Arches National Park has two trails that belong on any serious southwest itinerary: Delicate Arch and Devils Garden. Everything else is excellent but secondary. The park holds over 2,000 catalogued arches reachable on foot, and the combination of dramatic formations, short distances and relatively low elevation (4,085-5,653 ft) makes it possible to see the best of it in a single day.
One thing guides consistently undersell: the heat. Arches sits at roughly half the elevation of Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon South Rim. In July and August, temperatures on the exposed slickrock exceed 100F (38C), with virtually no shade on the two main trails. Rangers respond to dozens of heat-related rescues every summer. Spring and fall solve this problem completely. If you must visit in summer, the park is magnificent at dawn.
Timed entry (Apr-Oct)
7am-4pm, $2/vehicle, recreation.gov
Park entry fee
$35/vehicle (7-day), America the Beautiful accepted
Elevation range
4,085-5,653 ft (1,245-1,723 m)
Water on trails
None. Refill at Visitor Center or Devils Garden Campground.
Best hiking months
March-May and September-October
Dogs allowed
No. Not permitted on any trail.
Fiery Furnace
Separate permit or ranger-led tour required, book in advance.
All Arches National Park trails at a glance
| Trail | Distance | Elev. gain | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sand Dune Arch | 0.4 mi (0.6 km) | 0 ft | Easy | 15-30 min |
| Balanced Rock | 0.3 mi (0.5 km) | 35 ft (11 m) | Easy | 15-30 min |
| Double Arch | 0.6 mi (1 km) | 30 ft (9 m) | Easy | 15-30 min |
| Landscape Arch | 1.8 mi (2.9 km) | 40 ft (12 m) | Easy | 30-60 min |
| Windows Loop | ~1 mi (1.6 km) | ~60 ft (18 m) | Easy | 45-60 min |
| Broken Arch | 1.2 mi (1.9 km) | 59 ft (18 m) | Easy | 30-60 min |
| Park Avenue | 1.8 mi (2.9 km) | 322 ft (98 m) | Easy-Moderate | 1 hr |
| Delicate Arch | 3 mi (4.8 km) | 538 ft (164 m) | Moderate | 2-3 hr |
| Tower Arch | 2.6 mi (4.2 km) | 290 ft (88 m) | Moderate | 2-3 hr |
| Devils Garden to Double O | 4 mi (6.4 km) | ~400 ft | Mod-Strenuous | 2-3 hr |
| Devils Garden full loop | 7.9 mi (12.7 km) | ~500 ft | Strenuous | 3-5 hr |
| Fiery Furnace (ranger tour) | Varies | Varies | Strenuous | 3 hr |
Delicate Arch Trail
3 miles (4.8 km) round trip · 538 ft (164 m) elevation gain · Moderate · 2-3 hours
This is the one. No road pullout, no distant viewpoint and no photograph prepares you for Delicate Arch at full size. At 52 feet (16 m) tall with a 32-foot (10 m) span, it is larger than most visitors expect, standing alone in a natural sandstone bowl with the La Sal Mountains visible behind it on clear days.
The trail starts at Wolfe Ranch, an 1800s homestead whose original cabin still stands. A short spur leads to a Ute rock art panel on a nearby canyon wall before the main trail begins climbing slickrock. The route is marked by cairns and arrows painted on the rock. The climb is continuous and exposed with almost no shade for most of its length. Just before the arch, the trail narrows to a ledge about 200 yards (183 m) long with a drop-off on one side. The ledge is wide enough to walk comfortably but requires attention.
The arch appears suddenly as you round the final corner. Most visitors stop here for an extended time. The natural bowl below the arch fills with people by mid-morning in summer. For the classic arch-framing-mountains photograph, you need to be at the arch, not below it.
- Summer start time: Before 8 am. Trailhead parking fills by 9-9:30 am in July and August.
- Water: At least 2 quarts (2 L) per person, more in heat. No water source on the trail.
- Best light: Sunset, when the arch turns deep orange-red. Budget an extra 30 minutes for the return hike in fading light.
- Accessible alternative: Lower Viewpoint (200 ft from parking, wheelchair accessible) gives a distant view across the canyon.
Arches National Park Half Day Tour
Four-hour small-group guided tour of Arches National Park from Moab, covering the Windows Section, Balanced Rock, Double Arch and the main viewpoints. Park entry included, and the operator handles timed-entry logistics so you do not need a separate reservation. Morning (8am) and afternoon (3pm) departures, up to 14 people per group.
Devils Garden and Landscape Arch
Devils Garden is at the far northern end of the park road, 18 miles from the entrance, and it holds more named arches within walking distance than anywhere else in Arches. The trailhead gives access to three hikes of very different character and difficulty.
To Landscape Arch: 1.8 miles (2.9 km) round trip, easy, 30-60 minutes
Landscape Arch has the longest natural arch span in North America at over 306 feet (93 m), longer than a football field. In 1991, a large slab fell from the underside and the NPS moved the trail to give a side-angle view rather than passing directly beneath the arch. The hard-packed, nearly level trail makes this the most accessible impressive arch in the park.
Two short spur trails branch off just before Landscape Arch: Pine Tree Arch and Tunnel Arch, each a 5-10 minute detour. Both are worth adding to the Landscape Arch visit.
To Double O Arch: 4 miles (6.4 km) round trip, moderate-strenuous, 2-3 hours
Beyond Landscape Arch, the trail changes character entirely. The surface shifts to sandstone slabs with narrow ledges, exposure to heights and rock scrambling requiring hands and feet. Trail markers become infrequent. The NPS advises avoiding this section when rock is wet or snowy.
Double O Arch is worth the effort: two arches stacked vertically, the lower one large enough to walk through and the upper one a narrow ribbon against the sky. Crowds thin dramatically past Landscape Arch.
Full primitive loop: 7.9 miles (12.7 km), strenuous, 3-5 hours
The full loop continues past Double O Arch to Dark Angel, a freestanding sandstone monolith, then returns through a different valley. This is a serious undertaking: bring at least 3 quarts (3 L) of water per person, start early, and do not attempt it during afternoon summer heat. The primitive section has the most remote-feeling terrain in the park.
Private Guided Hike in Arches National Park
Six-hour private guided hiking tour of Arches customized to your group's fitness level. Beginners typically cover Delicate Arch plus the Windows Section; fit hikers can tackle Devils Garden through to Double O Arch. Maximum 10 people, fully private. Guide handles timed-entry permits.
Windows Section: three arches, one mile
The Windows Section, about 10 miles from the park entrance, has the best concentration of large arches reachable with minimal walking. North Window (90-foot span) and South Window (105-foot span) sit side by side and are linked by a loop trail of roughly 1 mile with minimal elevation gain. The route passes through the arches themselves, not just below them.
Turret Arch is a separate 10-minute walk from the same parking area. Double Arch, the tallest freestanding arch in the park at 122 feet (37 m), is a 0.6-mile walk from the same lot.
Most visitors combine all four formations in a single stop: the Windows Loop plus Double Arch totals roughly 1.6 miles of easy walking with four major arches. This is the single most efficient place in the park for the volume of scenery per mile hiked. The Windows parking area rarely fills as fast as the Delicate Arch trailhead.
Park Avenue
1.8 miles (2.9 km) · 322 ft (98 m) elevation gain · Easy-Moderate · 1 hour
Park Avenue is the first major trail inside the park, about 2 miles from the entrance. The trail descends a corridor of sandstone fins rising 300 feet on both sides, resembling the sheer walls of a city block. It runs one way downhill, ending at the Courthouse Towers Viewpoint. Hikers with two cars park one at each end and walk it as a single descent; solo visitors return the same way or use the free park shuttle.
The fins crowd the path and block the sky. Queen Nefertiti Rock, Sheep Rock and The Organ are the named formations visible along the route. Early morning light from the east hits the fin walls directly. The total walking time going in and out is under 2 hours for most people.
Sand Dune Arch and Broken Arch
Sand Dune Arch: 0.4 miles (0.6 km), easy, 15-30 minutes
Sand Dune Arch is the only shaded hike in Arches. The short trail passes between two sandstone walls narrow enough to touch on both sides, opening to a hidden arch set above deep red sand dunes. The canyon walls block the sun entirely. In summer, when every other main trail bakes in direct heat, this is a genuine refuge.
The arch itself is modest compared to Landscape Arch or the Windows, but the enclosed setting makes it memorable. Children consistently rate it a highlight. The trailhead is in the Devils Garden Campground area, near Fiery Furnace.
Broken Arch: 1.2 miles (1.9 km), easy, 30-60 minutes
From the same parking area, a separate trail crosses an open meadow of grass and desert scrub to Broken Arch, named for a visible gap in its span where a section has partially collapsed. Unlike most Arches formations, which glow orange and red, Broken Arch has lighter stone that photographs distinctly in morning light. The two trails can be combined as a 1.6-mile loop through the campground.
Fiery Furnace
The Fiery Furnace is a labyrinth of narrow sandstone canyons whose walls turn orange-red at sunset. Unlike every other area in the park, it has no marked trail inside. Navigation moves through slot canyons, over boulders and through passages narrow enough to require turning sideways.
Entry requires either a ranger-led hike ($16/adult, $8/child, 3 hours) or a self-guided permit ($6/person). Both must be reserved in advance at recreation.gov. During peak season from June through August, ranger-led hike slots sell out weeks ahead. Self-guided permits are also limited and require watching a short orientation video online before the permit is issued.
The ranger-led hike is the better option for most visitors: the guide navigates the unmarked interior, points out arches and formations hidden within the fins that self-guided visitors typically miss, and explains the ecology of the cryptobiotic soil crust that covers rock surfaces throughout the park. Groups are limited to 25 people. Children under 5 are not permitted.
Quick stops: Balanced Rock and Delicate Arch Viewpoints
Balanced Rock: 0.3 miles (0.5 km), easy, 15-30 minutes
A 3,577-ton boulder perched on a narrow sandstone pedestal visible from the main park road. The short loop trail circles the base for close views of the pedestal from multiple angles. In winter, the snow-capped La Sal Mountains frame the scene behind it. Worth 15 minutes as a road stop.
Delicate Arch Viewpoints
For visitors unable to complete the 3-mile trail, two viewpoints offer a distant look across the canyon. Lower Viewpoint (200 ft from parking, wheelchair accessible) is essentially at the trailhead. Upper Viewpoint (0.5 miles, 171 ft gain, 30-45 min) gives a slightly closer angle. Both see Delicate Arch as a small shape across a wide canyon, not the immersive experience of standing at the arch. Worth doing only if the main hike is not an option.
How to pick your Arches hike
- First visit, top priority: Delicate Arch Trail. No substitute. Start before 8 am in summer.
- Maximum arches with minimum effort: Windows Section plus Double Arch, four formations in about 1.6 miles of easy walking.
- Best single short hike: Landscape Arch at Devils Garden (1.8 miles, easy). The longest arch span in North America on an accessible trail.
- Only shaded hike in the park: Sand Dune Arch. The only trail with meaningful shade at midday.
- Summer afternoon (too hot for Delicate Arch): Sand Dune Arch or Windows Section in the early evening light.
- Full day, fit hikers: Delicate Arch in the morning plus Devils Garden to Double O Arch in the afternoon. Roughly 7 miles total.
- Serious hikers, full day: Devils Garden primitive loop (7.9 miles) plus Delicate Arch at sunset. Start Devils Garden at 7 am.
- Unique experience, advance booking required: Fiery Furnace ranger tour. Book weeks ahead for June through August.
- Solitude, off-road vehicle needed: Tower Arch (2.6 miles, 290 ft gain) requires 8 miles of unpaved road and sees far fewer visitors than anywhere else in the park.
Heat, water and timing at Arches National Park
Arches sits at 4,085 feet: roughly half the elevation of Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon South Rim. Summer temperatures on exposed trails regularly exceed 100F (38C). In recent years the NPS has temporarily closed the Delicate Arch trailhead in the afternoon when temperatures exceeded 103F (39C). Rangers perform dozens of heat-related rescues at Arches every summer.
The two most popular trails carry the most risk: Delicate Arch (three miles of exposed slickrock) and the Devils Garden section beyond Landscape Arch (rocky terrain at the park's highest elevation). Sand Dune Arch is the only trail with meaningful shade at any time of day.
- Summer timing: Complete Delicate Arch before 10 am or after 5 pm. The arch at sunset is spectacular, but budget 30 extra minutes for the return hike in fading light.
- Water: Bring at least 1 liter per person per hour of hiking in summer. No water source exists on any trail. Refill at the Visitor Center near the entrance or at Devils Garden Campground.
- Sun protection: At 4,000 feet in southern Utah, sunscreen is essential. A hat with a brim and UPF-rated clothing are not excessive on Delicate Arch.
- Best months: March through May and September through October. The park stays open year-round; winter (November through February) brings cold nights and near-freezing lows but clear days and minimal crowds.
Timed entry and parking at Arches (2026)
From April through October 2026, all vehicles entering Arches National Park between 7 am and 4 pm require a timed-entry reservation. Reservations cost $2 per vehicle and are purchased at recreation.gov. They become available at 8 am Mountain Time one to three months in advance; popular summer dates sell out quickly.
To avoid the requirement: arrive before 7 am or after 4 pm. Early arrivals often find the Delicate Arch trailhead parking open well before 7 am, and the morning light on the slickrock is excellent. Note that the Devils Garden area at the end of the 18-mile park road may have its own separate timed-entry window during peak season; check the current NPS page for updated Devils Garden lot restrictions.
Licensed tour operators hold reserved entry allocations and bypass the timed-entry requirement entirely. Booking a guided tour eliminates the need to secure a separate reservation.
What is the best hike in Arches National Park?
Delicate Arch Trail (3 miles, 538 ft gain, moderate, 2-3 hours) is the one hike that justifies the trip on its own. No road pullout or drive-by viewpoint competes with standing at the arch itself. For a second priority: Landscape Arch at Devils Garden (1.8 miles, easy, 30-60 min) holds the longest natural arch span in North America and is one of the most accessible impressive formations in the park.
Is the Delicate Arch hike difficult?
It is rated moderate, not strenuous, and most visitors in reasonable shape can complete it. The challenge is the combination of 538 feet of elevation gain over open slickrock with intense sun and almost no shade. In summer, temperatures on the trail regularly exceed 100F (38C). The last 200 yards of the approach traverse a narrow ledge. Start before 8 am in summer, bring at least 2 quarts (2 L) of water per person, and the hike is manageable.
How long does it take to hike Devil's Garden at Arches?
It depends on how far you go. To Landscape Arch (1.8 miles round trip): 30-60 minutes on a well-graded trail. To Double O Arch (4 miles round trip): 2-3 hours, with rocky scrambling and narrow ledges beyond Landscape Arch. The full primitive loop (7.9 miles): 3-5 hours, strenuous. Most visitors do Landscape Arch and decide on the spot whether to push farther.
Do you need a permit to hike in Arches National Park?
Most trails require only the standard park entry fee ($35/vehicle, 7-day). Two exceptions: Fiery Furnace requires a separate permit ($6/person self-guided) or ranger-led hike ticket ($16/adult), both reserved at recreation.gov. Additionally, April through October all vehicles entering between 7am and 4pm need a timed-entry reservation ($2, recreation.gov). Arriving before 7am or after 4pm avoids that requirement.
Can you do Arches National Park in one day?
Yes. A well-planned single day covers the main highlights: Delicate Arch (3 miles, 2-3 hours), Windows Section (roughly 1 mile including Double Arch, 1 hour), and Landscape Arch at Devils Garden (1.8 miles, 1 hour). Add Balanced Rock as a 15-minute stop. That is about 6 miles over 5-6 hours of hiking. In summer, start Delicate Arch before 8 am, do Windows before noon, rest through the 1-3pm heat peak, then Devils Garden in the late afternoon.
What time should you start hiking at Arches in summer?
Start Delicate Arch before 8 am. The trailhead parking fills by 9-9:30 am in July and August, and temperatures on the exposed slickrock exceed 100F by mid-morning. The NPS has temporarily closed the Delicate Arch trailhead when afternoon temperatures exceeded 103F (39C). If an early start is not possible, save Delicate Arch for the evening and do the Windows Section or Sand Dune Arch in the afternoon instead.
Are dogs allowed on Arches National Park trails?
No. Dogs are not permitted on any hiking trail in Arches National Park, including short walks like Balanced Rock and Double Arch. This is stricter than parks such as Bryce Canyon, which allows dogs on the paved Rim Trail. Dogs are allowed in parking lots, on paved roads, and at picnic areas, but not on unpaved trail surfaces. The heat makes this a safety concern as much as a policy one: trail surfaces at Arches in summer can blister paws.
What is the best time of year to hike Arches?
March through May and September through October are the best months. Daytime temperatures sit between 60-85F (15-30C), all trails are open, and timed-entry reservation availability is better than in peak summer. Late October sees temperatures drop after sunset. June through August is viable only with very early starts: virtually no shade exists on the main trails and midday highs regularly exceed 100F. November through February is quiet and cold, with near-freezing lows, but clear days offer spectacular light and minimal crowds.
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Written by Diego Fresno, Travel writer and independent publisher specialising in the American Southwest. Latest research conducted on location in Page, Arizona during July 2025. Guides are verified quarterly; last review April 2026.. Verified quarterly: last review April 2026. About the author →