Got a few hours to explore Arches National Park? Here is how I spent an awesome day.
There’s nothing quite like a towering swoop of sandstone. The landscape of Utah’s Arches National Park lures visitors from far and wide to explore its fantastical geological formations, the highest density of natural arches on the planet.
Options for recreation abound among the other-worldly red rocks, from biking to backcountry camping. But a visitor on a schedule might be tempted to maximize time to Arches alongside Utah’s other natural wonders and parks, an experience helpfully packaged by state tourism as the “Mighty 5.” Or, you’re like me and needed to get into Salt Lake City from Monument Valley at a reasonable hour.
There are 2,000 arches on 76,000 acres. So what of the park’s signature sights can you see in a day (and fit in some hiking, while you’re at it?) Read on for my best-of hiking and sightseeing Arches National Park in 1 day.
Time of Year
I went in early March, when the nearby La Sal Mountains were still coated in snow and weather ranged from driving rain to raw winds to crisp blue skies all in a few hours. This meant I got water on my shoes and sand in my hair (and in my mouth, and ears), but it also meant no crowds.
Delicate Arch
3 miles out-and-back | Our time: 1.5 hours
If you’ve got time for one hike, make it Delicate Arch. This gorgeous formation is the poster child for the park. The three-mile hike is a moderate but unrelenting uphill climb over slick rock that evens out onto a trail. Delicate Arch rises like a coffee mug handle from a basin of soft red sandstone, an intricate beauty in an unlikely place.
Devil’s Garden Trail
Our time: 2 hours
Landscape Arch
1.9 miles out-and-back
While the full loop of Devil’s Garden Trail clocks in at 7 miles, we opted for the out-and-back route on the trail’s left side to see two more arches and get some dirt on our boots. The path to Landscape Arch is flat and accessible, a slow reveal to the towering taper of the world’s largest arch, a meandering line of rock recently thinned by a rockfall in the early 90s. You can get close, but not underneath (because, rockfalls).
Double O Arch
4.2 miles out-and-back
Continue on to Double O Arch via sheer-sided rock fins, jutting sandstone planes that will one day become their own arches! This is was an exhilarating part of the trail, especially as wind buffeted around us. Double O waits at the end around a scramble of rock.
The Windows Section
Our time: 45 minutes
Cool down or warm up in this famous region of Arches, where beautiful formations are accessible just off short paths.
The Windows & Turret Arch
1 mile out-and-back
A gentle trail leads to the North and South windows from the parking lot, where you can peer out through the wall’s “eyes.” Follow the steps around to Turret Arch to complete the loop.
Double Arch
.5 mile out-and-back
Possibly the area’s most interesting arch, the gorgeous double bends of this formation are just a quick walk from the parking lot, and offer scenic windows to the sky.
Balanced Rock
While technically not in the Windows Section, Balanced Rock is a popular spire and you’ll pass it as you drive north on the road.
Park Avenue
Evoking the tall sides of skyscrapers, these interesting canyon walls can be seen up close on a 2-mile round-trip hike toward the Courthouse Towers. We were pressed for time, and so just stopped at the lookout point along the road.
With around 5 hours, we were able to spend an exciting day getting up-close and personal with some of the beauty of Arches National Park.
Commemorate your Arches National Park trip with a Roaming Hills design!
You can purchase my art print based on Delicate Arch in Arches National Park. Want to customize it? Send me a picture of you and who you hiked with and I’ll add you as silhouettes where the person is standing. You can also select a custom background color!
