Devils Garden Primitive Loop Hiking Trail (2023)

FAQs

How difficult is the hiking in Arches National Park? ›

Hiking in Arches Can Be Difficult

As one of the most accessible national parks in Utah, Arches offers a great balance of mild and more-challenging trails. While the Double Arch trail is very achievable for most, many hikers are surprised by the difficulty of the Delicate Arch trail.

Hiking Options

Landscape Arch – This easy segment of the Devils Garden trail (1.9 mi/3.1 km roundtrip) is relatively flat with hard packed surfaces to walk on. There is no significant elevation gain, only moderate hills, up and down. The trail meanders through tall fins to a spectacular view of Landscape Arch.

How Long Is The Hike? The Delicate Arch trail is 3.2 miles long, round-trip. While you may be able to finish the hike in under an hour, most visitors will spend some time at the arch. Allow between two and three hours to complete the hike without being rushed.

The best time to photograph the arch is at sunset. At the end of the day, the warm light from the setting sun illuminates Delicate Arch, casting it in a warm glow. This makes the arch look fiery red during sunset. Sunset is a popular time to visit Delicate Arch so it can be crowded, especially during the summer months.

It's also one of the most spectacular hikes you can take in any national park. You can hike the entire loop in three to four hours, but you could also spend an entire day checking out the area and relaxing along the way. In any case, carry extra water.

Get to know this 2.9-mile loop trail near Stave Falls, British Columbia. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 5 min to complete. This trail is great for camping, hiking, and running, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring.

The paved, 1.3-mile (2 km) Tower Trail starts across the parking area from the visitor center. A short, steep section leads to you a junction that you can take either way to walk around the base of the Tower.

Difficulty: Moderate. The hike up to the Saddle is easy enough for anyone with a moderate level of fitness. The final stretch up to Devil's Peak is steep and can be slippery if wet. The path is well marked and it's easy to know where to go.

Conclusion – You Can Hike the Delicate Arch Trail with Kids

And yes, you can do the Delicate Arch trail with kids in summer, but try to avoid the heat of the day – go either very early in the morning or in the evening, just before the sunset.

Nearly every visitor to Arches National Park will have the Delicate Arch on their itinerary. It is one of the best Arches National Park hikes and should not be missed.

Is 1 day enough in Arches? ›

Arches National Park is a relatively small national park with a handful of must-see sights. With one day in Arches, you can visit these top sights and a few off-the-beaten-path places. After multiple visits to Arches National Park, including two visits in the past two years, we have learned a lot about this park.

VISIT BEFORE 6AM OR AFTER 5PM

Consider visiting the park before 6 am or after 5 pm. Reservations are not required during those times. Sunrise and sunset are two of the most beautiful times to visit and photograph Arches National Park. The gates are open 24 hours/day, 7 days/week unless all of the parking lots are full.

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.

From March through October, visitation at Arches is extremely high. These holidays and weekends are especially busy: The weeks surrounding Easter (date varies, in 2022: April 10-23)

Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve in Alaska is the least-visited US national park.

MODERATE/STRENUOUS (4.5 MILES, 2-4 HOURS)

Connects the main body of Devil's Lake State Park with Parfrey's Glen, Wisconsin's first State Natural Area. The trail follows wooded ridges and hollows through reclaimed forest acreage.

Crossing the creek was extremely difficult. Even with the best of waders, you are going to be going up and over lots and lots of rocks, both in water and on ground. After just a few creek crossings and up and overs on the rocks, it hit me—I'm old. My poor knees were screaming in pain.

One popular hike at Devil's Lake State Park is hiking the circumference of the lake. It's a flat, scenic 3 mile hike that only takes a couple of hours and that most visitors can do without being all that athletic.

Is Devil's Bridge an easy hike? ›

The hike to Devils Bridge is moderate in difficulty and can be relatively crowded during peak season. The trail is approximately 4.2 miles round trip, making it a pretty quick trip, too. Devils Bridge Sedona is located in the Coconino National Forest, and it's the largest sandstone arch of its type in Sedona.

Devil's Bridge is the largest natural sandstone arch in the Sedona area. Don't let its name fool you: it's one of the most heavenly sights in an area famous for them. From a trailhead elevation of 4,600 feet, there's a mere 400 foot climb in altitude during this moderately difficult, 1.8-mile roundtrip trek.

This paved tower trail is the way most visitors, old and young, appreciate Devils Tower. Looping around the base, the average walking time from start to finish is 45-60 minutes. From the parking lot, don't let the steep trail steer you away.

Yes, Devils Tower is certainly worth a visit either on your South Dakota itinerary or on your Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone and Grand Teton road trip. Okay, you will lose a bit of time from your itinerary but we can assure you Devils Tower National Monument is worth visiting.

The easy trail winds around Turtle Rock, an icon Sherman Granite outcropping. Hikers will enjoy a 2.8 mile loop winding around the boulders, slabs and cliffs of the Vedauwoo rock formation as well as beaver ponds.

HuaShan, China

This epic trail to the South Peak of HuaShan, one of China's Five Great Mountains, is often billed as the most dangerous hike in the world, and for good reason.

A southbound thru-hike starts with the most difficult climb on the entire A.T. (Katahdin), the most remote section of trail (100-mile wilderness), and the two most challenging states of the Trail (Maine and New Hampshire).

Climbers have called Mount Wilson "easily one of the most challenging 14ers" in the state. Why? They cite very loose rock at the summit and a very long trek from the Rock of Ages as part of the challenge. The route up Crestone Needle is steep, followed by difficult-finding routes.

The Narrows, although a very challenging hike, is absolutely possible with kids. We just did it with our 7, 5, and 2 year old children.

Fisher Towers Trail

There is a ladder to negotiate, but otherwise, Fisher Towers Trail is one of the easiest hikes in Moab. The best part about this hike is that it is scenic for the entire route – not just the endpoint. You'll pass through the canyon and desert scenery, with the Fisher Towers along the way.

How far can a 3 year old hike? ›

Canale recommends that parents carry kids, at least for most of the hike, when they're toddlers. For this young age group, we recommend sticking to outings less than two miles. Just getting out and going any distance with kids three and under should be considered a “win.”

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.

The free-standing Delicate Arch is 52 feet tall and is arguably the most widely recognized landmark in Arches National Park, if not all of Utah. It is depicted on Utah license plates and a postage stamp commemorating Utah's centennial anniversary of admission to the Union in 1996.

Can I enter the park before 6 am or after 5 pm without a reservation? Yes, you may enter the park before 6 am or after 5 pm. Because entrance lines into the park may vary, we suggest arriving at 5:30 am or earlier.

You can still visit the short (and gorgeous) hikes in Canyonlands if you don't have time or don't want to do a more difficult/longer day hike. We preferred Canyonlands due to the longer trails and much fewer people. But if you're looking for shorter trails and lots of arches, Arches might be your better bet.

Canyonlands and Arches are two national parks that sit side-by-side near Moab, Utah. Since these parks are neighbors, it is possible to visit both of them in one very busy day.

Online at Recreation.gov. Note: Timed entry tickets are required in addition to the park entrance fee from April 1 through October 31. If you already have a park pass, you do not need to pay the entrance fee.

Is Delicate Arch on Devils Garden trail? ›

Devils Garden Trail is an adventurous loop with incredible views of Arches National Park. While Delicate Arch receives most of the hype in the park, Devils Garden Trail boasts eight different arches, including the longest arch in North America.

You can only get to those by hiking to the top. If you want to see Cathedral Rock from a distance, the Templeton Trail is a good alternative. Also, you can climb to the first plateau for a great picture area without making the steep ascent through the crack.

On geologic timescales, Delicate Arch will exist for only the blink of an eye. But don't despair—although all the famous arches will crumble and collapse within a few thousand years, replacements will continue to be sculpted out of Utah's bedrock for a very long time to come.

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.

Crowds. Despite its larger size, Canyonlands gets only a little over half as many visitors as Arches! If you are looking for solitude, Canyonlands is the way to go. Still don't expect to be alone if visiting the Island in the Sky, but the crowds will not be as bad as you can expect in Arches.

Bryce and Arches are both stunning. But Arches offer more variety. You can see a good portion of Bryce just from overlooks. And while the view of the hoodoos is otherworldly, if you're not a huge hoodoo fan, the view can start to grow monotonous.

It's not hard, but it is beautiful and it's a great trail to explore in just about any vehicle. We know that Moab isn't the destination everyone can enjoy annually, but this trail is perfect if you're passing through and want to see what Moab is all about.

Steep switchbacks and blind corners - drive slowly. For people who live in states where the driving is relatively flat, driving in the Arches can be a challenge. The first 3-5 miles are very steep with many narrow road, steep drop-offs and sharp turns.

Conclusion – You Can Hike the Delicate Arch Trail with Kids

And yes, you can do the Delicate Arch trail with kids in summer, but try to avoid the heat of the day – go either very early in the morning or in the evening, just before the sunset.

HELL'S REVENGE

The trail consists of fins, steep 'climbs, and Moab's famous slickrock. A stock 4x4 can make it, but you will have to bypass some of the more difficult and famous obstacles such as Hell's Gate, Escalator, or one of the many hot tubs. Traffic depending, expect to spend a few hours on the trail.

What is the most difficult hike in Utah? ›

Angels Landing in Zion National Park

This one should come as no surprise, but the No. 1 most dangerous hike in Utah is Angels Landing in Zion National Park. It's also one of the most dangerous hikes in the U.S., according to Discovery.com.

Crowds. Despite its larger size, Canyonlands gets only a little over half as many visitors as Arches! If you are looking for solitude, Canyonlands is the way to go. Still don't expect to be alone if visiting the Island in the Sky, but the crowds will not be as bad as you can expect in Arches.

We recommend traction devices and trekking poles. Drifting snow can cover trail markers, making even "easy" trails harder to follow. Even in colder temperatures, it is important to drink water. You can get water at the visitor center or Devils Garden Campground.

Most of the snakes found in Arches are harmless and nocturnal. All will escape from human confrontations given the opportunity. One of the most commonly seen snakes is the gopher snake, a slow moving and non-venomous snake.

Utah is home to six subspecies of rattlesnake, but only one is commonly found in the Moab area: the midget faded rattlesnake or Crotalus oreganus concolor, a subspecies of the western rattlesnake.