Best Things To See At Arches National Park
Arches National Park in Utah is a red rock wonderland. You’ll find hiking trails, unique rock formations, and jaw dropping views in this National Park. Take in the beautiful hoodoos, the stunning glow of sandstone, and a whopping 2,000 arches. Our recent travels there did not disappoint. Planning our future travels I am sure Arches National Park will be on our list again.
Best Things To See At Arches National Park
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Pack up your RV or camper and head to Utah. You cant’ go wrong with all the amazing scenery all over Utah. One of the 5 national Parks in Utah, Arches will not disappoint. Here are the best things to see at Arches National Park.
Scenic Drives in Arches National Park
There is a single road that travels through Arches and that is Arches Scenic Drive. It’s 19 miles in length and will take you about 30 minutes to drive. Don’t rush it, take in the arches, stop at various viewpoints, and hike some trails.
Visit Park Avenue
Distance: 1 mile
Difficulty: Easy
This short and easy hike takes you past some truly gorgeous rock formations like Three Gossips and Courthouse Towers. There are no arches on this hike but don’t let that stop you from visiting Park Avenue.
Marvel At Balanced Rock
This famous formation is a must see in Arches National Park. Although you can see it from the scenic drive on the main road, this is worth pulling over for a better view.
Seriously looks as if the rock will fall at any minute, but yet, it’s been there for years.
Hike Delicate Arch
Distance: 3.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 141 ft
Difficulty: Easy
One of the main attractions at Arches National Park is the Delicate Arch. It’s actually the state symbol and it’s featured on the Utah license plate. Expect big crowds and a busy trail here. The best time to photograph Delicate Arch is at sunrise or sunset. If you want to avoid the crazy crowds, get an early start.
Check Out The Window And Turret Arch
Distance: 1.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 154 ft
Difficulty: Easy
On this short and easy hike you will see 3 very beautiful and cool arches: North Window, South Window, and Turret Arch. For a cool photo opportunity you can capture the Turret Arch through the North Window Arch. Take the Primitive Trail back to the trailhead.
This image is just a beautiful panorama view I captured. I honestly can’t remember what arches are what as I took a lot of pictures and just soaked in my day.
Wander The Garden Of Eden
The Garden Of Eden is worth a stop to take in these stunning hoodoos and sandstone rock formations. And just before you reach this area there is a viewpoint with panoramic views of Windows and Turret Arches against the backdrop of the La Sal Mountains, don’t miss this!
Visit The Tallest Arch – Double Arch
Distance: 6 miles
Elevation Gain: 95 ft
Difficulty: Easy
Double Arch is the tallest in the entire park, making it a can’t miss destination at Arches. It’s located in the Windows area, and gets it’s monicure from the fact that it consists of two arches that share a foundation stone.
Check Out The Fiery Furnace
Named after the red glow this area gets during sunset, the Fiery Furnace is one of the most unique spots in all of Arches National Park. There are 3 ways to experience this area: from a viewpoint, on a Ranger led hike, or on your own. However, if you go it alone make sure to get a backcountry permit before you set out on your adventure.
Take A 4×4 Tour in Arches National Park
If hiking isn’t your thing but you want to fully experience all that Arches National Park has to offer consider taking a 4×4 Tour. Take a guided tour if you are looking to get off the beaten path and see things that you wouldn’t on your own. This is a great option for an adventure lover.
Play In Devils Garden
Distance: 7.8 miles – 1.6 mile to Landscape Arch
Elevation Gain: Varies
Difficulty: Moderate – Easy to Landscape Arch
On the amazing Devils Garden hike you get to see a breathtaking 8 arches. You’ll experience some of the best landscape that Arches has to offer. Take in Landscape Arch, Tunnel Arch, and Navajo Arch among others.
Hike Sand Dune Arch
Distance: .3 miles
Elevation Gain: 108 ft
Difficulty: Easy
Sand Dune Arch lives up to its name, covered in a blanket of red sand resembling a beautiful beach. The arch is shaded for most of the day making it the perfect spot to relax and take in all the beautiful scenery.
Top 5 Arches To See in Arches National Park
Delicate Arch
Windows Section
Double Arch
Landscape Arch
Sand Dune Arch
There are so many amazing things to see in the wonderland that is Arches. This list of the best things to see at Arches National Park is a great way to make the most of your visit.
Final Thoughts on Arches National Park
One of my favorite arches or views was this one that sorta looks like Africa. Love the uniqueness and how the sun came shining thru at the time I took the picture. If ever in doubt about visiting Arches National Park, I hope this post helped you see how it’s a must see. I shot a video leaving Arches National Park from the truck as we drove down.
When traveling through Utah, make sure you visit Bryce Canyon National Park and Zion National Park as well. You can also visit ones I haven’t, like Canyonlands National Park and
