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Arches National Park sits just north of Moab in eastern Utah, on high desert above the Colorado River. It holds the densest concentration of natural stone arches in the world, more than two thousand of them, carved from red Entrada sandstone by erosion, along with fins, balanced rocks and towering walls. A single scenic road runs through the park.
Shortly after the entrance, Park Avenue, a short trail between sandstone walls, leads toward the Courthouse Towers. Balanced Rock sits beside the road, and a spur leads to the Windows Section, where North and South Window and Turret Arch can be seen on easy walks, with the enormous Double Arch close by. Near Wolfe Ranch, a homestead cabin and a panel of Ute petroglyphs lie at the start of the trail to Delicate Arch, the park's iconic, freestanding span, reached by a steady climb. The Fiery Furnace, a maze of narrow fins, requires a ranger-led tour or a self-guided permit. At the road's end, Devils Garden holds Sand Dune Arch and Skyline Arch nearby, along with the trail to Landscape Arch and the more rugged route to Double O Arch and the Primitive Loop.
The park suits hikers and photographers, and Moab makes a convenient base alongside Canyonlands. A timed entry reservation has been required in recent peak seasons, so check current rules before visiting.
WiserMap travel guideArches National Park Utah Delicate Arch and Devils GardenPlan Arches National Park around Delicate Arch, the Windows, Devils Garden and the Fiery Furnace, with Moab tips, entry rules and the best seasons to go.Read the guide
The free-standing arch on Utah's license plates, perched on the edge of a sandstone bowl. The trail is about three miles round trip with a steady climb over slickrock and a final ledge. There is no shade, so carry water, and sunset is beautiful but very crowded.
Two arches sharing one end, forming the tallest arch opening in the park. A short, flat trail leads from the parking lot in the Windows Section, and you can scramble up under the arches. It is a great stop for families, and stars over the arches are spectacular at night.
One of the longest natural arches in the world, a very thin ribbon of rock spanning about 300 feet. It is reached on a mostly flat trail of about 1.6 miles round trip from the Devils Garden trailhead. Stay on the trail, as the area under the arch is closed after rockfalls.
Sand Dune Arch is hidden between rock fins at the end of a short, shady walk through soft sand, popular with children. Nearby, Skyline Arch is a large arch on a ridge whose opening doubled when a big block fell in 1940. Both are short stops near the Devils Garden road.
A huge boulder perched on a slender pedestal of softer rock, standing about 128 feet tall beside the main road. A short loop trail of about a third of a mile circles its base. It is one of the park's most photographed landmarks, especially at sunrise and under the stars.
Near the park entrance, Park Avenue is a canyon lined with tall sandstone fins that look like city skyscrapers. A trail of about a mile runs down the canyon to Courthouse Towers, with formations such as the Three Gossips and the Tower of Babel. Arrange a pickup at the far end.
An area with the North and South Window arches and Turret Arch, linked by a loop trail of about a mile. A primitive path behind the windows gives a quieter return. It is a great sunrise spot, and Double Arch is across the same parking lot.
A maze of narrow sandstone canyons and fins with no marked trail, entered only on ranger-led hikes or with a self-guided permit. The route involves scrambling, squeezing and jumping across gaps. Permits are limited and must be reserved, so plan well in advance.
A hike of about four miles round trip beyond Landscape Arch, with scrambles over narrow rock fins to Double O Arch, one arch stacked above another. The longer Primitive Loop returns through rugged terrain. Wear sturdy shoes, and avoid the fins when they are wet or icy.
A quieter corner of the park reached by the dirt Salt Valley Road, where a trail of about 3.4 miles round trip climbs to Tower Arch among sandstone spires. Few visitors make it here. The road can be impassable after rain, so check conditions at the visitor center.
The weathered log cabin of John Wesley Wolfe, a Civil War veteran who ranched here around 1900, at the start of the Delicate Arch trail. A short walk leads to a Ute rock art panel showing people on horseback and bighorn sheep. Do not touch the petroglyphs.
A state park near Moab with an overlook about 2,000 feet above a gooseneck bend of the Colorado River, with views across the canyons of Canyonlands. Rim trails link several viewpoints. An entry fee applies per car, and it is one of the best sunrise spots in the area.
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