Arches National Park is renowned for its stunning rock formations and dramatic desert scenery. The park is home to more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches formed over millions of years through geological processes. The park is also sprinkled with spires, pinnacles and balanced rocks—making Arches one of the most visually captivating national parks.

The iconic arch of the park is Delicate Arch. There are two ways to see Delicate Arch: hike right to it or hike to a view from across the way.

Hiking right up to the arch is a great experience.  However, it is also a crowded hike with a narrow approach that can get icy in winter months.

Trail to Delicate Arch

The Delicate Arch Viewpoint is a fun hike and with a good view of the arch. This trail isn’t crowded and there is no ice to navigate.

Trial to Delicate Arch Viewpoint

Two-day tour of the arches

Planning to spend two days in the park will give you the opportunity to get in a lot of hikes, see the park at sunset and explore outside the park—or nearby Canyonlands NP or Deadhorse State Park. Plan to base out of Moab and enjoy the shops, restaurants and galleries.

Day 1

On the first day, get to the park early.  Note Arches has summer timed entry, check the website for current dates. Arches has timed entry. Check for current dates. If you need a timed entry, get it for as early as possible—lines get long later in the morning. Arches is an out and back drive, with a few spurs along the way.  There are a lot of hikes under 5-miles, so you can get easily get in 2-3 hikes.  

Some favs—in addition to Trail to Delicate Arch and Trial to Delicate Arch Viewpoint include:

Broken Arch Trail—Two-mile loop that takes you through cool narrow slots and across desert terrain that leads to arches and stunning views of the La Sal mountains.  You can extend the hike by a half mile to Tapestry Arch—where you can get right up to the arch. Parking for this trail is in the Devil’s Garden campground and is less crowded (and easier) than the Devil’s Garden loop trail.

Devil’s Garden is at the end of the road and you will need to be patient to get a parking spot. The full 8-mile hike is challenging, but it’s worth getting out and exploring the area. You will see a lot just by walking the first mile out and back.  This area can get icy in the colder months.

Park Avenue—Short, fun, flat trail that is between sheer, towering rock walls. This is a great hike to do on your way out of the park. Park at Courthouse Towers and if time permits tag on Courthouse Towers Viewpoint—a 1.8-mile out/back trail.

Day 2

Spend day two exploring outside the park and plan to get back to the Arches entry about an hour and a half before sunset. (Timed entry ends by 3pm each day.) Drive to the Windows Section and take the one mile Windows loop trail and the short climb up to Turret Arch—for stunning views of the sun setting on the rocks.

A few options that make great day trips from Moab include:

Corona and Bowtie Arch via Corona Arch

Short drive Outside of Moab along the Colorado river.  Climbers can be seen on the rocks on other side of road. It’s pretty wild. If you want to get up close and personal to an arch, this would be the hike, you get two!  Walk under Corona Arch and look for the face in the rock.

Corona and Bowtie Arch via Corona Arch

Fisher Towers Trail

This is gem of a hike with very few people (it is about an hour and half from Moab). It’s claim to fame is the high pinnacles that attract climbers—and are amazing to watch as you hike on the floor between the rock.

A Citibank credit card ad was filmed here that featured professional rock climber, Katie Brown.  The opening scene of Austin Powers in Goldmember was also filmed at Fisher towers. Note, there is one ladder on this semi-strenuous 4.5-mile, 1469-foot trail. But don’t worry, heading back into Moab, you can pull out along the Colorado River and soak your feet.

Fisher Towers Trail

Grand View—This is a signature Canyonlands hike that can be paired with the Deadhorse loop that starts at the visitor center—and incudes views of the potash ponds.

List of trails

Inside Arches National Park

• Trail to Delicate Arch
  ~3.0 miles round-trip • ~480–630 ft elevation gain • Moderate
• Trial to Delicate Arch Viewpoint
  ~0.7 miles round-trip to upper viewpoint • ~140 ft elevation gain • Easy–Moderate
• Broken Arch Trail
  ~2.3–2.8 miles loop (including Tapestry) • ~60–320 ft elevation gain • Easy to Moderate
• Tapestry Arch
  ~0.7 miles round-trip • ~65 ft elevation gain • Easy
• Devil’s Garden
  1.8–7.9 miles (varies by route) • ~20–290+ ft elevation gain • Moderate to Strenuous
• Park Avenue
  ~2 miles round-trip (or 1 mile one-way with shuttle) • ~320 ft elevation change • Moderate
• Courthouse Towers Viewpoint
  Short viewpoint walks • Minimal elevation gain • Easy
• Windows loop trail
  ~1–1.2 miles round-trip • ~150–200 ft elevation gain • Easy
• Turret Arch
  Included with the Windows loop • Same elevation gain • Easy

Nearby Hikes (Outside Arches National Park)

Corona and Bowtie Arch via Corona Arch
~2.4–3.0 miles round-trip • ~440–460 ft elevation gain • Moderate

Fisher Towers Trail
~4–5.2 miles round-trip • ~650–745 ft elevation gain • Moderate

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