There are many amazing hikes in Arches National Park, with their incredible rock formations. We loved all the hiking opportunities in the park, including the Delicate Arch and Devil’s Garden.
We wanted to share with you our top hikes in Arches National Park, so that you can plan a trip to Arches.
Hiking in Arches National Park
Arches National Park, located in Moab Utah, is home to more than 2,000 natural stone arches. It boasts the largest concentration of natural stone arches in the world. The park is home to soaring arches and suspended bridges that span the rock. The park is constantly being reshaped and new arches may form. Sometimes, an arch that exists will fall.
The Best Hikes in Arches National Park
These are 11 of our favourite hikes in Arches National Park, from the difficult hikes to the easy walks.
Delicate Arch
Hike length: 3 miles out and back, with a elevation gain of almost 500 feet.
Hike difficulty: This hike has been rated difficult by the National Parks Service. Although the hike is relatively straightforward, we found some sections that were exposed to steep drops. It is weather dependent. In winter, the trail can be slippery due to freezing temperatures. Summer heat is hot and intense. Our guide to Arches National Park Winter.
The Delicate Arch, 52 feet tall, is the largest arch freestanding in Arches National Park. The arch is easily recognisable from Utah license plates. It is one of the most popular trails within the park.
You will be able to walk on slip rock, sandstone and narrow paths with some elevation gain. The final stretch of the hike is a narrow, exposed descent. You will eventually reach the rock amphitheatre, where the Delicate Arch rises above the landscape.
To see Delicate Arch up-close, you can cross the amphitheatre’s rim. You can also stop at the entrance to the amphitheatre for a great view.
The Delicate Arch Viewpoints
You can still see the arch from the Delicate Arch parking lot if you choose to skip the Delicate Arch hike. Both the Lower Delicate Arch viewpoint (and Higher Delicate Arch) are a short walk away from the parking lot. The arch can be seen from a distance. If you have the chance to see Delicate Arch, it’s well worth the trip.
Devil’s Garden
The park’s northern end is home to Devil’s Garden, which has 7 incredible arches and a towering towering sandstone structure visible from its trails.
- Landscape Arch
- Double O Arch
- Private Arch
- Pine Tree and Tunnel Arch
- Navajo Partition Arches
- Dark Angel sandstone pillar
- You can choose and follow the trails that you want to through Devil’s Playground’s layout.
- Landscape Arch at Devil’s Garden
- Hike Length: 1.6 miles
- Hike difficulty: Easy
Landscape Arch was our favorite arch in the park. The arch is longer than a football field and spans across the sky in an impossible narrow arch. In its thinnest section, it measures just 6 feet thick. This is crazy considering it supports an arch that is 290ft long!
The trail is easy to follow and winds over moderate hills. Because of an earlier rockfall, a large slab of rock was thrown to the ground and is visible from nearby viewing platforms, the arch can be viewed.
Double O Arch at Devil’s Garden
Hike Distance: 4.2 Miles out and back (an additional 2.5 miles after reaching Landscape Arch).
Hiking difficulty: hard
After Landscape Arch, the Double O Arch is second in size.
The trail becomes more difficult after reaching Landscape Arch. The trail begins with a steep climb up slick rock between two sandstone fins. Continue on the trail, which winds through sand and smooth rock until it reaches a sandstone fin that is exposed on one side. It is a beautiful hike with amazing views.
Double O is a combination of an arch and a smaller arch that are stacked on top each other. They share the same sandstone fin.
Additional 0.8 mi hike from trail
Hiking difficulty: Easy
After reaching the topmost sandstone fin, past Landscape Arch, the side trail leads to the Navajo or Partition Arches.
Continue towards Navajo Arch at the intersection of Partition Arch and Navajo. It rises above the sand and is a wonderful place to rest and stop.
Partition Arch is a short walk from Navajo Arch. The window like Arch shares a fin avec Landscape Arch.
Park Avenue to Courthouse Towers
The Best Hikes in Arches National Park Tip: This hike can be done out and back, or as we did, one-way from the Park Avenue Viewpoint up to the Courthouse Towers viewpoint. You will need to arrange for a pickup at Courthouse Towers Viewpoint as well as a drop-off at Park Avenue Viewpoint. You can also hike part of the route if this fails.
Hike Distance: 0.9 Miles one-way
Hike difficulty: The hike has been rated moderate by the National Parks Service, but it is based upon a return hike that involves a steep descent into the canyon.
Park Avenue is named after the rock faces that line the streets of the city. The Park Avenue Trail does not have any arches. It showcases some of most bizarre and amazing rock formations in the park. We love Queen Nefertiti, which looks like an Egyptian Queen, Sheep Rock, and the Three Gossips.
Balanced Rock
Hike Length: 0.3 miles
Hike difficulty: Easy
The Balanced Rock, another Arches favorite, is a tall rock formation consisting of a sandstone rock perched on top of a larger mudstone. It is amazing to see the gravity-defying balance act. The Scenic Drive can be used to view the Balanced Rock, but the easy trail offers a closer look.
Fiery Furnace
Distance hiked: 2 miles
Hiking difficulty: hard
Fiery Furnace is 2 miles of hiking through narrow canyon walls and a beautiful landscape. Fiery Furnace is a difficult trail. Hikers can only access it if they have a day permit, or if they are accompanied by a ranger.
This is a challenging hike. Visitors must navigate narrow ledges and exposed drops as well as loose sand and protruding Sandstone while walking through narrow spaces. The fragile landscape makes it easy to lose your way.
The Windows
You will likely be hiking both the Windows and Double Arch trails in the same area of the park.
Hike Length: 1 mile
Hike difficulty: Easy
The Windows Trail is composed of three arches, the North Window (the South Window), and the Turret Arch. It’s a one-mile hike that offers amazing rewards. The North and South Windows, which look like two eyes per side of a sandstone nose, are the highlights. The Turret Arch, which is smaller and more youthful, is another arch.
Double Arch
Hike Length: 0.5 miles
Hike difficulty: Easy
Double Arch is named after the two arches that spring from one piece of rock. This half-mile hike is easy to do and allows you to see one of the most unusual rock formations in the park.
Sand Dune Arch and Broken Arch
Broken Arch and Sand Dune Arch share an area for parking, but Broken Arch’s trail winds through a large meadow.
Hike length: 0.3 miles to Sand Dune Arch; another 2 miles in the opposite direction to Broken Arch
Hike difficulty: Easy
The Sand Dune, with its rich sands as well as easy access through a small slot canyon is a popular afternoon hike.
Broken Arch, despite its name, isn’t actually broken. It is one of the most beautiful trails and arches in this park.
Skyline Arch
Hike Length: 0.4 miles
Hiking difficulty: Easy
The trail leads to Skyline Arch via a gravel path. It’s an easy out-and-back trip on the flat gravel path. This popular stop is also on the route to Devil’s Garden. The arch is made from large rocks and can be seen most of the way along the trail.
Tower Arch
Hike length: 3.4 mi or 0.3 mi each way, from the end of a 4-wheel drive road
Hiking difficulty: hard
Tower Arch is one of the most remote arches in the park. This trail leads to the Tower Arch, which is great for getting away from the crowds at Arches. Tower Arch measures 92 feet in height and is beautiful.
It’s a steep climb to the end of the road if you choose the 4WD option.
The longer trail can be difficult and involves climbing up rocks and traversing sandstone fins, sand dunes and other obstacles. The trail’s middle section, which is over 1 mile long, is exposed to the desert.