Arches National Park

Arches National Park, Utah

Arches contains more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches – the highest concentration anywhere on earth – within 76,519 acres of high desert in eastern Utah near Moab. The geology that produced them is specific: alternating layers of salt, sandstone, and shale deposited over 300 million years, then uplifted and eroded into fins, windows, and freestanding spans. The park’s most famous arch, Delicate Arch, appears on Utah licence plates and has been photographed more than almost any geological feature in North America.

Important 2026 Update

Arches National Park dropped its timed-entry reservation requirement for 2026. The timed-entry system had been in place since 2022, requiring advance booking for peak season visits. You can now enter at any time during operating hours without a reservation. Standard entrance fees apply ($35 per vehicle for 7 days). During peak hours at popular trailheads, parking areas may reach capacity and staff may temporarily restrict access; arrive early to avoid this.

What to See

Delicate Arch: the iconic free-standing arch at 16 metres tall. The trail is 3 miles round trip with no shade and a 480-foot elevation gain. Start before 8am in summer or you will be hiking in direct sun at over 100°F. Late afternoon with golden light is the best photography window, though the crowds reflect that.

Landscape Arch in Devils Garden is the longest arch in North America at 93 metres span – an almost impossibly thin ribbon of rock. The trail to it runs 1.6 miles from the Devils Garden trailhead. In 1991 a large slab fell from the underside; the park closed it briefly and it has been open since. You are watching something that is visibly thinning.

Devils Garden is the largest single concentration of arches in the park, with over 50 natural formations and seven major named arches. The full Devils Garden Trail runs 7.2 miles round trip with some scrambling on slickrock.

Fiery Furnace: a maze of sandstone fins and narrow passages that requires either a ranger-led tour (book at recreation.gov) or a permit for self-guided entry ($10 per person). One of the more unusual hiking experiences in the desert Southwest.

Balanced Rock: off the main park road, 128 feet tall and worth 15 minutes for the improbable geology and views toward the La Sal Mountains.

Moab as Base

Moab, 5 miles south of the park entrance, is the base for Arches and also for Canyonlands National Park. The town has a walkable downtown with breweries, restaurants, and outdoor outfitters. Most accommodation is here rather than inside the park.

For food: Desert Bistro is the best dinner restaurant in Moab. Moab Diner is the standard American roadside breakfast option and entirely reliable. Woody’s Tavern does decent burgers and has outdoor seating in good weather.

When to Go

Spring (April to May) and autumn (September to October) are optimal: comfortable temperatures, better-quality light for photography, and fewer visitors than summer. Summer is the busiest period and the most punishing for hiking – temperatures regularly exceed 38°C (100°F) from June through August. Winter visits are possible and produce genuinely different landscapes, occasionally with snow on red rock, though some facilities reduce hours.