Landscape Arch holds the record as the longest natural arch in North America, yet most visitors to Arches National Park walk past the turnoff without realizing what they are skipping. The arch sits at the end of a 0.9-mile easy walk from Devils Garden Trailhead, and its sheer scale is genuinely surprising at close range: a ribbon of Entrada sandstone spanning 290 feet (88 m) across the sky, so thin in its middle section that daylight shows through the rock on two sides simultaneously.
It is not Delicate Arch. That hike earns its reputation and belongs on any itinerary. But Landscape Arch reaches something Delicate Arch does not: it is the fifth longest natural arch anywhere on Earth, and you get to it in 45 minutes over completely flat terrain.
Distance
1.9 mi (3.1 km) round trip, out and back
Elevation gain
246 ft (75 m)
Difficulty
Easy
Time
45 min to 1 hour
Trailhead
Devils Garden Trailhead, 18 miles from park entrance
Arch span
290 ft (88 m), longest in North America
Arch height
77.5 ft (23.6 m)
Trail surface
Wide gravel path; last 0.3 miles soft sand
Dogs
Not allowed on any Arches trail
Timed entry
Apr-Oct, 7am-4pm, $2/vehicle, recreation.gov
Park fee
$35/vehicle (7-day pass), America the Beautiful accepted
Trail at a glance
The trailhead is at the end of the main park road, 18 miles from the entrance station. The Devils Garden Trailhead serves multiple trails; the sign for Landscape Arch is clearly marked immediately from the parking lot. The path is a wide, hard-packed gravel track for the first 1.6 miles, transitioning to soft sand for the final stretch before the viewpoints.
Two designated viewpoints face the arch. The first viewpoint, reached at roughly 0.85 miles from the trailhead, gives a slightly more frontal angle and is the better photo position. The second viewpoint, a short distance further along a signed spur, is closer to the arch and gives a better sense of its scale, though the angle is more oblique. Most hikers visit both.
What makes Landscape Arch remarkable
The arch was named in 1933 by Frank Beckwith, who led a scientific expedition through what was then Arches National Monument. The name refers not to the arch itself resembling a landscape, but to the way it frames the canyon and mesa country behind it like a painting.
The span of 290.1 feet (88.4 m), measured precisely in 2004 by the Natural Arch and Bridge Society, makes Landscape Arch the longest natural stone arch in North America and the fifth longest in the world. The four longer arches are all in China. In the United States, the second-longest is Kolob Arch in Zion National Park at 287 feet (87 m), just three feet shorter.
What the numbers do not communicate: the arch is extraordinarily thin. Its narrowest section measures only about 6 feet (1.8 m) thick, and from certain angles the stone appears almost transparent against the sky. The combination of extreme length and extreme thinness makes it unlike any other arch formation in the park.
The trail, step by step
From the Devils Garden parking lot, the signed trailhead entrance is at the north end of the lot. The path heads immediately into a landscape of salmon-colored sandstone fins, tall parallel walls of rock that close in on both sides. The fins provide intermittent shade, more than you get on the Delicate Arch trail, which matters in summer.
At approximately 0.4 to 0.5 miles from the trailhead, a junction on the left is signed for Pine Tree Arch and Tunnel Arch. These are short spur trails (see below). Most hikers continue straight toward Landscape Arch and visit the spurs on the return.
After the junction, the trail continues north through the fins. The surface remains wide gravel until approximately the 0.7-mile mark, where it transitions to soft sand. The sand section is not difficult but adds resistance underfoot and is the only part of the trail that requires any effort. If you have mobility limitations, the first viewpoint is accessible with care; the second viewpoint requires crossing the sand section.
- 0.0 mi: Devils Garden Trailhead parking lot
- 0.4 mi: Junction for Pine Tree Arch and Tunnel Arch (left spur)
- 0.85 mi: First viewpoint for Landscape Arch
- 0.95 mi: Second viewpoint (closer, slightly different angle)
- 1.9 mi total: Return to trailhead via same path
Water: the Devils Garden Campground adjacent to the trailhead has water in season, and the visitor center near the park entrance has drinking water. There is no water source on the trail itself. Bring at least one quart (1 L) per person for the Landscape Arch hike, more if you plan to continue farther into Devils Garden.
Guided hiking options
Landscape Arch is easy enough that most visitors do it independently. The main reasons to consider a guided option are: bypassing the timed-entry logistics, small group commentary on the geology and history, and transportation from Moab if you do not have a car.
Arches National Park Private Guided Hike
Six-hour private guided hike through Arches National Park, including Devils Garden. Small group, personal pacing, and in-depth geology commentary throughout. The guide handles timed-entry logistics. Suitable for families and beginners.
Arches National Park Sightseeing Tour from Moab
Highly rated four-hour small-group sightseeing tour of Arches National Park from Moab. Covers Windows Section, Balanced Rock, Double Arch and the main viewpoints. Entry included. Morning and afternoon departures, up to 14 passengers.
Tunnel Arch and Pine Tree Arch (the two spur trails)
The junction at roughly 0.4 miles from the trailhead leads to two smaller arches that most visitors miss. Both are short detours that add no more than 20 to 30 minutes total.
Tunnel Arch is visible from the spur junction without much additional walking. It is a narrow, tube-shaped opening in a sandstone fin, smaller than Landscape Arch but with a distinctive shape that photographs well.
Pine Tree Arch requires a slightly longer walk along the spur, roughly 0.4 miles round trip from the main trail. The arch frames a large juniper tree in its opening, which gives the formation its name. The path leads into a quiet side canyon with no other visitors on most mornings.
Both arches are signed. The practical approach: continue to Landscape Arch on the way in, then stop at the spur junction on the way back. This lets you pace the hike properly and keeps the main destination as the focal point of the outbound leg.
The 1991 rockfall: why you cannot walk under it
In September 1991, witnesses watched a large slab, roughly 60 feet (18 m) long, fall from the underside of Landscape Arch. The sound was described as similar to a rifle shot. The slab struck the ground and broke into pieces along the trail that had previously run directly beneath the arch. No one was injured, but the NPS immediately closed the trail beneath the arch and rerouted hikers to the current viewing area at a safe distance.
Two additional large rockfalls occurred from the same arch in 1995. The arch has become narrower and structurally thinner as a result of these events. Geologists note that Landscape Arch is actively eroding, not in a way visible on a single visit but measurably over decades. The arch that exists today is not quite the same arch that existed in 1990.
The closure beneath the arch is permanent and enforced. The viewing area gives a clear, unobstructed sightline to the full span and is the correct place to observe the arch. Attempting to walk beneath it is not permitted.
Continuing to Double O Arch
Landscape Arch is the first major destination in Devils Garden but not the last. Beyond the second viewpoint, the trail continues as the Devils Garden Trail toward Double O Arch, which is 2.1 miles from Landscape Arch (4 miles round trip from the parking lot total if you stop at Landscape Arch first).
The section beyond Landscape Arch changes character significantly. The wide gravel path ends and the trail becomes rockier, narrower, and requires scrambling over sandstone fins with some exposed sections and drop-offs. This extension is rated moderate to strenuous and takes 2 to 3 hours additional from Landscape Arch.
For most visitors, Landscape Arch is the natural turnaround. The effort-to-payoff ratio of the Landscape Arch hike is one of the best in the park. If you have energy and time after reaching it, the first 0.5 miles beyond the arch remains relatively easy before the terrain becomes more demanding.
Parking at Devils Garden
The Devils Garden parking lot is 18 miles from the park entrance station along the main park road. It is a medium-sized lot that fills completely by 9 to 9:30 am on busy summer days. Once full, rangers turn vehicles away at the entrance to the lot, and you wait in a queue for a spot to open.
The most reliable strategy: arrive before 8 am. This typically guarantees a spot even in July and August. Alternatively, arrive after 4 pm when day hikers begin leaving; late-afternoon light also produces the best color on the sandstone.
Overflow parking exists along the park road near the lot, adding a short walk to the trailhead. No shuttle service runs to Devils Garden from the visitor center or elsewhere in the park. The timed-entry system applies to entering the park (not specifically to the Devils Garden lot), but occupancy limits at the lot itself can apply during peak periods. Check the NPS Arches page for current conditions before your visit.
When to go and what time to arrive
March through May and September through October are the best months for Landscape Arch. Daytime temperatures sit between 55 and 85F (13 to 30C), parking pressure is lower, and timed-entry reservations are easier to obtain. The sandstone turns vivid orange in morning light and deep red at sunset; either end of the day gives better color than midday.
Summer (June through August) is viable with an early start. By 7 am the trail is relatively cool and the parking lot has spaces. By 10 am both conditions have reversed. The arch itself provides no shade from above; the sandstone fins along the trail provide periodic shade, which makes this hike more manageable in heat than the fully exposed Delicate Arch trail, but it is not comfortable at midday in summer.
Winter (November through February) is quiet, cold, and underrated. Crowds are minimal, timed-entry requirements apply only during busy spring breaks, and clear winter days produce exceptional light on the red rock. Bring layers: temperatures drop quickly after sunset and the trail surface can be icy in January and February.
How long is the hike to Landscape Arch?
The trail from Devils Garden Trailhead to Landscape Arch is 1.9 miles round trip. The arch sits about 0.9 miles in from the trailhead on a wide, gravel-packed path. Most hikers complete the round trip in 45 to 60 minutes at a comfortable walking pace. The final 0.2 to 0.3 miles of trail transitions from gravel to soft sand, which slows the pace slightly.
Is the Landscape Arch hike difficult?
No. Landscape Arch is one of the easiest significant hikes in Arches National Park. The total elevation gain is 246 feet over 1.9 miles, the path is wide and well-graded gravel for most of its length, and there are no exposed ledges or technical sections. It is suitable for young children and most adults in basic fitness. The main challenge in summer is heat: the trail has minimal shade and temperatures regularly exceed 100F (38C) by mid-morning.
Is Landscape Arch the longest arch in the world?
Landscape Arch is the longest natural arch in North America and holds the title of longest natural arch in the United States. Globally, it is ranked fifth by the Natural Arch and Bridge Society, after four arches located in China. Its span was measured at 290.1 feet (88.4 m) in 2004. The slightly shorter Kolob Arch in Zion National Park is the second-longest in the United States at 287 feet (87 m).
Can you walk under Landscape Arch?
No. The trail directly beneath Landscape Arch has been closed since 1991, when a large slab fell from the arch. Two additional large rockfalls occurred in 1995. The NPS permanently rerouted the trail to a safe viewing distance. You can observe the arch from two designated viewpoints but cannot stand underneath it.
Where do you park for Landscape Arch?
Landscape Arch starts from Devils Garden Trailhead, which is 18 miles from the park entrance along the main park road. The parking lot is one of the busiest in the park. In summer, arrive before 8 am or after 4 pm to find a spot. Overflow parking is available along the road but adds walking distance. The lot fills completely by 9 to 9:30 am on busy summer days.
What other arches can you see on the way to Landscape Arch?
Two short spur trails branch off from the main path before you reach Landscape Arch. Pine Tree Arch is a roughly 0.4-mile round-trip detour off the main trail; it frames a large pine tree in its opening and is easy to miss if you stay on the main path. Tunnel Arch is visible from a short spur near the same junction. Both are signed. Most hikers add them on the way back rather than the way in, as they sit at about the 0.5-mile mark from the trailhead.
Is Landscape Arch worth it compared to Delicate Arch?
They reward different things. Delicate Arch requires more effort (3 miles, 538 ft gain, exposed slickrock with no shade) and puts you inside the scene, standing at the arch itself. Landscape Arch requires almost no effort and shows you an arch that holds a world record for span. If you have one day in the park, do Delicate Arch first. If you have additional time, or if the heat makes Delicate Arch impractical, Landscape Arch is an excellent stand-alone hike that most visitors underestimate.
Do you need a timed-entry reservation for Landscape Arch?
From April through October, all vehicles entering Arches National Park between 7 am and 4 pm need a timed-entry reservation ($2, booked at recreation.gov). Landscape Arch sits at the far end of the park road, 18 miles from the entrance, so you need the reservation just to get in during those hours. Arriving before 7 am or after 4 pm avoids the requirement. Note that the Devils Garden lot itself may have separate occupancy limits on peak days; check the current NPS page before your visit.
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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 →