Arches National Park Day Trip Guide

Use our realistic Arches Day Trip Guide to plan your next adventure in this national park.

Arches National Park is a world famous destination. The name of the park reveals its most popular sights. These natural arches attract millions of visitors every year.

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Sights & Places of Interest

Arches is home to numerous sights. And the attractions start soon after entering the park.

You would first drive uphill on a winding mountain road. The road quickly gains elevation before reaching a plateau. This stretch of the road is particularly scenic in the winter.

Our Arches Day Trip Guide compares experiences visiting this national park during summer and winter.

Park Avenue

You would have to drive for a while to see the signature arches. The Courthouse Towers and Park Avenue are the first sights you would see in the park.

Courthouse Towers

The sights at the Park Avenue could display interesting light and shadow combinations. It all depends on the time of your visit.

La Sal Mountains

La Sal Mountains Viewpoint is next to the Park Avenue.

This viewpoint looks particularly surreal in winter.

Three Gossips

As you drive further into the park, you will continue to enjoy great views. The Courthouse Towers, Organ, Three Gossips, and Tower of Babel will be on full display.

You could run into fog when visiting the park in the winter.

It might take you a bit longer to reach the sights with the road partially covered in snow. It is better to take your time and get to your destination safely.

The Courthouse Towers offer a clear view towards Canyonlands National Park. Fog and clouds also often cover that park in the winter.

Once you have seen this view, you will understand the reasoning behind the Island in the Sky naming. It is logical and somewhat literal.

Balanced Rock

Balanced Rock is the formation closest to the arches. There are just a few parking spots at this trailhead. But you could see most of the Rock from your vehicle.

Delicate Arch

There are several sights to explore after Balanced Rock. The Windows are the closest. But it is a good idea to drive first to Delicate Arch.

It is one of the most recognizable symbols of the park and the whole state. In fact, most vehicles in Utah have license plates with Delicate Arch.

It is hardly a surprise that many visitors come to Arches to see this signature formation.

This section of our Arches Day Trip Guide will describe the best ways to see Delicate Arch.

Upper & Lower Viewpoints

There are three ways to see Delicate Arch in the park. All involve hiking and differ in length.

• Lower Viewpoint: it takes well under 5 minutes to reach. You get distant views of the Arch.
• Upper Viewpoint: involves a 0.5-mi (0.8-km) hike. It brings you a little closer to the Arch for a clearer view.
• Delicate Arch Trail: 3-mi (4.8-km) trail that brings you to Delicate Arch.

Both viewpoints cannot even compare in views of the Arch with the trail. If you can take one hike in Arches, it should be the Delicate Arch Trail.

Wolf Ranch

The trail to Delicate Arch starts from the Wolf Ranch area. The parking lot fills out quickly during any season.

The hike is strenuous. You need to deal with heat and lack of shade in the summer. The hike is somewhat dangerous in the winter as the trail gets slippery.

The Delicate Arch trail starts with a creek crossing. The creek might be frozen if you hike in the winter.

You can experience fog when hiking in the morning. It is quite easy to lose sight of the trail in the fog.

Delicate Arch Trail

Luckily, the trail is well marked. There is always a sign pointing you to the right direction.

The trail narrows for the last few feet (meters) before Delicate Arch.

You need to be extra careful when hiking in winter. Snow completely covers the path.

But snow is not the issue. Many areas have ice underneath. You might have little grip on ice. So it is best to slow down and take your time.

Once you turn around the corner, you will reach Delicate Arch.

If you started the hike in the fog, you might still experience it when you reach the Arch.

Give it some time. The fog will start to clear. It will then reveal beautiful Delicate Arch.

The trail is an out-and-back hike. You will return to the parking lot via the same path.

Salt Valley & Fiery Furnace

You will have different sights to choose from after exploring Delicate Arch. You could proceed further into the park or return to the Windows section.

If you drive towards Devils Garden area, you should stop at the Salt Valley Overlook. It is a great spot to enjoy the views of the Valley and Fiery Furnace.

Your exploration will be quite different during heavy winter fog.

The road around the valley could be covered in snow. Get ready for winter driving. Take it slow to avoid losing traction.

Devils Garden

This section of our Arches Day Trip Guide will focus on Devils Garden area.

Devils Garden adds a few hours to your visit to Arches. This area is home to several trails. You could reach Landscape Arch, Navajo Arch, and Double O Arch from this trailhead.

The trail to Landscape Arch is a 1.8-mi (2.9-km) flat path. But it has some challenges.

Get ready for a few sandy sections. Expect no shade. And bring plenty of water.

Some formations in Devils Garden give room for interpretation. Do you see a knight in a slam?

Or maybe a chess knight?

Landscape Arch

Landscape Arch is the longest arch in the park. This arch is also the longest in North America.

Navajo Arch

If you already made it that far, you might want to see more arches. An uphill hike would bring you to Wall Arch, Partition Arch, and Navajo Arch. Get ready for some climbing.

Navajo Arch leads to an area between two steep walls. They create some shade. This is a great spot to catch your breath.

Fin Canyon

Shade disappears if you continue to the Fin Canyon and Double O Arch. This trail also requires some minor climbing. But the views of the Fin Canyon are worth the effort.

Double O Arch

Double O Arch is one of the furthest sights in Devils Garden. You can return to the trailhead using the same path. Or you could take a longer trail with a few more arches on the way.

Windows Section

The Windows Section is another popular area of the park. It is home to several easy-to-reach arches. And most of them are also close to one another.

This section of our Arches Day Trip Guide will describe things to do in the Windows Section.

The Windows are the closest arches to the park’s entrance. Almost every visitor to the park visits them. As a result, the Windows attract large crowds.

Turret Arch

Turret Arch is a free standing arch. It immediately grabs attention if you take the Windows Loop Trail.

South Window

North and South Windows are part of the same formation.

North Window

The scale of Window Arches is breathtaking.

Double Arch & Cove of Caves

The Window Section also has Double Arch and Cove of Caves. The trail to these arches starts on the other side of the parking lot.

All of the arches in this section are less iconic than Delicate Arch. But they are a lot easier to reach.

The section’s parking lot is small. It could be an issue if you visit the Windows towards the end of your Arches visit. Be ready to wait for a parking spot to open up.

Garden of Eden

On your way back you might want to make a quick stop at the Garden of Eden.

This Garden does not have any arches. But there are a lot of sandstone formations.

These formations offer quite some room for a vivid mind.

Continue with our Arches Day Trip Guide to learn more about ways to get to the sights, entrance requirements, and places to stay.

Getting to Arches

Arches are in a remote part of Utah. The park is about 28 miles (45 km) from I-70 highway. This location makes Arches both difficult and easy to visit.

There is an alternative route to the Interstate Highway. You can take Highway UT-128 if you approach Arches from Grand Junction, CO and Colorado National Monument.

This route could add another 30 minutes to your trip. But the views are worth a detour. They look just like the famous Monument Valley.

Where to Stay near Arches

Moab, UT is by far the most logical choice for places to stay when visiting both Arches and Canyonlands. In fact, it is one of the few spots that give you multiple options in this part of the state.

Lodging is somewhat limited. It gets pricey during major holidays. But you can still find something within a reasonable budget. There are just two rules to follow:

• Book as early as possible.
• Arrive in Moab during weekdays or in the offseason.

Entrance Requirements & Passes

Arches National Park is open 24/7. The park would likely welcome you by a long line in front of the entrance gate. But there is a faster way. You just need to have an America the Beautiful annual pass.

In this case, you can use a separate lane for the pass holders. This lane could cut your waiting time by at least half an hour.

The Interagency annual pass is an incredible investment for Arches. It saves you time and covers the entrance fees of $30 per vehicle.

You need an advance reservation if you visit the park between April 1st and October 31st. This reservation allows you to enter the park during a specific time slot. The reservation costs $2 per vehicle. This fee is nonrefundable.

The system is quite similar to Rocky Mountain.

Takeaways: Arches Day Trip

Arches National Park is well worth a visit. These impressive natural arches make perfect pictures. Surreal landscape and other sights make Arches a well-rounded destination.

Here are a few tips to make the most from you trip to Arches:

• Secure entry reservation in advance, well before your trip.
• Get America the Beautiful annual pass before visiting Arches.
• Use lines for Interagency pass holders.
• Budget at least 1.5 hours to drive between sights in the park.
• Arrive early if you plan on hiking to Delicate Arch.
• Bring plenty of water and sunscreen when hiking under merciless Utah sun.
• Wear sturdy comfortable when visiting the park in the winter.

Take a look at our Arches Day Trip Video Guide and visit our YouTube channel for the latest videos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Safe realist travels!