the park's icon (and the image on every Utah license plate), stands alone on the edge of a slickrock bowl with the La Sal Mountains as its backdrop -- a freestanding arch 52 feet tall that appears both impossibly fragile and utterly permanent. The Windows, a cluster of massive arches in the park's southern section, frame the sky in openings large enough to accommodate a house. And throughout the park, the red and orange sandstone formations glow at sunset with an intensity that makes the landscape look like it has been lit from within.

Best Hikes

Delicate Arch Trail -- The quintessential Arches hike and one of the most iconic short hikes in any national park. The trail starts from the Wolfe Ranch trailhead and climbs 1.5 miles (one way) across open slickrock to the base of Delicate Arch. Total elevation gain is 629 feet. The final approach, as you round a rock wall and the arch suddenly appears framing the La Sal Mountains, is one of the great reveals in outdoor travel. The hike is mostly exposed with no shade; in summer, go early morning or late afternoon. Sunset at the arch is extraordinary but crowded. Difficulty: moderate. Allow 2-3 hours round trip.

Devil's Garden Trail -- The longest maintained trail in the park, this route leads to eight arches. The trail to Landscape Arch (the world's fifth-longest natural arch at 306 feet) is 1.6 miles on a flat, well-maintained path. Beyond Landscape Arch, the trail becomes a primitive loop that includes Navajo Arch, Partition Arch, Wall Arch (collapsed in 2008), Double O Arch, and Dark Angel, a towering sandstone pillar. The full primitive loop is approximately 7.8 miles with 1,100 feet of total elevation change, involving scrambling over fins and navigating rock cairns. Difficulty: moderate (to Landscape Arch), strenuous (full loop). Allow 3-5 hours for the full loop.

Park Avenue Trail -- A short, dramatic walk through a corridor of towering sandstone walls that resemble the skyscrapers of Manhattan. The trail is 1.0 mile one way (2.0 miles if you walk back; or arrange a car shuttle at the Courthouse Towers viewpoint). The descent is approximately 320 feet. The best light is in the morning when the eastern walls glow red and orange. Difficulty: easy. Allow 1-1.5 hours.

Windows and Turret Arch Loop -- A short loop trail in the Windows Section that passes North Window, South Window (the "Spectacles" when viewed together from outside), and Turret Arch. The main loop is approximately 1.0 mile with minimal elevation change. For a less crowded perspective, take the primitive trail that loops around the backside of the Windows -- the view through North Window from behind, framing the desert landscape, is far more impressive than the front view that most visitors settle for. Difficulty: easy. Allow 1 hour.

Fiery Furnace -- A labyrinth of narrow sandstone canyons, fins, and dead ends that requires either a ranger-guided tour or a self-guided permit. The "trail" is essentially a 2.0-mile route through a slot canyon maze with scrambling, squeezing through gaps, and navigational challenges. The ranger-led tours are excellent and provide geological and ecological interpretation that you will not get elsewhere. Tours are approximately 2.5-3 hours and should be reserved well in advance through Recreation.gov. Difficulty: moderate to strenuous (due to scrambling and navigation). The experience is unique and highly recommended.

Tower Arch Trail -- In the park's remote Klondike Bluffs area, this 3.4-mile round trip hike with 450 feet of elevation gain leads to one of the park's most impressive and least visited arches. The drive to the trailhead via the Salt Valley Road (a dirt road, passable by most vehicles in dry conditions) deters many visitors. The arch is massive -- 92 feet wide and 34 feet tall -- and you may have it entirely to yourself. Difficulty: moderate. Allow 2-3 hours.

When to Visit

March-May -- Spring is the ideal season for Arches. Temperatures are comfortable (60s to 80s), wildflowers bloom in the desert in wet years, and the crowds are manageable except during spring break weeks and Easter. Late April and May offer the best combination of weather and crowd levels.

June-August -- Summer brings intense heat. Daytime temperatures regularly exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and the exposed slickrock amplifies the heat. Hiking the Delicate Arch trail at midday in July is miserable and potentially dangerous. If you visit in summer, hike early (before 8 AM) or in the evening (after 6 PM). The park is open 24 hours, and a full moon hike to Delicate Arch is an unforgettable experience.

September-November -- Fall is excellent. September remains warm (80s to 90s) but cools quickly in October (60s to 70s). Crowds thin after Labor Day. The cottonwoods along Courthouse Wash turn gold in October. November is quiet and can be cold, with occasional dustings of snow on the red rock -- a spectacular combination.

December-February -- Winter visits offer solitude and dramatic scenery. Snow on the red sandstone creates stunning contrasts. Temperatures range from the 20s to 40s. Some sections of trail may be icy. The park receives far fewer visitors in winter, and the lower-angle light is ideal for photography.

Where to Stay

Sorrel River Ranch Resort & Spa -- A luxury ranch resort 17 miles northeast of Moab along the Colorado River, with horseback riding, a spa, a pool, and stunning red rock setting. Rates range from $350-$700 per night. A splurge-worthy retreat after dusty days on the trail. Check on Hotels.com

Hoodoo Moab by Hilton -- A modern, well-designed hotel in downtown Moab with a pool, hot tub, and rooftop terrace. Rates run $200-$400 per night during peak season. One of the most comfortable options in town. Check on Hotels.com

Red Cliffs Lodge -- Located along the Colorado River on Highway 128, this lodge offers spacious rooms and suites with river and red rock views. The on-site restaurant, an outdoor pool, and access to the Moab Canyon Pathway make it a strong choice. Rates range from $200-$400 per night. Check on Hotels.com

Moab Hotels -- Downtown Moab has numerous options ranging from budget motels to mid-range chains. The Gonzo Inn offers a quirky, comfortable stay from $150-$300 per night. Budget travelers will find options from $80-$150 per night.

Camping -- Devils Garden Campground is the only campground inside the park, with 51 sites available by reservation through Recreation.gov ($30 per night). The campground is set among sandstone fins and is one of the most scenic campgrounds in the national park system. Sites book up months in advance for spring and fall. BLM land near Moab offers dispersed camping, and the Willow Springs, Big Bend, and Goose Island campgrounds along Highway 128 are excellent alternatives.

Getting There

By Air -- Canyonlands Field Airport (CNY) in Moab has limited commercial service, with flights primarily from Denver and Salt Lake City. Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT), 115 miles away in Colorado, offers more flight options. Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), 235 miles away, is the most common arrival point for travelers combining Utah's national parks.

By Car from Salt Lake City -- Take I-15 south to Highway 6 east to I-70 east to Highway 191 south. The drive is approximately 235 miles and takes about 3.5 hours.

By Car from Grand Junction -- Take I-70 west to Highway 191 south. The drive is approximately 115 miles and takes about 1.5 hours.

Timed Entry -- Arches National Park requires timed entry reservations from April through October. Reservations are available through Recreation.gov and should be booked as early as possible. Without a reservation, you can enter before 7 AM or after 4 PM (times vary by season).

Essential Tips

Carry water -- There is no water available anywhere in the park beyond the visitor center. Bring at least one liter per person per hour of hiking in warm weather. Dehydration is the leading cause of hiker emergencies in the park.

Stay on trails and slickrock -- Cryptobiotic soil crusts (the dark, bumpy biological soil crust visible throughout the park) are living organisms that take decades to grow and are destroyed by a single footstep. Walk on rock, established trails, or dry washes.

Photography timing is everything at Arches. The Windows and Turret Arch are best in the morning light. Delicate Arch is best in the late afternoon and at sunset. Park Avenue is best in the early morning. The Fiery Furnace glows at midday when light penetrates the narrow canyons.

Flash floods are a risk in slot canyons and washes during monsoon season (July-September). Check weather forecasts and avoid narrow canyons if thunderstorms are predicted anywhere in the region.

Pets are not allowed on any trails in the park. The heat of the slickrock can burn paw pads even in moderate temperatures.

Nearby Attractions

Canyonlands National Park -- Just 30 miles from Moab, Canyonlands offers a dramatically different experience. The Island in the Sky district provides vast canyon overlooks, while the Needles district offers technical slot canyon hiking. Combined with Arches, these two parks make Moab one of the best base camps in the national park system.

Dead Horse Point State Park -- A mesa-top state park with views of the Colorado River that rival anything in Canyonlands. The overlook, 2,000 feet above the river, is one of the most photographed viewpoints in Utah. Entrance fee is $20 per vehicle.

Colorado River Adventures -- Moab is the launching point for rafting, kayaking, and jet boat trips on the Colorado River. Half-day float trips through the calm waters near town are family-friendly; multi-day whitewater trips through Cataract Canyon or Westwater Canyon are for the adventurous.

Highway 128 Scenic Byway -- The drive from Moab along the Colorado River to I-70 passes through Castle Valley and beneath towering sandstone walls. Fisher Towers, a collection of impossibly slender sandstone towers, is accessed via a spur road and offers an excellent 4.4-mile round trip hike.

La Sal Mountains -- Rising to 12,721 feet behind Moab, the La Sal Mountains offer a cool escape from the desert heat, with hiking, mountain biking, and fall foliage.