Arches National Park Has Largest Concentration of Arches

With over 2,000 natural stone arches– the largest concentration in the world — Arches National Park is a paradise for hikers, photographers, and rock lovers.

These majestic sandstone arches formed due to the rock and forces of nature: water, salt, stability, and time, according to the park website.

First, there was the right type of rock, a porous entrada sandstone, above a denser Carmel layer, permeable to just enough rainwater. Arches – Arches National Park (U.S. National Park Service) Then salts beneath bulged upward, creating domes that cracked, allowing openings or cavities to develop. The ground hasn’t moved for around 50,000 years, the website explains, which is why over 2,000 arches still exist. Finally, over hundreds of thousands of years all these factors have eroded, shaped, and created the existing structures you see today.

Depending on the position in the sky, the sun’s rays cast a range of reds and oranges on these massive rock fins, pinnacles, and arches. It’s mesmerizing.

Delicate Arch

Every park has its must-see or must-do. For Arches National Park, that’s hiking up to Delicate Arch.

The three-mile roundtrip hike is strenuous. If you do it on a scorching summer day, you might be miserable because there is no shade. I’ve done the hike with my family in the middle of a July afternoon and at sunset in mid-March. The sunset hike is by far the best way to see this famous arch.

Always bring plenty of water. Have a headlamp or flashlight if you plan a sunset hike.

The hike to Delicate Arch has a 538-foot change in elevation, no shade, and cairns to point the way. Hiking – Arches National Park (U.S. National Park Service) Park employees will tell you to plan for three hours roundtrip. As an avid hiker, it took me 50 minutes up, and 30 minutes back plus time to enjoy the sunset.

Delicate Arch may be the most famous natural stone arch in the world, but the park has other notable features. Landscape Arch has the longest spanned arch in North America at 306 feet. Double Arch has the tallest opening with the southern span 144 feet above the ground. Arches National Park Fast Facts – National Parked

I suggest starting your park adventure at the visitor center. The park employees have a wealth of information to share about trail conditions, wildlife, and necessary information for a safe and enjoyable visit. There’s no food or gas in the park, so plan (and read the Know Before You Go tips at the end).

Park Avenue Viewpoint

The first stop after the visitor’s center is Park Avenue Viewpoint and Trailhead. You can access this viewpoint on a wheelchair-accessible paved sidewalk.

Photography at this viewpoint is better in the late afternoon.

Three Gossips

You can continue down the stairs at the end of the Park Avenue Viewpoint, through the massive monoliths, on the 1.8-mile round-trip Park Avenue Trail.

You also can drive to the Courthouse Towers Viewpoint to see rock formations like the Three Gossips, Sheep Rock, The Organ, and the Tower of Babel.

Courthouse Towers Viewpoint

As you walk around the sandstone structures, remember to keep off these delicate pinnacles and arches. Sandstone crumbles easily.

It is also illegal to carve, scratch, or otherwise mark these magnificent rocks.

Petrified Dunes Viewpoint

Next, you will be able to see the Petrified Dunes in front of the La Sal Mountains.

Keep cars and bikes on designated roads, and hike on designated trails to protect biological soil crusts. In addition, don’t drink, swim, or walk in any pools of water as these ephemeral pools are home to a variety of tiny organisms. Hiking – Arches National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

Balanced Rock

Balanced Rock makes for a stunning silhouette after the sun sets. Although I didn’t take a nighttime picture, we drove by after our sunset hike to Delicate Arch, and this would be a suitable place to stargaze.

Balanced Rock, estimated to weigh 3,600 tons, is 128 feet tall and sits on an eroding pedestal. Balanced Rock Viewpoint and Trail (U.S. National Park Service)

Garden of Eden

Just past Balanced Rock is the Garden of Eden which highlights beautiful spires and rock formations.

Arches, with over 76,359 acres, or 119 square miles, became a national park in 1971. Arches National Park Fast Facts – National Parked

Double Arch

Double Arch was one of my favorites. You can see it from the parking lot, but I suggest walking just over a half mile on an easy, hard-packed trail as it is stunning. The walk takes about 15-30 minutes and only has an elevation change of 30 feet.

When you get up to the arch, you can scramble up the rocky hill to explore under the arch and beyond. Look for the raven’s nest on the right side of the cliff before the opening of the first arch.

Parade of Elephants

You will find the Parade of Elephants on your .6-mile roundtrip hike to Double Arch.

As you can see in the picture, it looks just like an elephant.

North & South Windows

Across the parking lot from the Double Arch Trailhead is the short loop to see the North Window, South Window, and Turret Arch.

This hard-packed trail with stone steps is a mile roundtrip, has 99 feet of elevation change and takes about 30-60 minutes. Hiking – Arches National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

Turret Arch

Across from The Windows is Turret Arch.

Make sure to walk up to these arches, if you can, as it is stunning to see the landscape through these cavities.

Upper and Lower Viewpoints of Delicate Arch

Not everyone can do the hike to Delicate Arch, but there are options of seeing this famous arch from a distance at both the upper and lower viewpoints. The Lower Delicate Arch Viewpoint is about 200 feet from the parking lot and is wheelchair accessible, while the Upper Viewpoint is a half-mile roundtrip with 171 feet of elevation change. Hiking – Arches National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

Wolfe Ranch and Petroglyph Panel

Even if you don’t want to do the three-mile hike to Delicate Arch, you should go to the trailhead and stop at the Wolfe Ranch and Petroglyph Panel.

John Wesley Wolfe, who grazed 1,000 cattle head for the Bar DX Ranch, around 1900, built this 17- by 15-foot cabin. Wolfe Ranch (U.S. National Park Service) At one time, six family members slept here before they moved on. A window allows visitors to peer inside.

The petroglyph panel at the Wolfe Ranch shows bighorn sheep and horseback riders suggesting these pictures were created after the Spanish explorers came to North America. Reading Rock Markings (U.S. National Park Service) It may be a form of art to us, but it was how the American Indian tribes communicated to each other.

Permits Required at Fiery Furnace

The Fiery Furnace is a popular hike but requires a permit through https://www.recreation.gov. At time of publication, the permits were on hold, but the website talks about it being a labyrinth of narrow sandstone canyons. Hiking – Arches National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

You don’t need a permit to go to the Fiery Furnace Viewpoint, and there are several views from the road to get an idea of what the hike would be like.

Sand Dune Arch

If you like slot canyons, you’ll enjoy the walk to Sand Dune Arch.

The easy trail is less than a half-mile roundtrip, and it takes 15 to 30 minutes to walk through the sand and between stonewalls. Hiking – Arches National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

Skyline Arch

You can access Skyline Arch with a .4-mile roundtrip effortless walk.

It takes about 10-20 minutes to do this hike and has only 28 feet of elevation change. Hiking – Arches National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

Devils Garden Trail

The park ends at the Devils Garden Trail. The entire trail is almost eight miles, which includes hikes to Landscape Arch, Double O Arch, Dark Angel, a primitive trail, and side trips, according to the park brochure. The whole trail takes an estimated three to five hours to complete.

You can choose to do the shorter walk to Landscape Arch, the longest spanning arch in North America. This hike is 1.8-miles roundtrip, takes about 30 to 60 minutes, and has 40 feet of elevation change. This walk is moderately easy on a hard-packed dirt surface, but if you continue, the Devils Garden Trail becomes harder, with rock scrambling, narrow edges, and exposure to heights. Hiking – Arches National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

The hike to Double O Arch is 4 miles roundtrip and takes about two to three hours.

It would have been better to hike in this area in the morning as the sun was in the wrong position for photography.

Animals tend to avoid heat of the day

Some animals in Arches National Park, like foxes, bobcats, mountain lions, bats, and owls are nocturnal and tend to stay out of the desert heat, according to the NPS website. Others, like mule deer, coyotes, porcupines, cottontails, and jack rabbits, tend to be more active at dawn and dusk. Yet, you might see during the day squirrels, lizards, snakes, hawks, ravens, and eagles. Animals – Arches National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

Activities at Arches National Park

You can explore the park without getting out of your car, although I wouldn’t advise that. Besides hiking the various trails, visitors can do such activities as canyoneering, rock climbing, horseback riding, backpacking, and stargazing. Try to allow at least two full days if you plan to hike several trails and watch the stars at night.

We saw a lot of people riding bicycles through the park in mid-March. The website has safety tips if you plan to bike, such as coming early in the morning, riding in single file, and staying alert as there is no bike lane or shoulder. For more safety tips, like avoiding the switchbacks near the park entrance, read Bicycling – Arches National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

Know Before You Go:

• You must have a timed-ticket to enter the park from April 1-July 6 and Aug. 28-Oct 31 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. Tickets can be ordered at https://www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Timed Entry Pilot – Arches National Park (U.S. National Park Service) Timed tickets are not required for those with camping, backcountry, Fiery Furnace, or other special use permits.
• Arches National Park is open 24/7 and you need to pay a park entrance fee or have a park pass to enter.
• Camping is available inside the park at Devils Garden Campground, about 18 miles from the park entrance. There are 51 sites, which include drinking water, picnic tables, grills, and both pit-style and flush toilets. There is no cell reception or internet, no ice or camp store. Firewood is available, according to the website. Make reservations at Recreation.Gov. Eating & Sleeping – Arches National Park (U.S. National Park Service) Outside the park, there are public and private campgrounds and hotels.
• There is no food or gas in the park. There is a water fountain outside the visitor center, but you should bring plenty of water and snacks for everyone. I have been to parks where the drinking fountain wasn’t working.

Check out these useful apps on the blog’s resource page Looking for Helpful Travel Apps? – Travel Like A Tourist and essentials for a safe hike Top 10 Essentials You Need To Hike Safe – Travel Like A Tourist.