Experience Arches National Park like never before with beatiful landscapes to stunning Arches. Here is your guide to the best things to do in Arches National Park.

Arches National Park is a captivating landscape filled with desert scenery, unique rock formations, and an abundance of natural arches. With over 2,000 arches to discover, you'll also encounter sandstone fins, towering mesas, hoodoos, and precariously balanced rocks. Here's a look at the top activities you won't want to miss in Arches National Park.

Experience Arches National Park

If Arches does not scream Utah then I don’t know what does. This National Park is one of the most Iconic National Parks in Utah. Delicate Arch (the most famous of the Arches) is on the license plate of Utah so I guess… YOU HAVE TO GO!

We hit up Arches National Park like pros... about 6-7 times a year! This park is fantastic, especially from late September through May. There are plenty of campgrounds around Arches, plus hotels in the hub city of Moab. (P.S. Check out our Moab guide for the best places to stay!) One campground inside the park, Devil’s Campground, requires reservations from March 1st to October 31st—after that, it’s first come, first served. The campground is right next to the Devil’s Garden Trail at the very end of the park and fills up quickly! It also has three nearby trails, perfect for evening or morning hikes while you enjoy a campfire. Need gear? Check out our best camping gear guide!

Arches saw a huge rise in visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic and sits right on the Utah-Colorado border. Moab is the nearby town and it’s about 4 hours from Salt Lake City, your closest airport, or 5.5 hours from Denver. If you’re looking for more to do around Arches, check out our blog on Canyonlands National Park and Moab! Arches is a great National Park for families and beginner hikers with its friendly trails and easy navigation—most, I MEAN MOST, trails are under 5 miles, which isn’t bad at all. From Park Avenue to Fiery Furnace to Devil’s Garden, there’s plenty to see and enjoy in Arches National Park.

Since it’s a small park, plan on 1-3 days. Max it out at 3 days to hit all the trails worth completing. So, let’s dive into the good stuff.

Getting into the park is simple. There’s one entrance and one exit. The only challenge is the time entry system. If you don’t know what that is, it’s a timed pass needed to enter the park between 7 am and 4 pm. Check the Arches National Park website for more details. The drive through the park is around 19 miles and takes 30-45 minutes, from the entrance to Devil’s Garden (basically a roundabout parking lot at the end).

Along the way, you’ll see beautiful landscapes of the La Sal Mountains and the unique terrain of Arches. My favorite turnoffs include:

Fiery Furnace Viewpoint

Delicate Arch Viewpoint

The Windows & Double Arch Viewpoint

Park Avenue Viewpoint

Balanced Rock Viewpoint

If you only have ONE day, here’s your game plan:

Start early—Devil’s Garden should be your first stop. Get there early because the parking lot fills up fast. This hike is about 7-8 miles with a 1,000 ft elevation gain. But you don’t have to do the whole loop; you can go as far as you want. The hike is mostly paved with a couple of small ups and downs. Along the way, you’ll pass Pine Tree Arch and Tunnel Arch. After that, you’ll hit the dreaded SAND (Southern Utah’s con). You can go either clockwise or counterclockwise. If you want my tip: go clockwise. You’ll thank me later. This way, you’ll hit Landscape Arch first and climb some slick rock. On Yosemite’s climbing scale, this slick rock is about a Class 1-2, meaning you won’t need your hands much, but there’s a little exposure. It’s narrow, so be comfortable with it. Slick rock is awesome—unless it’s wet or sandy, so use your common sense!

Fiery Furnace Viewpoint:

If you’ve got more than a day (2-3 days), definitely check out Fiery Furnace! If you don’t have a permit, you’ll be limited to the viewpoint. If you do manage to snag a permit, you can explore one of the coolest parts of Arches National Park. The Fiery Furnace has no marked trail and involves a lot of route finding (they even call it "canyoneering," though it's more about navigating than actual canyoneering). Watch out for Biological Crust—it’s essential for the park’s ecosystem. Stay off the crust, bro! The hike will take a few hours, with plenty of dead ends and hidden arches to explore.

Sand Dune Arch:

After all that hiking, check out Sand Dune Arch. It’s a short 0.7-mile hike, but there’s sand (I know, I have beef with sand, but it’s worth it). This arch offers plenty of shade, making it a great spot to cool off and snap some beautiful photos.

The Windows Road:

Next, drive down Windows Road and check out The Windows and Double Arch. The Windows Loop is short (about 1.2 miles) and takes you past three arches. After that, head over to Double Arch—you can climb into it for awesome photos, but stay off the arches themselves. We don’t want to ruin these natural wonders.

Take a breather at Balanced Rock—it’s a great spot to rest your feet before the big finale.

Delicate Arch:

Last but definitely not least—Delicate Arch! This is the iconic arch of the park. The hike is about 3.4 miles roundtrip and very exposed to the sun, so bring plenty of water. Along the way, you’ll pass some petroglyphs and the Wolfe Ranch Lodge, which doesn’t add any extra miles. The hike offers stunning views of the La Sal Mountains and The Windows. You’ll climb slick rock almost the entire way. Near the top, follow my advice: make a left and go straight. You’ll hit a rock, then make a hard right to continue on the marked path. When you reach Delicate Arch, you’ll see people lined up for their iconic photo with the arch.

Pro tip: You’ll be walking on slick rock. Remember, slick rock is your friend unless it’s wet or sandy. I’ve climbed slick rock in sandals with no back straps and zero traction. Yes, I was that dumb, but it shows just how awesome slick rock can be—it’ll hold you even on steep climbs. The colors of Delicate Arch, especially at sunset, are mind-blowing. I see it 6-7 times a year, and I never get tired of it!

After this, head back to your hotel or the next stop on your adventure, and you can officially say you’ve conquered Arches National Park.

Optional hikes:

If you have 2-3 days, Arches offers even more to explore. The Fiery Furnace hike is a must if you can snag a permit, but remember, it’s a lottery system and requires applying 7 days in advance.

Fiery Furnace:

This is a great hike to arches national park with less people. You will need a permit to access this hike which is really hard to get because it’s a lottery system and you have to apply 7 days before you want to enter it. You can also book a ranger led tour through the fiery furnace to understand the geologic side of things and understand what the fiery furnace is about. there is also no trail in the fiery furnace and claim it as “canyoneering”. Which is not really canyoneering but the route finding is. The route finding can be difficult for the first timers but they want you to explore and have fun to see what it is. But remember to stay off the Biological crust. One simple thing to remember is stay off the crust bro. The crust makes the plants and animals live. So we do not want to ruin their home. It will take you a couple of hours to see this part of the hike because there are multiple dead ends and awe inspiring things to see. Remember to explore because there are hidden arches to see.

Park Avenue:

This short and sweet hike is 1.8 miles long and takes you through towering rock formations as tall as skyscrapers.

Broken Arch Trail:

A great 3-mile loop that takes you to Broken Arch and Tapestry Arch—perfect if you’re staying at Devil’s Garden Campground. Pro tip: This trail is super secluded, perfect if you're looking for some solitude.

Skyline arch:

This 0.4-mile lookout hike is quick and easy. Just pull off the road and follow the clearly marked trail to get a great view of Skyline Arch.

Tower Arch:

My first hike ever at Arches! It’s a bit more remote, requiring a longer drive and a little off-roading, but this 2.4-mile roundtrip hike is beginner-friendly and well worth it.

Conclusion:

Always bring plenty of water. The hikes in Arches are fully exposed, meaning the sun will be on you all day. Wear good hiking shoes or boots with traction, and pack a comfortable backpack. And please, leave no trace—we don’t want to ruin this beautiful place. Arches is great for beginners and explorers alike. The geology of the arches is fascinating, and the hikes are short and accessible. Plus, Moab is just five minutes away, a perfect hub for your adventures. Check out our guide on what to do in Moab and Canyonlands National Park!

Guide to Arches National Park: One of the Many Mighty 5.