Arches National Park
The world's largest concentration of natural sandstone arches.
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| Distance from Moab |
5 miles (8 km) |
| Directions from Moab |
The entrance to Arches is located 5 miles (8 km) north of Moab, along Highway 191. |
| Park Hours |
Open year-round, 24 hours/day |
| Entrance Fee |
$10/vehicle - Good for 7 days (Subject to change) |
| Visitor Center & Hours |
The visitor center includes interactive exhibits, educational kiosks, a 150-seat auditorium, and a bookstore featuring guide books, maps, DVD's, postcards, and much more. The park is open 24 hours/day, 365 days/year; however the visitor center hours vary by season. (435) 719-2299 |
Located just 5 miles (8 km) north of Moab is Arches National Park, which contains the world's largest concentration of natural sandstone arches. Although over 2,000 arches are located within the park's 76,518 acres, the park also contains an astounding variety of other geological formations. Colossal sandstone fins, massive balanced rocks, soaring pinnacles and spires dwarf visitors as they explore the park's viewpoints and hiking trails. A paved scenic drive takes visitors to many of the major viewpoints within the park. The park’s rock formations delight children as well as adults, with many easy trails providing opportunities for kids to get out of the car and explore the arches up close. Hikers can choose from a wide variety of trails, from short twenty minute walks leading right up to many of the largest arches in the park, to more adventurous hikes into lesser seen areas.
Suggested Activities
| AVAILABLE TIME |
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES |
| 2-3 hours |
Drive the 36 mile (58 km) round trip Scenic Drive. |
| 1/2 day |
Drive the Scenic Drive and hike some of the easy short trails in the park, such as the Park Avenue Trail and trails in the Windows Section of the park. |
| Full Day |
Drive the Scenic Drive and hike some of the longer trails in the park, such as the trails to Double O Arch, Tower Arch, Delicate Arch, and Landscape Arch. |
| Several Days |
Hikers can experience a wide variety of hiking trails, including some of the lesser-seen, yet equally spectacular, areas of the park such as the "Primitive Loop" in the Devil's Garden Section of the park. |
Getting Around
Camping
The Devils Garden Campground is located eighteen miles from the park entrance and is open year-round. Facilities include potable water, picnic tables, grills, as well as both pit-style and flush toilets. There are no showers. Bring your own wood or charcoal for the grills. Some sites will accommodate RVs up to 30 feet in length.Telephone and on-line reservations for both group and individual sites may be made through recreation.gov. Reservations are not accepted by the park, and the park does not maintain information about site availability.
The campground has 50 individual sites which are $20 per night and will accommodate up to ten people. These sites may be reserved for nights between March 1st and October 31st. Reservations must be made no less than four days and no more than 180 days in advance. There is an additional $9 booking fee for reservations. To make a reservation, visit recreation.gov, or call (877) 444-6777, (877) 833-6777 (TDD), or (518) 885-3639. During the winter months (November 1st to February 28th) sites 1 - 24 are available on a self-serve basis at the campground.
The campground has two sites for groups of eleven or more people. The Juniper Basin campsite will accommodate up to 55 people; the Canyon Wren campsite up to 35. The group camping fee is $3 per person per night, with a $33 per night minimum. No recreational vehicles or trailers are permitted in the group sites. The Canyon Wren group campsite may be reserved year-round. Juniper Basin is available from March 1st to October 31st. Reservations must be made no less than 4 days and no more than 360 days in advance. There is an additional $9 booking fee for reservations. To make a reservation, visit recreation.gov or call (877) 444-6777, (877) 833-6777 (TDD), or (518) 885-3639. Unreserved group campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of arrival.
Lodging
No lodging is available within the park. The closest lodging is
located within the town of Moab, just 5 miles south of the entrance to
the park.
Moab has hotels & motels, bed & breakfasts, resorts and a large variety of guest houses and condos. Several property management companies can even take the hassle out of finding the right accommodations. Click here for a complete list of all the lodging options available in the Moab area.
Hiking
One of the more rewarding ways to see the park is on
foot. Arches features a wide variety of hikes, from short 10 minute walks
(suitable for all ages) to 4 hour hikes into some of the remote sections
of the park.
Hiking in the Windows Section |
Ranger Guided Fiery Furnace Hike |
| Balanced Rock |
.3 mi (5. km)
round trip |
15-30 min |
A loop trail around the base
of a fragile, picturesque rock formation. |
| Broken Arch |
1.2 mi (2 km)
round trip or 2 mi (3.2 km) with loop |
30-60 min |
From the Sand Dune Arch parking
area, the trail cuts across a large meadow to the arch and continues
to the campground. Loop trail leads through fin canyons with sand dunes
and slickrock. |
| Delicate Arch Viewpoint |
100 yards (91
meters) round trip |
10-15 min |
In addition to the short accessible
trail, another (moderately strenuous) hiking trail climbs one-half
mile (0.8 km) toward Delicate Arch and ends at the rim of a steep canyon
that separates the viewpoint from the arch. (This is not the popular
trail to Delicate Arch, which starts at the Wolfe Ranch parking area.
See below.) |
| Desert Nature Trail |
0.2 mi (0.3 km)
round trip |
15-30 min |
Discover the adaptations of
plants and animals in the desert on a self-guided nature walk. Trail
guide available at the trailhead near the Visitor Center. |
| Double Arch |
0.5 mi (0.8 km)
round trip |
15-30 min |
A relatively flat, sandy trail
leads to the base of two giant arch spans which are joined at one end. |
| Landscape Arch |
2 mi (3.2 km)
round trip |
30-60 min |
A relatively flat, gravel-surfaced
trail leads to a spectacular ribbon of rock, whose span is more than
a football field in length. Short side trips to Tunnel and Pine Tree
Arches. |
| Sand Dune Arch |
0.4 mi (0.6 km)
round trip |
15-30 min |
Trail leads through deep sand
to a secluded arch among sandstone fins. Kids love the sand! |
| Skyline Arch |
0.4 mi (0.6 km)
round trip |
10-20 min |
A short hike on a flat, well-defined
trail. |
| The Windows |
1 mi (1.6 km)
round trip |
30-60 min |
A gentle climb up a gravel loop
trail leads to three massive arches (North and South Windows and Turret
Arch). An alternate return, slightly longer, is by way of the primitive
loop around the back of the two Windows. The primitive loop trail starts
at the South Window viewpoint. |
| Park Avenue |
1 mi (1.6 km)
one way |
30-60 min |
From Park Avenue parking area,
the trail descends steeply into a spectacular canyon and continues
down the wash to the Courthouse Towers parking area. If you have a
shuttle driver, you can begin at one parking area and be picked up
at the other. For round-trip hiking, retrace your steps along the trail. |
| Tower Arch |
3.4 mi (5.6 km)
round trip |
2-3 hrs |
The trail climbs a steep, but
short, rock wall, then cuts across a valley and then meanders through
sandstone fins and sand dunes. An alternate, shorter trail (0.3 mile
[0.4 km] one way), begins at the end of the four-wheel-drive road on
the west side of Tower Arch. This unpaved road washes out quickly in
rainstorms; inquire at the visitor center about road conditions before
heading out. |
| Devils Garden Primitive
Loop |
7.2 mi (11.5
km) round trip |
3-5 hrs |
Longest of the maintained trails
in the park, the Devils Garden Trail leads to eight awe-inspiring arches.
Expect narrow ledges with rocky surface hiking and scrambling on slickrock.
Not recommended when rock is wet or snowy. |
| Double O Arch |
4 mi (6.4 km)
round trip |
2-3 hrs |
Beyond Landscape Arch, the trail
becomes more challenging as it climbs over sandstone slabs; footing
is rocky; there are narrow ledges with exposure to heights. Spur trails
lead to Partition and Navajo Arches. Dark Angel is one-half mile (0.8
km) farther. Trail guide available at trailhead. |
| Delicate Arch |
3 mi (4.8 km)
round trip |
2-3 hrs |
Take at least 1 quart (1 liter)
of water per person! There is no shade. Open slickrock with some exposure
to heights. The first half-mile is a wide, well-defined trail. Upon
reaching the slickrock, follow the rock cairns. The trail climbs gradually
and levels out toward the top of this rock face. Just before you get
to Delicate Arch, the trail goes along a rock ledge for about 200 yards.
Elevation change: 480 feet (146 meters) |
Fiery Furnace Ranger Guided Hikes
Fiery Furnace walks are offered daily, spring through fall. These three hour hikes wind through terrain that requires scrambling up and through narrow cracks and along narrow ledges above drop-offs. Children under five are not permitted. Reservations may be made at recreation.gov or by calling (877) 444-6777 and must be made more than four days before the date of the hike. Walks are limited to 25 people and often fill in advance.
Other Guided Walks
Rangers also lead easy, one-hour walks each day at different locations throughout the park. Evening Programs Join a ranger at the Devils Garden campground amphitheater (next to Canyon Wren group campsite and across the road from campsite #25) nightly. Programs last about forty-five minutes. A current schedule is available at the Arches Visitor Center.
Photography
Arches National Park is a paradise for photographers. Under conditions
of constantly changing light, the red rock landscape provides limitless
photographic opportunities.
Often, the difference between an average photograph
and an exceptional photograph is good lighting. Low sun angles at sunrise
and sunset can add brilliant color to the red rock. Scattered clouds can
also add depth to an image and a passing storm can provide extremely dramatic
lighting.
Below are some of the best times to photograph the major features at Arches
National Park:
| Moab Fault |
Park Avenue |
| The Three Gossips |
Courthouse Towers |
| Sheep Rock |
Petrified Dunes |
| The Great Wall |
Balanced Rock |
| Turret Arch |
The Garden of Eden |
| The Spectacles |
North and South Windows |
| Double Arch |
Delicate Arch |
| Cache Valley |
Fiery Furnace |
| Wolfe Ranch |
Skyline Arch |
| Landscape Arch |
Fins in Devil Garden |
| Double O Arch |
Tower Arch |
Delicate Arch - Not Just for Photographers
 Over one million people visit Arches National Park every year, and just about everyone wants to see all of the major views within the park. One of the most heavily visited arches is Delicate Arch. As a result of its popularity, you should always expect to see people surrounding this world famous arch. Although it may occasionally happen, it is unrealistic to expect a solitary experience around Delicate Arch. Be courteous to other visitors during your visit to the arch, and do not expect people to move away from this world famous landmark during your photographs. Remember that not everyone who visits this arch is a photographer. Most people simply want to experience the joy of standing next to such a beautiful landmark. People can add scale to any photo of Delicate Arch, so make your visit a great shared experience for everyone involved.
Try not to limit your creativity by simply capturing images of iconic places using the same composition as countless photographers before you. Arches National Park contains thousands of arches and vast expanses of breathtaking scenery just waiting for you to introduce your own personal style and interpretation. For those seeking solitude, Arches has much to offer beyond its iconic places. For example, consider a hike to Double O Arch, returning via the Primitive Trail, for some of the most spectacular scenery in the park. Just remember to bring enough memory cards to capture all of the great views! |
Park Publications
The following National Park Service publications are identical to the ones that you will receive at the entrance station to the park.
 |
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| Arches Newspaper |
Arches Map |
Park Updates
Fee Free Days
 The Southeast Utah Group of the National Park Service (Arches and Canyonlands National Parks and Hovenweep and Natural Bridges National Monuments) is joining all national parks across the country in waiving entrance fees several days in 2011 as a way to encourage people to get outdoors and spend time with their friends and family in the national parks this year. Upcoming fee free days this year will be National Park Week (April 16-24), the first day of summer (June 21), National Public Lands Day (September 24), and the weekend of Veterans Day (November 11-13).
Park Highlights
Balanced Rock
A short paved trail leads visitors to the base of Balanced Rock. The landform's total height is 128 feet, with the huge balanced rock rising 55 feet above its base.
Landscape Arch
The longest natural rock span in the world, this arch's opening is 306 feet wide - 6 feet longer than a football field. A nine story building would easily fit beneath this thin span. In 1991, a massive slab of rock fell from its underside, resulting in an even thinner ribbon of rock.
Spring Wildlfowers
April and May bring a variety of desert wildflowers to Arches.
Double Arch
Located in the Windows Section of Arches National Park, Double Arch was used as a backdrop for portions of the 1988 movie "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade". Numerous other movies have been filmed in Arches National Park, including Thelma and Louise in 1991.
Delicate Arch
A 1.5 mile trail (500 foot elevation gain) leads to the base of Delicate Arch, possibly the most famous natural span in the world. The La Sal Mountains are visible through the opening in the arch.
Park Avenue
From Park Avenue parking area, the trail descends steeply into a spectacular canyon and continues down the wash to Courthouse Towers. If you have a shuttle driver, you can begin at one point and be picked up at the other. For round-trip hiking, retrace your steps along the trail rather than walk along the park road.
Arches in Winter
Winter brings a blanket of pristine snow to Arches, providing dramatic contrast to the surrounding red rocks.
Family Hiking
There are many family friendly hikes in Arches, including the hike to Turret Arch in the Windows Section.
Park Contact Info
Mailing Address
Arches National Park
P.O. Box 907
Moab, UT 84532
Website
www.nps.gov/arch/
Email
archinfo@nps.gov
Phone
General Info
(435) 719-2299
General Info TTY
(435) 719-2319
Group Campsite Reservations
(435) 259-4351
Where to Stay
 No lodging is available within the park. The closest lodging is
located within the town of Moab, just 5 miles south of the entrance to
the park.
Moab has hotels & motels, bed & breakfasts, resorts and a large variety of guest houses and condos. Several property management companies can even take the hassle out of finding the right accommodations. Click here for a complete list of all the lodging options available in the Moab area.
Nearby Campgrounds
 In addition to the campground located within the park, there is a great selection of additional campgrounds in the surrounding area. Moab has many commercial campgrounds with RV hookups in addition to a huge assortment of BLM public campgrounds in extremely scenic locations. Click here for a complete list of all the camping options available in the Moab area.
Request our Free Travel Guide
Explore everything that the Moab area has to offer. Our Moab Activities Planner also includes complete listings of Moab lodging, campgrounds, guides, outfitters and services. Click here to request your free copy today!
Arches NP Welcomes
1,000,000th Visitor
 Victoria Carlson of Santa Fe, NM became the park's one-millionth visitor for 2010 on November 20th. Upon arrival at the park's entrance station, Ms. Carlson was greeted with extra excitement from park staff who shared the good news. Ms. Carlson stated she had visited the park several times before, and as an artist found inspiration in its beauty.
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