Your First Time in Arches National Park
Description:
Although one of five national parks located in southern Utah, Arches is as distinct as each of the others. Known for its natural sandstone arches (over 2,000 of them), carved by wind and water over many millennia, Arches contains adventurous delights for all visitors. Its most famous icon is Delicate Arch, a graceful and soaring piece of nature's handiwork that is easily trail accessible.
Rocks that balance on seemingly little more than a whisper, stone fins jutting out into thin air, and pinnacles thrust up into the sky make up the very camera-friendly Arches. A palette of colors ranging from tangerine to mauve to soft red and everything in between can vie with luminous sunrises and sunsets for your attention when you hit the trail. Being high desert, Arches gets plenty of snow in the winter and can sport chilly mornings and evenings outside of summer. Prepare accordingly and you'll enjoy everything this Park has to offer.
Best to visit in spring and fall when temperatures are cooler, the road into Arches begins just at the outskirts of Moab, the large gateway town that provides a great selection of dining, lodging, and other recreation options. Most visitors to Arches stay in Moab as there is no lodging inside the Park itself except for Devils Arch Campground, which accommodates tents and Rvs. There is also neither food nor gas available within Park boundaries, so stock up before you head in for a day's hiking.
Rocks that balance on seemingly little more than a whisper, stone fins jutting out into thin air, and pinnacles thrust up into the sky make up the very camera-friendly Arches. A palette of colors ranging from tangerine to mauve to soft red and everything in between can vie with luminous sunrises and sunsets for your attention when you hit the trail. Being high desert, Arches gets plenty of snow in the winter and can sport chilly mornings and evenings outside of summer. Prepare accordingly and you'll enjoy everything this Park has to offer.
Best to visit in spring and fall when temperatures are cooler, the road into Arches begins just at the outskirts of Moab, the large gateway town that provides a great selection of dining, lodging, and other recreation options. Most visitors to Arches stay in Moab as there is no lodging inside the Park itself except for Devils Arch Campground, which accommodates tents and Rvs. There is also neither food nor gas available within Park boundaries, so stock up before you head in for a day's hiking.
Author: Julie Trevelyan
Day 1 - Arches National Park
THINGS TO DO
Delicate Arch should be on your must list. While the trail to the arch itself is 3 miles roundtrip, you can make it to the viewpoint in a much easier .5 mile walk. Balanced Rock is great for kids, while at 4.2 miles Double O Arch is for the more adventurous. Of course you must explore the lively town of Moab, which includes wineries, hot air ballooning, skydiving, river rafting, and plenty of unique local shops to poke around in.
1
Delicate Arch Trail
Location:
view in google mapsArches National Park
Arches National Park, UT 84532
2
Double O Arch
Location:
view in google mapsArches National Park
Arches National Park, UT 84532
Phone:
(435) 719-22993
Balanced Rock
Location:
view in google mapsArches National Park
Arches National Park, UT 84532
Phone:
(435) 719-22994
Landscape Arch
Location:
view in google mapsArches National Park
Arches National Park, UT 84532
Phone:
(435) 719-22995
Fiery Furnace
Location:
view in google mapsArches National Park
Arches National Park, UT 84532
Phone:
(435) 719-22997
Devils Garden Primitive Loop Hike
Location:
view in google mapsArches National Park
Arches National Park, UT 84532
Phone:
(435) 719-22998
Park Avenue
Location:
view in google mapsArches National Park
Arches National Park, UT 84532
Phone:
(435) 719-22999
Turret Arch
Location:
view in google mapsArches National Park
Arches National Park, UT 84532
10
Windows area primitive loop hike
Location:
view in google mapsArches National Park
Arches National Park, UT 84532
11
Delicate Arch Viewpoint
Location:
view in google mapsArches National Park
Arches National Park, UT 84532
Phone:
(435) 719-2299Day 4 - Arches National Park
LOCAL RECOMMENDATION: EXPLORING HIDDEN GEMS FARTHER AFIELD
Many people limit their southwestern tour boundaries at Moab. Boy, are they missing out. Within a 100-miles drive or less can be found more stunning natural attractions. Nearby Canyonlands might already be on your to-do list; make sure you allow enough time to thoroughly explore this rugged national park. Capitol Reef National Park might also be on your driving loop. Don't make the mistake of only driving past that park; take at least two days to fully experience its beauty and pick fruit in its Mormon settler-planted orchards. Goblin Valley State Park, to be found en route to Capitol Reef, has a collection of hoodoos (natural sandstone rock formations that point to the sky and assume bizarre shapes to the creative eye) that always delights kids of all ages. Hovenweep National Monument showcases the stone homes of ancient, long-gone former inhabitants, while Natural Bridges National Monument is known not just for its outstanding, um, natural bridges, but also for having some of the darkest night skies in the U.S.—and therefore some of the best stargazing.
2
Goblin Valley State Park
Location:
view in google mapsGoblin Valley State Park
Arches National Park, Utah 84734
Phone:
(435) 275-45843
Natural Bridges National Monument
Location:
Arches National Park, UT 84532Phone:
(435) 719-22994
Hovenweep National Monument
Location:
view in google mapsMcElmo Route
Arches National Park, CO 81321
Phone:
(970) 562-4282