Top Things to do in Arches National Park
5 Things to do Good for Adrenaline Seekers in Arches National Park That You Shouldn't Miss
One of the smallest parks, Arches is dominated by strange and beautiful sandstone arches which are illuminated at sunset.
1. Delicate Arch
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,859 reviews
A world-famous natural sandstone arch.
Reviewed By 355margotm
We hiked to Delicate Arch in November, starting early-ish in the morning of a sunny (but cool) day. The walk has a bit of everything - colonial history (a historic shack), pre-history (petroglyphs), slick-rock, clambering, ledges and - when you get around the final corner, the amazing Delicate Arch! It stands off to the side of a natural amphitheatre, and we couldn't imagine how it came to be formed. Amazing and beautiful.
2. Fiery Furnace
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 469 reviews
Excellent hike, especially with a guide, and a wonderful opportunity for sunset photos.
Reviewed By Jane_A60 - Socorro, United States
First make sure you sign up for this hike as early as you can at the Visitor's Center. It takes a couple of days to get into the ranger led hike. $16 for adults, and senior pass holders and children $8. You can also get a self guided permit. I hike a lot and we had hiked a lot in Arches and Canyonlands and thought I was prepared for this hike. I went with my husband and if it hadn't been for his helping hand I'm not sure I could have managed some of the rock climbs. The good part is all of us taking part in this ranger guided tour in Fiery Furnace helped each other get through the difficult parts. There was a total of 14 people in our group including a family with two younger children, maybe 7 and 9. We were slowed down a bit by two people who probably shouldn't have taken this trail but it didn't take away from the experience and the guide told us we still were able to do 80% of the regular tour. He said that finishing only a partial tour was not that unusual depending on the group and how easily they can rock climb and hike through the trail. Just know that there was a lot more rock climbing than I anticipated. Travis was our guide and he was fantastic showing us the foot holds to navigate the rocks. I am glad I did this hike and in no way am discouraging anyone from taking this hike, just know going in how much rock scrambling that there will be. I consider this hike requiring a little bit of canyoneering as a moderate strenuous hike.
3. Tower Arch
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 38 reviews
Reviewed By PandaHouston - Houston, United States
To get to Tower Arch, you have to drive off road. The first road is a 2WD dirt road. From there, you can either continue to the trailhead to hike 1.7 miles to Tower Arch. Or, you can turn off to a 4WD road to hike .3 miles to Tower Arch. We had a rental car - Hyundai Santa Fe 4WD and thought we would attempt the 4WD road. However, on the way in, 2 cars turned around and told us to do the same because they advised we would not have enough clearance. So we turned around and parked at the trailhead for the 1.7 mile hike to Tower Arch. For these reasons, this is not a popular hike. So if you like a less crowded area, this is a great trail. We came close to sunset and the arch lit up in brilliant colors.
4. Double O Arch
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 194 reviews
Arch which requires a 4.2 mile hike through challenging terrain.
Reviewed By TravelingSoccerLoon - Saint Paul, United States
Hiked from Devil's Garden Trailhead to Double O Arch and back and it was one of the highlights of my visit to Arches. The hike itself is even more rewarding than seeing the Arch. Getting to Landscape Arch is pretty easy but the hike gets challenging after that and involves scrambling up rocks several times and walking across narrow rock ledges but I found this all part of the fun like doing an obstacle course. It doesn't require great athletic ability but you need to have some nerve and not have any issues with your balance or fear of heights. Bring lots of water as it gets hot quickly. I would also recommend starting shortly after sunrise to avoid the mid day heat but also to avoid the crowds that build later in the morning and to get a parking space although there were spots available all day long the Sunday I was there in late August. Also, don't miss stopping at Partition Arch along the way for some great views. I had considered returning on the primitive trail but probably wisely did not as I was hiking solo and am not an overly experienced hiker. I found the hike to Double O Arch on the " regular" trail challenging enough needing to follow rock cairns and got off track several times when doing so.
5. Devils Garden Trailhead
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 424 reviews
A 2.2-mile trail leading to Double O arch.
Reviewed By BruinDan - Fullerton, United States
Devils Garden Trailhead is one of the most popular destinations for visitors to Arches National Park. That’s because this trailhead is the starting point for trails that lead to quite a few arches, including Landscape Arch, Pine Tree Arch, Tunnel Arch, Partition Arch, Navajo Arch, Wall Arch, Private Arch, Dark Angel Arch, and Double O Arch. To reach the trailhead from the park entrance or visitor center, take the main scenic drive road and drive 18 mi/29 km north; the road ends at Devils Garden. Parking for the trailhead is just past the campground. There are vault toilets available between the parking lot and trailhead. The parking area is large, but due to its popularity it can fill up quickly. My wife and I arrived here around 8:30 am on a Tuesday in early October, and the parking lot was already approximately 70 percent full. As you begin your hike from the trailhead, you’ll go through a short slot canyon. The trail curves a couple of times, you’ll go up a slight incline and then emerge into an area where the landscape is dotted with interesting formations that are so prevalent in Arches National Park. Before long, you’ll reach a junction with a spur trail that will take you to Pine Tree Arch and Tunnel Arch. The majority of the hikers on the well-groomed trail go on to the remarkable Landscape Arch (a 2.0 mi/3.2 km out-and-back hike); from there the trail becomes more primitive, and the more hardy and ambitious continue on to some of the other arches, most notably Double O Arch. And that’s probably the best element about the Devils Garden Trailhead -- there are hikes here for virtually every skill and fitness level.
