Arches National Park in Utah is home to the highest density of natural rock arches on the planet. One of the easiest ways to see these natural wonders is a variety of hiking trails in Arches National Park. Typically, the best hikes in Arches National Park lead to arches that will take your breath away.
This list of trails in Arches includes scenic vistas, cultural history, easy strolls, and, of course, arches. No matter which of the best hikes in Arches National Park you choose, you won’t be disappointed by this incredible park.
This page may contain affiliate links. This post was last updated on August 17, 2020.
Table of Contents
Map of Arches National Park
You can click on the map above to view and download the map in its entirety.
Tips for Hiking in Arches National Park
When to Go: It’s important to use caution while hiking in Arches National Park. For the mildest temperatures, plan to visit between September and March. Spring also brings amazing wildflowers. Summers are extremely hot and could be a dangerous time to be outside in the sun, but provide some of the best evenings for stargazing. In the winter season, you’ll find large crowds and cooler temperatures.
You will be hiking in the desert no matter which time of year you visit. Prepare for warm temperatures during the day and cool temperatures at night. Drink plenty of water (at least one gallon per person per day), use sunscreen, and wear a hat. Do not attempt any difficult hikes listed below during extreme heat events.
Leave the rocks as you found them. Do not take any rocks or rock pieces with you. Graffiti is prohibited. Do not climb on the arches! Stay on-trail to protect the fragile desert soil.
This is a list of what I believe to be the best hikes in Arches. However, there are many others! Click here for the list on the official website.
You can do most of these hikes in one day at Arches.
Best Hikes in Arches National Park
Here are the best hiking trails in Arches National Park, organized from the easiest to the most challenging.
1. Balanced Rock Loop
While the park may be called Arches, it boats other impressive rock formations as well. Take Balanced Rock, for example. This famous rock pillar has a large rock perfectly balanced on top of it.
While you can see Balanced Rock from the road, to get a closer look it’s best to walk on one of the best hikes in Arches National Park. This short, paved loop circles Balanced Rock for the best views. It’s perfect for strollers and wheelchair accessible.
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 0.3 mi / 0.5 km round-trip
Elevation Gain: 45 ft / 13 m
Estimated Time: 20 minutes
Type of Trail: Loop
Trailhead Location: Balanced Rock parking area
Note: Paved trail; wheelchair accessible
2. Skyline Arch
One of the easiest arches to hike to in the park is Skyline Arch. This short, relatively flat dirt path leads to a great view of an arch above. The wall is quite high, leaving the arch to frame the skyline.
Skyline Arch is famous for doubling in size in 1940 when a large chunk of rock fell from the formation. The rock pile still rests at the bottom of the arch.
The arch is great for photography, especially at sunset.
You can also get here from the Devils Garden Campground amphitheater. A short, accessible path from the amphitheater leads to a great viewpoint of the arch.
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 0.4 mi / 0.6 km round-trip
Elevation Gain: 42 ft / 13 m
Estimated Time: 15 minutes
Type of Trail: Out and back
Trailhead Location: Skyline Arch parking area
3. Parade of the Elephants Trail (to Double Arch)
Double Arch is easily one of my favorite arches in the park. To see one large circular arch is spectacular enough. When you see two next to each other, you’ll be speechless. Of all the easy trails in the park, this is one of the best hikes in Arches National Park.
The trail is made of compacted gravel. With some assistance, it could be completed in a wheelchair.
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 0.5 mi / 0.8 km round-trip
Elevation Gain: 32 ft / 10 m
Estimated Time: 20 minutes
Type of Trail: Out and back
Trailhead Location: Windows parking area
4. The Windows and Turret Arch
Near Double Arch is another one of the best hikes in Arches National Park: The Windows Loop.
This trail provides access to three stunning arches. First, you’ll come across the North and South Windows. These circular arches are parallel to each other in a red rock wall. If you look through the South Window, you’ll see Turret Arch (pictured at the beginning of this post).
Continue following the loop and you’ll get a better look at Turret Arch. There’s a short, out-and-back spur trail from the loop trail to Turret Arch for a close-up.
There is a gradual incline on the trail as you approach the arches. You’ll walk up a small section of stone steps to reach the viewpoints.
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 1 mi / 1.6 km round-trip
Elevation Gain: 98 ft / 30 m
Estimated Time: 45 minutes
Type of Trail: Loop
Trailhead Location: Windows parking area
5. Park Avenue
For more diverse rock formations, take a walk along Park Avenue, one of the best hikes in Arches National Park.
This is an out-and-back trail that descends steeply into a canyon. Here, you gain spectacular views of the Courthouse Towers. These towering rock formations create impressive walls and rock monoliths.
The trail is out-and-back from the Park Avenue parking area to the Courthouse Towers viewpoint along the park road. If you can arrange a shuttle, it’s easy to hike one direction. Otherwise, you’ll return the way you came.
The La Sal Mountains are also visible in the distance, often blanketed with snow. There’s also a parking area further up the road if you’d prefer not to hike the complete trail.
If you’d prefer not to hike the full trail, there is a short, paved path to the Park Avenue Viewpoint from the parking area.
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 2 mi / 3.2 km round-trip
Elevation Gain: 320 ft / 98 m
Estimated Time: 1.5 hours
Type of Trail: Out and back
Trailhead Location: Park Avenue Viewpoint and Trailhead parking area
6. Delicate Arch
Delicate Arch is easily the most popular hike in the park, and most certainly one of the best hikes in Arches National Park.
Delicate Arch is likely the most famous arch in Utah. It’s featured on the state license plate and highway welcome signs.
The trail begins by leading you up a large slick rock, the most difficult portion of the hike. Then, you’ll continue along a rock fin until you reach the arch.
Difficulty: Moderately Strenuous
Distance: 3 mi / 4.8 km round-trip
Elevation Gain: 480 ft / 146 m
Estimated Time: 2.5 hours
Type of Trail: Out and back
Trailhead Location: Wolfe Ranch parking area
7. Devils Garden (Landscape, Navajo, and Partition Arches)
Describing the Devils Garden trail is a bit tricky. There are portions that are easy, portions that are strenuous, and portions that require wilderness navigation skills. To make it easy, I’ll describe the trail to its first three arches: Landscape, Navajo, and Partition. More detailed information is available in the Devils Garden trail guide.
Landscape Arch
The hike to Landscape Arch is considered easy. It’s one of the most impressive arches in the park spanning larger than a football field. Most visitors will hike to this point and turn back.
The trail is gravel and compact. There are a few steep sections, but it could be wheelchair accessible with assistance.
Furthermore, there are short side trails to Pine Tree and Tunnel arches from this portion of the trail.
Partition Arch and Navajo Arch
After Landscape Arch, the trail becomes more difficult. It’s one of the best hikes in Arches National Park for avoiding large crowds.
The trail becomes primitive, and wayfinding skills are required. There are only a few designated trail signs along with rock cairns. Rock scrambling is required. You will also encounter steep slopes, drop-offs, and narrow ledges.
Furthermore, you’ll need to crawl up slick rock slabs. Use extreme caution here. It is not recommended to continue beyond Landscape Arch after rain or snow.
Once you continue on the primitive trail, there are two spur trails to Navajo and Partition arches. Both are well-marked dirt paths. The arches themselves are really impressive as well.
Trail Stats
Difficulty: Strenuous
Distance: 3 mi / 4.8 km
Elevation Gain: 492 ft / 150 m
Estimated Time: 2 hours
Type of Trail: Out and back
Trailhead Location: Devils Garden parking area
Best For: Experienced hikers
8. Double O Arch
If you continue to follow the primitive trail beyond the spurs for Navajo and Partition arches, it will lead to Double O Arch.
This is one of the best hikes in Arches National Park for the reward alone. After a strenuous hike on primitive trails, you’ll have great views of the arch and find yourself in almost complete solitude.
From the arch, you can go back the way you came or continue hiking. The trail creates a small loop. Directly after Double O Arch is a spur trail to Dark Angel, a rock formation. Then, after walking the loop for a few minutes you’ll find another spur trail to Private Arch. If you have time, both are worth the walk. If not, I’d recommend going back from Double O Arch.
Difficulty: Strenuous
Distance: 4.5 mi / 6.8 km round-trip
Elevation Gain: 649 ft / 198 m
Estimated Time: 2.5 hours
Type of Trail: Out and back
Trailhead Location: Devils Garden parking area
Best For: Experienced hikers
9. Tower Arch
Tower Arch is another one of the best hikes in Arches National Park for avoiding crowds.
Getting to the trailhead requires traveling on the unpaved Salt Valley Road. The road is usually passable for 2WD vehicles except after heavy rains.
After driving for some time, you’ll see the road turns toward the Klondike Bluffs trailhead. This is the trail for Tower Arch and the Marching Men formation. There’s also a small pit toilet located here.
Difficulty: Strenuous
Distance: 3.4 mi / 5.5 km round-trip
Elevation Gain: 600 ft / 183 m
Estimated Time: 2.5 hours
Type of Trail: Out and back
Trailhead Location: Klondike Bluffs trailhead on Salt Valley Road
10. Fiery Furnace
Last but not least, I decided to feature one of the most unique, challenging, and exciting hikes in Arches National Park.
The Fiery Furnace does not actually have a trail. Therefore, hiking here requires a park ranger as your tour guide or a day-use permit from the visitor center.
While there is a marked route, it is still extremely easy to get lost. Hiking with a ranger is encouraged.
Furthermore, the hike requires agility and physical fitness. You’ll be walking through a maze of rock formations and narrow sandstone canyons.
Difficulty: Strenuous
Distance: There is no trail
Elevation Gain: There is no trail
Estimated Time: There is no trail
Type of Trail: There is no trail
Trailhead Location: Fiery Furnace parking area
Note: There is no trail; all hikers must be accompanied by a park ranger or acquire a day-use permit. This is best for experienced hikers with navigation skills.
Where to Stay in Arches National Park
There are no restaurants or lodges within Arches National Park. The closest accommodations and services are located in Moab, about five miles from the entrance to the park. If you’d like to stay within park boundaries, you’ll have to camp.
Some of the best options for places to stay near Arches include:
- Moab Gateway Inn
- Quality Inn
- St. Dane’s Cabins
- Big Horn Lodge
- Best Western Plus
- Archview RV Resort and Campground
- View all 500+ options in Moab
Camping in Arches National Park
There is one campground in Arches National Park: Devils Garden. There are 51 sites and reservations are accepted from March 1 to October 31. You can reserve up to six months in advance. Between November 1 and February 28, all sites are first-come, first-served. The campground is equipped with potable water, picnic tables, grills, pit toilets, and flush toilets.
What to Wear Hiking in Arches National Park
For more suggestions, read my posts on my favorite outdoor gear and the best daypacks for women.
The 10 Hiking Essentials
Every hiker should always carry the ten essentials with them. These include:
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- Navigation systems: map, compass, and/or GPS
- Sun protection: sunscreen and/or ballcap
- Insulating layers: synthetic or down jacket, rain jacket, hat, gloves, and leggings
- Illumination (flashlight or headlamp)
- First-aid kit
- Something to light a fire: lighter, waterproof matches, and/or fire starter
- Repair kits and tools: pocket knife, duct tape, screwdriver, and/or scissors
- Emergency shelter: tent, bivy, tarp, and/or space blanket
- Nutrition: food for both meals and snacks
- Hydration: water bottle, water treatment (LifeStraw or SteriPen), and water
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Pin The Best Hikes in Arches National Park
GREAT content! Thank you for sharing.
I love that you put in the Alltrails maps, very helpful! Def want to go here soon!
Those are the great locations ,I checked out Arches natioanl park and I am very keen on visiting it some day
I keep seeing photos of this area and being amazed at the landscape. Great hiking guide with lots of helpful details!