Arches National Park sits just five miles north of Moab, Utah and packs more than 2,000 natural stone arches into a compact, jaw-dropping landscape of red sandstone fins and balanced rocks. The trails range from paved strolls to scrambling routes across slickrock, so there is something here whether you have an hour or a full day. Here are seven hikes worth lacing up for, plus the timing tricks that keep you out of the worst desert heat.
Delicate Arch: The One Everyone Wants
The hike to Delicate Arch, the freestanding arch on Utah's license plate, is the park's signature trek. It is roughly 3 miles round trip with about 480 feet of climbing, much of it up an exposed slickrock slope with no shade. The reward at the top is one of the most famous views in the American Southwest, especially at sunset when the arch glows orange. Start early or go late, carry at least two liters of water per person, and bring a headlamp if you stay for the sunset.
Devils Garden: The Best Long Hike
For a bigger day, the Devils Garden Trail at the end of the park road delivers the most arches per mile. A short out-and-back reaches Landscape Arch, one of the longest stone spans in the world. Push past it onto the primitive loop, about 7.8 miles total, and you string together Double O Arch, Partition Arch, and Navajo Arch with some genuine scrambling along narrow fins. This is the trail for hikers who want solitude and variety.
- Landscape Arch only: 1.9 miles round trip, easy and mostly flat.
- Full primitive loop: 7.8 miles, strenuous, with exposed scrambling.
The Windows and Double Arch
If you want maximum payoff for minimal effort, head to the Windows Section. The Windows Loop is about 1 mile and visits North Window, South Window, and Turret Arch on a gentle path. Across the parking lot, Double Arch is a flat half-mile to a pair of soaring arches that share a stone base. Both are perfect for families and for late-afternoon light.
Fiery Furnace: The Adventurous Maze
The Fiery Furnace is a labyrinth of narrow sandstone canyons and fins. It requires a permit or a ranger-led tour because there is no marked trail and it is easy to get lost. If you can secure a spot, it is one of the most memorable experiences in the park, full of hidden arches and tight slot passages.
Park Avenue and Balanced Rock
Right near the entrance, the Park Avenue Trail drops you between towering walls on a 1-mile point-to-point through a dramatic canyon corridor. Nearby, the short loop around Balanced Rock circles a massive boulder perched impossibly on a slender pedestal in well under half a mile.
When to Hike and What to Bring
Summer in Arches is dangerous, with temperatures over 100 degrees and almost no shade, so plan strenuous hikes for sunrise. Spring and fall are the ideal seasons. Arches uses a timed-entry reservation system during the busy months, so check the latest requirements and book ahead. Pack more water than feels reasonable, sturdy shoes with grip for slickrock, sun protection, and salty snacks.
Make It a Full Moab Adventure
Hiking is only half of what makes this corner of Utah special. After a morning on the trails, trade your boots for a paddle and get out on the water. Our Moab and Lake Powell kayaking itinerary shows how to combine the red-rock hikes of Arches with calm flatwater paddling on the Colorado River and Lake Powell for the complete desert trip.
