2,000 Arches and Counting — The Densest Concentration on Earth
Arches National Park contains over 2,000 natural stone arches — the highest density anywhere on Earth — along with balanced rocks, spires, and fins that look like they were sculpted by giants. The park's red Entrada and Navajo sandstones create landscapes so alien they've been used as stand-ins for Mars in scientific documentaries. And it's all just 5 miles from Moab, Utah, one of the best adventure towns in the country.
Getting There
Nearest airports: Grand Junction, CO (1.5 hours), Salt Lake City (4 hours), Denver (5.5 hours).
The park entrance is on US-191 just north of Moab. The entrance road climbs steeply via switchbacks — take it slow in RVs.
Entrance fee: $30 per vehicle for 7 days. America the Beautiful pass accepted. Timed entry required from April through October — book on recreation.gov.
Book Moab lodging — this adventure town has options from camping to luxury.
Must-See Formations
Delicate Arch: The most famous arch in the world — the one on Utah's license plate. The 3-mile round-trip trail gains 480 feet and offers no shade. Bring 2 liters of water minimum even in cool weather.
Landscape Arch: The longest arch in the park at 306 feet, and one of the thinnest — a 6-foot-wide ribbon of sandstone spanning a 290-foot gap. It may not be here much longer; a 60-ton chunk fell from it in 1991.
Double Arch: Two massive arches sharing a single fin, creating a cathedral-like space. The 0.5-mile trail is one of the easiest in the park.
Balanced Rock: A 3,600-ton boulder perched on a narrow pedestal that appears ready to topple. Visible from the road — no hiking required.
Fiery Furnace: A maze of narrow sandstone canyons and fins. Ranger-led tours only (or a permit with demonstrated navigation skills). This is the park's most adventurous experience.
Best Hiking Trails
Delicate Arch Trail (3 miles, moderate-strenuous): The most popular trail in the park. The final approach climbs slickrock cairns with no shade and 480 feet of gain. Best at sunset when the arch glows red-orange. Arrive 2 hours before sunset for a photography spot.
Devils Garden Trail (7.2 miles to Double O Arch, strenuous): The premier hike in the park. Passes Landscape Arch, Navajo Arch, Partition Arch, and Double O Arch. The trail beyond Landscape Arch involves slickrock scrambling and exposed edges. Best done early morning.
Park Avenue Trail (1 mile, easy): A walk through a sandstone "avenue" with towering walls on both sides. Best at sunrise when light enters the canyon at a low angle.
Windows Loop (1.2 miles, easy): North and South Windows plus Turret Arch. A short, family-friendly trail with big arches.
Tower Arch Trail (2.4 miles, moderate): The least-visited major arch in the park because it requires a 2.2-mile drive on a dirt road. Worth the effort for solitude and a dramatic arch framing the La Sal Mountains.
Photography Tips
Delicate Arch at sunset is the most iconic shot in the park — and the most crowded. 200+ photographers line up on spring and fall evenings. Three strategies:
- Go on a weekday in winter. You may have the place to yourself.
- Arrive 90 minutes before sunset to set up and claim a spot.
- Shoot sunrise instead. It's backlit and less dramatic, but you'll have 10 photographers instead of 200.
When to Visit
Best: October-November and March-May for comfortable temps (60-75°F days) and best light. Spring wildflowers add color to the red rock.
Summer (June-September): Brutally hot. 100°F+ days. Trailhead parking lots fill by 8am. Delicate Arch at sunset is still magical but requires serious heat preparation.
Winter (December-February): Cold (30-50°F days) but dramatically less crowded. Snow on red rock is photographer's gold. Some trails may close for ice.
Planning Your Time
- Minimum: Half day (Scenic drive + Delicate Arch at sunset)
- Recommended: 1-2 days (Devils Garden + Delicate Arch + Park Avenue + Fiery Furnace tour)
- Thorough: 3 days (all of the above + Tower Arch + backcountry + night photography)
Combining Arches with Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point
Arches is small enough to see in 1-2 days, which makes it perfect for a multi-park combo:
Arches + Canyonlands + Dead Horse Point (3-4 days):
- Day 1: Arches (Delicate Arch sunset + Windows)
- Day 2: Canyonlands Island in the Sky (Grand View Point + Mesa Arch sunrise)
- Day 3: Needles District or Dead Horse Point State Park
- Day 4: Arches (Fiery Furnace + Tower Arch)
Devils Garden Primitive Trail Details
The Devils Garden Primitive Trail is an 8-mile loop extension beyond Double O Arch that separates casual hikers from serious ones. Beyond Double O, the route continues 1.5 miles to Private Arch — the most secluded major arch in the Devils Garden area — then wraps back via a rocky fin-walk to connect with the main trail near Landscape Arch. Allow 4-6 hours. The Primitive Trail involves slickrock scrambling, narrow ledges, and route-finding via cairns. It is not recommended in wet or icy conditions, when the slickrock becomes treacherously slick. Pack 3 liters of water per person and start before 9am in summer — the Primitive Trail has almost no shade and summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F.
Fiery Furnace — How to Secure a Tour
The Fiery Furnace is the park's most immersive experience, but access is tightly controlled:
Ranger-led tours: Offered daily from spring through fall, typically at 9am and 1pm. Tickets cost $16 for adults and $8 for children 5-13 (kids under 5 are not permitted). Tours last 2.5-3 hours and cover 1-2 miles of slot canyon scrambling. Reserve on recreation.gov up to 6 months in advance — spots sell out weeks ahead in spring and fall.
Self-guided permits: Available at the visitor center for $6 per person (or $4 for pass holders). Rangers will quiz you on navigation to ensure you won't get lost. A GPS track is strongly recommended — the Fiery Furnace has no marked trail, and hikers who lose their bearings can spend hours searching for the exit.
Primitive Campground at Devils Garden
Devils Garden Campground is the only campground inside Arches. 51 sites, reservable on recreation.gov 6 months in advance at 10am ET. The campground fills instantly for March-October weekends — set a calendar alert. Amenities include drinking water, flush toilets, and picnic tables, but no showers or hookups. Each site is $25/night. Group sites accommodate 10+ people at $50/night. Sites 8, 11, 15, and 21 have the best views of surrounding fins.
Where to Eat and Refuel in Moab
Moab (population ~5,400) punches above its weight for food:
- Moab Brewery — Burgers, wings, and local craft beer. The most popular post-hike stop in town. Long waits after 6pm in peak season.
- City Market — The main grocery store on Main Street. Stock up on water, snacks, and ice. Prices run 20-30% higher than urban supermarkets.
- Miguels Pizza — Just outside the park entrance. Famous with climbers and hikers alike. Cheap, generous portions, and a covered patio. A Moab institution since 1992.
Winter in Arches — The Photographer's Secret
December through February is the most overlooked season in Arches — and arguably the most rewarding for photographers. Daytime highs of 30-50°F mean you can hike all day without heat concerns. Delicate Arch at sunset can be experienced alone, not with a crowd of 200. When snow dusts the red rock and the La Sal Mountains rise white behind the arches, the compositions are unmatched.
Practical considerations: the park road may close temporarily after snowstorms for plowing. Bring traction devices (microspikes) for icy sections of the Delicate Arch and Devils Garden trails. Bring extra layers — desert evenings drop well below freezing by 5pm in winter. The visitor center and the Windows section remain accessible year-round, and the park is a designated International Dark Sky Park, making winter nights excellent for astrophotography with minimal cold-weather light pollution interference.