When you think of National Parks there are a few that immediately come to everyone’s mind. Yellowstone, Sequoia and Arches. They are iconic and each have something special. Yellowstone has Ol’ Faithful, Sequoia has, well, Sequoia’s, huge ones and Arches has Delicate Arch.
I know I’m marginalizing the parks and know that there is so much more to these parks and all the other national parks, but I’m speaking generally here.
So, when you are planning a road trip to visit any of the National Parks in Utah or if you are looking for the best places to visit in Utah, make sure to put Arches on your list. Not only do they have the iconic delicate arch seen in all the Instagram photos there is some of the most awe-inspiring nature that you just can’t find anywhere else.
Park History
Designated a National Park in 1971, there are more then 2,000 sandstone arches to explore in this park. The park sits on top of an underground salt bed called the “Paradox Formation.”
The salt underneath became unstable from years of natural pressure and it began to move out from the weight of the sandstone, creating the sweeping arches from the small to the sweeping 306-foot Landscape Arch.
General Park Information
Park Entrance
5 miles north of Moab.
Hours of Operation
The park itself is open 24-hours a day but some of its buildings run on various set hours.
Arches visitor center: 9 am – 4 pm
Shuttle services
None available.
Park Accessibility
There are several options for those with physical or mobility concerns, as well as for the deaf or those with hearing loss and those who are blind or have low vision. For complete details check the National Park Service for information.
Briefly, there are multiple areas within the park that are accessible as well as ranger guided programs available. Campgrounds also provide various wheelchair accessible sites.
Best time to visit
As with the other national parks in Utah, if you want less crowds make sure to go in the late fall. By mid to late October the crowds are practically non-existent and you will have many of the trails to yourself. Particularly the more challenging of the trails. If you plan to go in the summer months, try to get there early morning to beat out the heat.
If you plan to go into any of the fins or slots, make sure to check the weather before you go, as flash floods can happen in an instant and can be extremely dangerous.
Entrance fee
Private vehicle: $30
No vehicle (per person): $15
If you plan to do more than just the one park I highly recommend getting the American the Beautiful pass. If you are planning to visit all 5 of Utah’s National Parks and maybe some others in the country, this pass will pay for itself ($80).
Arches National Park recently implemented a timed entry fee during the summer months between April 1 and October 31st. There is no timed entry fee needed for the winter months. You can get your timed entry ticket on recreation.gov.
Getting there
You will need, like the other National Parks in Utah, a car to get around. There is not an easy way to take public transit. It is 110-miles southwest of Grand Junction, Colorado and probably your best place to fly into, unless you are planning to visit all the parks.
If you are only planning to visit Arches the two best airports to fly into are Salt Lake city and Colorado Junction, with Colorado Junction being the closest.
Where to stay
Hotels
With Moab only 5-miles away, if you aren’t camping, or even if you are, I would recommend making Moab your “homebase.” But as I mentioned in my Ultimate Guide to Canyonlands National Park post, Moab hotels fill up quickly so book them in advance.
Camping
There is only one campground in Arches National Park, Devils Garden Campground. Which is convenient because the Devils Garden hike is a must do. During peak season, the campground is full every night so book well in advance. Between November and February, it is first-come-first-serve.
There is a total of 51 sites and it costs $25/night for a standard site.
What to eat
For suggested places to grab food in Moab, check out my Canyonlands National Park guide.
Top Hikes in Arches National Park
Easy to Moderate Hikes
Delicate Arch
This is the one everyone comes to see, one of the best things to do in the park, and where the biggest crowds can be found. Delicate Arch is truly an incredible site and the crowds are there for a reason, it’s worth it.
A short distance, only 0.5-mile’s round trip (there and back) opens an amphitheater style section of rock formations with the Delicate Arch as the focal point. Get there early or during off-season to beat the heat and the crowds. You will not be disappointed.
One other, less talked about, highlight is the Wolfe Ranch. The ranch house, a small structure still stands today and you will pass it during your short trek to delicate arch.
The Windows
The Windows hike is a fun little hiking trail, only 1-mile long. Along this trail you will see North Window, South Window and Turret Arch. As well as double arch, found on the opposite side of the parking lot.
Landscape Arch
The largest arch spanning 306-feet base-to-base is a sure favorite. An easy 2-mile hike round-trip, it is another must do as the rock continues to shift, this arch will not be around forever.
Difficult longer hikes
Devils Garden Loop
This hike is amazing and one of the best hikes in the park, in my opinion. It’s hard, being 7.2-miles round-trip so bring lots of water and be prepared to stop constantly for photo ops of the large fins. Along the main trail are 8 names arches, such as broken arch, as well as Dark Angel, a distinctive rock pinnacle.
Make sure to take the primitive trail on the way back so you can experience Fin Canyon. If you are going to hike any trail during your trip, and are a fairly experienced hiker, this is the hike to do.
Concluding Thoughts
There is so much more to Arches National Park than just delicate arch. It’s just a great place to visit. Though majestic, the area offers so much more in way of beauty that it would be a shame to miss it.
Delicate arch may have put it on the map, but with over 2,000 arches the shear number of opportunities to witness something magical brings people coming back year-after-year.
