Home to one of the most iconic landmarks in Utah, Arches National Park deserves the acclaim. The hikes in this park are simply breathtaking. You can easily spend multiple days exploring this park without getting bored, but we think our recommendations in this post are perfect for a one-day itinerary!
Hikes to Do
- Devils Garden Trail: This hike is sneaky fun. What starts out as a smooth walking path turns into a stone staircase that will have you on all fours. Making matters even better, there are a number of sights along the trail that can either serve as turnaround points or keep things interesting until the very end. Because we were running low on time, we decided to turn around at the Double O Arch, which is 2.1 miles from the trailhead. Although the very cool Landscape Arch is before this point, it is well worth your time to make it to Double O. You can get an awesome view of this arch by crossing through to the opposite side and climbing the short hill. The trail goes on for another mile or so past Double O Arch before looping back to the trailhead via a primitive trail, so have a goal in mind before you set out on this hike.
- Delicate Arch Trail: Without a doubt, this hike is the highlight of Arches National Park. We had seen pictures of Delicate Arch before, but we were shocked by the size of the rock formation when we saw it in person. It is massive! Overall, the hike itself isn’t too bad, but there is a rather steep stretch that will leave you winded. Beyond that, it is smooth sailing and a very doable 3-mile round trip hike. Once you make it to the arch, take some time to relax and enjoy it. You can sit along the ridge to admire it from afar, or you can wait for your turn to walk underneath the arch to snap a photo. Just be sure to watch your step – the drop-off on both sides of the arch is steep. Also, try to get to the parking lot at the trailhead as early as possible because it does tend to fill up.
Viewpoints to See
Even if you don’t feel like hiking, there is a lot to see in Arches. The Fiery Furnace Viewpoint and Salt Valley Overlook shed some light on the salt lying just beneath the surface in the park. For cool rock formations, you can stop at Balanced Rock, Courthouse Towers Viewpoint, and Park Avenue Viewpoint. We found it really interesting seeing the various stages of arch formation and erosion; it becomes super clear to see where more arches are going to emerge many years in the future.
Other Tips & Tricks
- Where to Stay: Moab is the place to be. There is a wide selection of hotels and Airbnb rentals in town, so you’ll have no shortage of options. Better yet – it is only 15 minutes to the park entrance. We loved the house we rented just south of town, and we highly encourage you to consider an Airbnb if you’ll be visiting Moab with a group.
- Where to Eat: (This section will look familiar if you’ve read our post on Canyonlands National Park). The food in Moab genuinely impressed us. Maybe it was because we expected slim pickings after visiting the tourist towns outside of Zion and the Grand Canyon … or maybe it was because we would have eaten anything after a long day of hiking. Regardless, we really enjoyed the food. Antica Forma had delicious pizza and salads, and El Charro Loco had hearty portions of solid Mexican food. For dessert, you also can’t go wrong grabbing a milkshake from Milt’s Stop & Eat. (Choose two flavors and get them mixed; you’ll thank us later.) If you need some coffee or breakfast to get your day started, visit the Red Rock Bakery and Cafe. The shop owner is incredibly friendly, and you can help yourself to some bread end pieces from the back of the store to accompany your order.
- Canyonlands National Park: While it isn’t as famous as Arches, Canyonlands is great in its own right. The Island in the Sky district of the park is on the opposite of Moab and has a ton to offer visitors. We highly recommend you extend your stay in Moab to give yourself time to visit both parks.
Happy traveling!
Kitrina & Jordan
