Surround yourself in the stunning red rock cliffs, distant views of snow-capped peaks, winding painted canyons, and, of course, the most breathtaking natural arch in the world, Delicate Arch. No trip to Utah is complete without seeing our state’s most iconic landmark! Experience, in person, this arch’s ability to “startle the senses and surprise the mind” (Edward Abbey).
I have probably hiked the trail to Delicate Arch a dozen times, but the moment that I turn the corner and finally catch a glimpse of the arch, I still get goosebumps. It is spectacular! No picture I have ever seen does it justice. You really have to be there to witness the grandeur and beauty of this stunning formation. This hike may even be the highlight of your tour of the Utah National Parks!
What You Need to Know About Hiking to Delicate Arch
- Delicate Arch is one of the busiest places in Arches National Park, so be sure to have a solid plan for getting parking and exploring the area.
- Water is not available at the trailhead, so be sure to fill up at the Visitor Center on your way in. Please don’t ever hike without plenty of water, especially in the desert.
The Delicate Arch Trail
Wolfe Ranch marks the beginning of the trail to Delicate Arch. This old homestead was built in 1898 and abandoned in 1910 by John Wesley Wolfe and his family. As you peek into the cabin, imagine what it would have been like to share that home with five other people!
From the old homestead, a beautiful bridge crosses Salt Wash and takes you to the main trail to Delicate Arch.
Just after the bridge, a short spur trail branches off the main trail and travels to a panel of ancient Ute Indian petroglyphs. On the panel, you will see horses and bighorn sheep, thought to depict a hunt that would have been common for the natives in the area.
Now it is time to get serious about hiking to Delicate Arch! The trail is wide and flat, wandering through a typical and wildly beautiful desert landscape. Be prepared to share the trail with the masses that flock to this area of Arches, and please be courteous and patient with those around you.
The well-defined red dirt trail soon transitions to a hike on a giant slab of sandstone that climbs a few hundred feet in elevation. The views from here are phenomenal!
This section of trail can get extremely miserable in the heat of the day because the sun’s rays reflect off the rocks, and there is no shade to be found. Take care to drink plenty of water along this stretch.
You will notice that there is not an actual “trail” but rather small piles of rocks marking the way to go. These are called cairns — please do not build your own or knock over existing ones. Some cairns have been replaced by small signs in the slickrock, so look for both as you hike!
Following the cairns and signs are a critical part of making it to Delicate Arch, and if you get lost along the trail, it will most likely be while hiking on the sandstone slab.
As you follow the signs, they will lead you off of the slickrock (to the left) and onto a narrow dirt trail that will take you the rest of the way to Delicate Arch.
As you approach Delicate Arch, the trail travels along a cliff with a large drop-off. This cliff section is short but can give pause to people who are afraid of heights. I recommend still hiking this trail, even with a fear of heights, and then deciding if you want to continue when you get to this point. Pictures and videos often make it look worse than it actually is.
Be on the lookout for Frame Arch above you. If you decide to make the short climb up to it, you will get your first glimpse of Delicate Arch!
My favorite part of the hike is next…the part where you come around the curve and the view opens up to the iconic and vast landscape surrounding Delicate Arch. There are no words to describe this spectacular freestanding arch’s sheer magnitude and majesty!
The sandstone bowl in front of the arch causes the hike to the base of the arch to slope downward. Watch your little ones in this area and expect crowds to line the way as you trek to the base.
No trip to Delicate Arch would be complete without standing at the base and gazing up at the beauty directly overhead! You will be amazed by how small you feel compared to the arch that has weathered the elements over many, many years.
Although you may be tempted to stay for a while, it is courteous not to linger near the arch for too long to accommodate the other people you are sharing this experience with.
The magnificence of Delicate Arch will take your breath away! I suggest planning enough time to sit and enjoy your surroundings (and hopefully snag that perfect shot).
The trail to Delicate Arch is 3 miles roundtrip. I would rank it as a moderate hike because of the lack of shade, the uphill climb on top of the slickrock, and the navigation required by following the cairns.
Getting Here
From the Visitor Center, drive 12 miles and then take a right toward Wolfe Ranch. Drive another 1.2 miles until you reach Wolfe Ranch. This is the trailhead for Delicate Arch.
Need help planning your trip to Arches? Click here for the Ultimate Arches Trip Planning Guide!
More Arches Trip Planning Information
Arches Itinerary — a detailed hour-by-hour sightseeing schedule.
How to Get to Arches — the best airports and roads in the area.
How Many Days Should I Spend in Arches? — itinerary ideas.
The Best Time to Visit — what to expect during each month of the year.
Weather, Hours, and Closures — important weather info and common closures.
Where Should I Stay? — the best options in and around the park.
All About Camping — learn about the park’s campgrounds and how to get a site.
10 Things You Can’t Miss on Your First Visit to Arches — the top 10 spots.
The Best Easy Hikes — the perfect trails for kids, wheelchairs, and beginners.
Best Things to Do — activities for every adventurer.
The Ultimate Arches Trip Planning Guide — everything you need to know.
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My family is planning a trip to Arches National Park for Thanksgiving. Is this a good time to go? Are there any tips you would have for us?
Thank you so much for your posts! These are so detailed and helpful!
It’s usually a nice time to be there! It can be a little chilly, and snow is not unheard of, but I like going during that time.
We are headed to Arches in about two weeks! I wanted to know what you thought about Delicate Arch for a 4-year old. We have four kids, but our youngest is 4 and I just wanted to know if you thought this might be too much for her. We are not avid hikers, but want to take advantage of the special spots while we’re there!
Also, if we get into town early enough the night before our big day, is there somewhere in the park you’d recommend seeing that evening? I have your 1-day itinerary but wanted to know if we could squeeze something in the evening before.
Absolutely! It will be slow-going, but I would definitely try to get her up there. Often the kids hike even faster than the adults :) I’d hike to Sand Dune and Broken Arch if you have some extra time. Have fun!
Do you know the name (if there is one) of the small arch to the LEFT as you’re coming into the area of Frame Arch? It’s down in the lowlands, and I can’t find the name of it! (Unless it is “twisted doughnut”, but I was under the impression that Twisted Doughnut and Frame Arch are two names for the same formation; the opening that looks out upon Delicate Arch?).
Thank you!
I don’t, sorry!
Hello Ash. Going to b at Arches NP for one day only on Thur 9/3, and planning on getting to the park at daybreak. Wanted to make sure we see both Devils Garden and Delicate Arch. Could you please advise which one you would recommend going to first?
You won’t be able to do them both in the morning without parking issues, so I’d save one for the evening hours…doesn’t really matter which one!
Ashley,
about how long from the trail entrance to the arch? I don’t see length of time mentioned. I’m marrying someone at sunrise in 2 days from now, and it sounds like I will probably have to do some of the hike in the dark to be there by sunrise. Will I see other people on the trail at that time?
Timewise, it really just depends on how fast you hike. Average is about 2 miles per hour, so I’d plan on about an hour (maybe an 1.5 hours) if you’re hiking in the dark. Enjoy!
Hello Ash, I was kind of hoping to take night photos at delicate arch, but from the description of the trail, it seems like it’ll be really really really dangerous to try this in the dark if I haven’t been there before. Is that a pretty good assessment? Is there an arch that’s close to a parking area that would be pretty easy to get to in the dark to take some good night photos?
It is a hard trail to hike in the dark because of the big slab of slickrock with cairns that you need to follow. It’s easy to miss the right way down in the dark. You could check out Double Arch, the Windows, Turret Arch, or Landscape Arch for options that are closer to the road. Enjoy your trip!
Thank you so much, from reading this guide that was what I gathered as well. Thanks for the recommendations on the other arches. :-)
I have hiked the Delicate Arch trail two or three times, but I haven’t been back in about 15 years. My husband is afraid of heights and I can’t recall if that last stretch of trail just before you round the curve has a steep drop-off on the left. I’ve been trying to convince my husband to hike the trail, but I’d hate to lead him into a situation that would cause him to be in distress. Any help would be appreciated!
You’re right, there is a drop-off to the left as you approach the arch. I always remember it being bigger than it actually is though….and the trail is pretty wide right there. We were just up there a few weeks ago and I was again surprised that the drop wasn’t as far as I had remembered in my mind. If he’s not extremely afraid of heights, I think he’ll be just fine!
Thanks for the info! I think he’d probably be fine on the way up, hugging the rock wall on the right, but he might have a bit of anxiety on the way back down… I don’t have that fear, so it’s hard for me know how he’ll react until he’s in it. I guess, at the very worst, he can wait on the slick rock before the curve while the kids and I trek the last leg up to the arch. Thanks for your help!
Yeah I don’t have that fear either so it’s hard for me to say for sure, but I do think it’s worth a try :) Have fun!
I’ll be quite honest with you and say that my family (kids ages 6-15) is a bunch of out-of-shape wusses. I think we can handle some of the easier hikes, like Landscape Arch and the Windows, but you have me a little scared to do this hike. We’ll be there this weekend so I’m hoping the hot weather isn’t an issue. Assuming it’s not, do you think we’re capable of tackling this? I mean, we can walk 3 miles. Just not sure we can hike it.
Hey Darcy! It’s hard to say, but most people can tackle this one if you take your time and bring lots of water! I would recommend starting with the shorter hikes to see how they do on those, just keeping in mind that Delicate Arch is the most rewarding and breathtaking one of them all :) If you decide the hike is going to be too much, there is a Delicate Arch viewpoint that is a good alternative. With my limited knowledge of your family, I would say go for it!!!! The effort to get there is absolutely worth it — you will be speechless! Hope that helps!
Ash
Here I am again commenting! We also did the Delicate Arch hike in September. We headed out a few hours before sunset and got a nice parking spot, though it might have been one of the last ones available at that time. Going up was hard work, but we found our way quite easily. Once we made it up top we stayed for a good 3-4 hours until the sun had set and the stars had come out. Then we headed back guided by our headlamps. I felt like we almost got lost there in the dark for a bit on the slabs, just before hitting the bottom part of the trail since we couldn’t find the next pile of rocks. We backed up a bit and finally found our way. Just before hitting the bridge there were dozens of bats circling in the air as we looked up at the Milky Way. Simply spectacular! Thanks for your great post! :)
Hi Kea! Thanks for sharing your experience! We actually did the same thing and ended up getting a little lost on the slickrock section as well haha. It was worth being at the arch at sunset though :) So glad that you got to experience that!