9 Best Arches in Arches National Park Moab Utah » Local Adventurer (2023)

FAQs

What is the best arch in Moab? ›

Delicate Arch at Arches National Park. Probably the most iconic arch within the park is the Delicate Arch. The arch rises 46 feet from the ground, making it the largest free-standing arch in the park. The hike to the base of the arch is three miles, round trip.

Without a doubt, Delicate Arch is the most famous natural stone arch in the world. Referred to as "The Arch" by many arriving visitors for whom it is No. 1 on their must-see lists, Delicate has an allure that is hard to explain but impossible to deny.

It is possible to hike all of these trails in one day, but if you are here with kids, visiting during the hot summer months, or just not accustomed to hiking, you might want to pick and choose what you do. Hiking to Delicate Arch is a must-do, since it is the only way to get up close to this arch.

Arches is the more accessible and thus more popular park between Arches and Canyonlands. The landscapes are epic, it's a short 5-10 minute drive from Moab, and most of the Arches hikes are short, easy, and often paved jaunts.

Trail Details:

Length: 3.2 miles round trip, 1.5 miles to Delicate Arch. Time: 2-3 hours. Elevation Gain: 550 foot gain. Difficulty: Moderate.

The final leg of this hike is a bit scary, but manageable if you are careful. The final 200 yards of trail to the Delicate Arch clings to the side of the cliff-face as it gently winds around a corner. There are no handrails and as you climb further up the drop below gets greater and greater.

1. Delicate Arch. The most famous arch in the park and quite possibly the world. This is on the Utah license plate, and people come from all over the world just to see and photograph this arch.

You can drive yourself into Arches National Park, but be aware of the timed entry reservations system that can require months of pre-planning. There are a few things to consider, which can help you make the decision to visit Arches on your own or join a guided tour.

Yes. A timed entry reservation is required to enter the park even if you have an existing pass. Annual passes cover the payment of entrance fees, so annual or senior pass holders only need to pay the $2 reservation fee.

A limited number of tickets will be available for purchase one day prior to entry at 6 pm MDT through Recreation.gov. These are expected to sell out quickly and we encourage visitors to plan ahead. Tickets will be required from 6am to 5 pm daily April 3 through October 3, 2022.

Does Arches have an entrance fee? ›

Non-commercial group fees (per vehicle):

Vehicle capacity of 15 or less: $30. Vehicle capacity of 16-25: $15 per person age 16 and older, not to exceed $40. Vehicle capacity of 25+: $15 per person age 16 and older, not to exceed $100.

In the Spring | March – May

As days get longer and the red rock starts to warm, travelers from around the world visit Moab to shake off a cold winter. Midday temperatures generally reach 70ºF during the springtime, making it a perfect time of year to get outside!

Moab is famous for everything, from its incredible desert landscape to the small-town charm of its downtown city. Moab, Utah, famous first and foremost for being home to the famed Moab Desert, is a wild, untamed, and breathtaking place.

Moab attracts many tourists annually, mostly visitors to the nearby Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. The town is a popular base for mountain bikers who ride the extensive network of trails including the Slickrock Trail, and for off-roaders who come for the annual Moab Jeep Safari.

Delicate Arch was really worth the hike, but this walk is not only about the arch itself. The views along the way are phenomenal and I would recommend this hike to everyone visiting the Arches. If you do one hike in the park, make it this one – it's probably the most beautiful hike of the Arches National Park.

In a park with over 2,000 stone arches, this particular free-standing arch has become a widely recognized symbol of the state of Utah and one of the most famous geologic features in the world.

It's not too difficult although summers can be very hot as there is no shade with the exception of a small gazebo structure halfway to the overlook. The hike will start from the parking lot and is extremely easy to follow. The first part of the trail up to the gazebo is all uphill, but it is a gentle climb.

Canyonlands is slightly less crowded than its neighbor Arches National Park and receives only about half as many visitors a year, around 733,000. The vast majority of these visits occur March through October, with most of those occurring between June and August. Summer is certainly the peak travel season in the park.

Directly to the south of the arch a steep cliff plummets over 400-ft to the desert floor. The bowl itself is a work of art.

What is the best time of the day to visit Arches National Park? ›

Late afternoon and evening visits can be the most enjoyable. The lighting is better for photography and viewing the park features, temperatures are cooler, and the parking areas and trails are less crowded. More than 1.5 million visitors come to Arches National Park each year, and that number is growing.

If you're insistent on a red-hot Moab summer, stick with the weekdays — Tuesday and Wednesday are the best days to go. And on any day in any season, go before 8 a.m. or in the afternoon. If you're not there at sunrise, wait until the largest crowds disperse later in the day.

Two days in Arches is ideal though and would give you enough time to explore the Fiery Furnace on the ranger-led hike and do a few more of the longer hikes. One day is really all you need at the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park if you're sticking to the overlooks and shorter trails.

If you want a couple of long hikes, Zion. If you want a lot of shorter hikes with a couple slightly longer, then Arches. With one day in Zion you could hike the Narrows and Angels Landing (assuming you can get a permit) or you could do a few other hikes and stop at pull-offs on the east side.

How long to spend in Arches National Park. One full day in Arches will allow visitors time to experience a nice variety of the Arches trails while two days will allow time to explore all the big trails.

Seven Mile Parking is a private parking area outside Arches National Park, where RVs, cars and off-road vehicles can park for the day or park overnight.

Enjoy this 29.4-mile point-to-point trail near Moab, Utah. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 11 h 11 min to complete. This is a very popular area for scenic driving, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring.

Carry and drink water (at least 2 liters) during all activities in the park, such as hiking. Wear loose-fitting, light-colored clothing and a wide-brimmed hat. Apply sunscreen to all exposed skin. Avoid hiking in the middle of the day.

Visit Arches from the Road

If you don't have the time or ability to hike, don't worry! You can still see many famous arches and rock formations from the scenic drive. You can drive the park roads and visit viewpoints to see some notable features of Arches National Park.

What time is Arches free? ›

In fact, this road is so beautiful that it definitely deserves a mention among the most beautiful scenic drives in the world! Yes, you can drive through Arches National Park and easily see some of the most spectacular scenery. That's what makes it one of the most popular National Parks in the USA.

What time of day can I enter Arches National Park without a reservation? If you enter the park prior to 6:00 AM or after 5:00 PM you do not need an entrance ticket.

The entrance of Arches is located 5 miles (8km) north of Moab, along highway 191. Arches National Park is normally open year-round, 24 hours a day. The park is very busy between March and October.

Two days is plenty of time to get a feel for the town of Moab itself and fit in some touring of both Canyonlands and Arches, and other attractions like Westwater Canyon and Dead Horse Point State Park are close enough to be experienced in well under a day's time.

We recommend at least 2 full days/ 3 nights for the Moab area. One day for Arches National Park and half a day to a day for Canyonlands National Park, plus the Dead Horse Point State Park. In addition, you can also take a short rafting tour, as we did. 3 days/4 nights would make your visit more relaxing.

Did you know that southeast Utah is bear country? Black bears wander from nearby mountains, and have been spotted in Arches National Park. Bears are omnivorous and will forage for food and water over a large area.

Milt's— A Moab staple famous for its burgers, fries and shakes, and our go-to quick meal out. Expect long lines during peak season, or be like a local and call ahead. Susie's Branding Iron— Classic country cooking, burgers and comfort food. Their fry bread with honey butter is a must!

The dark skies of Moab and the surrounding region are a valuable and rare resource that millions of people throughout the world never get to see. Home to multiple designated International Dark Sky Parks & Places including Arches & Canyonlands National Parks and Natural Bridges & Hovenweep National Monuments.

Why do they call it Moab? ›

William Pierce, one of the newly arrived settlers, decided to call the new settlement “Moab,” or “land beyond the Jordan,” a Biblical land where Semitic relatives of the Hebrews dwelled. On March 3, 1890, Grand County was established, named for the Grand River which bisected it, with Moab as the county seat.

Moab's heat and terrain are two things to be prepared for ahead of time. Bring plenty of food, and especially water, to stay fueled and hydrated while you're out exploring the canyons and trails. Some tips for visiting Moab straight from the locals is to drink one gallon of water per day, per person.

Desert varnish is the thin red-to-black coating found on exposed rock surfaces in arid regions. Varnish is composed of clay minerals, oxides and hydroxides of manganese and/or iron, as well as other particles such as sand grains and trace elements.

The name Moab is a Biblical name for a land just short of the Promised Land. The Moabites were historically regarded as the perpetual enemy of the Israelites, "God's Chosen People." Physically, the region was a green, verdant valley in the middle of a serious desert; an emerald in the sand, so to speak.

Is Delicate Arch better for Sunrise or Sunset? If you're hoping for the best experience, i.e. fewer crowds, sunrise is going to be the best time to hike Delicate Arch Trail. Keep in mind, in order to beat the crowds, you want to aim to be at Delicate Arch before the sun breaks the horizon.

In a park with over 2,000 stone arches, this particular free-standing arch has become a widely recognized symbol of the state of Utah and one of the most famous geologic features in the world. The light opening beneath the arch is 46 feet high and 32 feet wide, making it the largest free-standing arch in the park.

Delicate Arch is a 52-foot-tall (16 m) freestanding natural arch located in Arches National Park, near Moab in Grand County, Utah, United States.

To get to Delicate Arch, it is a 3-mile round trip hike with 480 feet of elevation gain. This hike, plus time to view the arch, takes most people 2 to 3 hours. The National Park Service describes this hike as difficult.

For those who aren't up for the hike, there are two other viewing options: The Lower Delicate Arch Viewpoint just down the road only requires a 100-yard walk over flat ground to get a fine look at the arch from a mile away.

How do you avoid crowds at Delicate Arch? ›

Wall Arch, located along the popular Devils Garden Trail at Arches National Park collapsed sometime during the night of August 4, 2008.

A close-up of the grooves on Delicate Arch. The Delicate Arch, a fixture of Utah's Arches National Park, may have suffered irreparable damage in a recent climb, park officials say. Climber Dean Potter, who admits to climbing the arch, says he is not the first to do so.

Landscape Arch following the rock fall on September 1, 1991. All rock formations at Arches National Park are temporary features on the landscape.

If you want a couple of long hikes, Zion. If you want a lot of shorter hikes with a couple slightly longer, then Arches. With one day in Zion you could hike the Narrows and Angels Landing (assuming you can get a permit) or you could do a few other hikes and stop at pull-offs on the east side.

The entrance of Arches is located 5 miles (8km) north of Moab, along highway 191. Arches National Park is normally open year-round, 24 hours a day. The park is very busy between March and October.

The world-famous Delicate Arch was formed by the movement of underground salt beds beneath overlying sandstone, in concert with surface events including water, ice, and erosion, which washed away or broke off the sandstone to create the arches and fins found throughout Arches National Park.