Exploring Arches National Park: Best Tips + Activities!

Let’s explore Arches National Park! We visit this national park at least once a year, and we never run out of things to do because there is just so much to see in the area.

Whether it’s the well-known sights or the hidden gems, in this episode of the Exploring the National Parks Podcast, we’re discussing it all. This park is truly iconic, and we hope this episode helps you plan your next trip!

Join us as we discuss:

Our favorite arches in the Devils Garden
Where to go for a quiet place to experience the arches
The popular arch that Ash is not a fan of
Our tips for visiting Fiery Furnace
Important things you’ll want to remember before visiting this park
Where to get the best view of Delicate Arch
The best places to experience the sunset in the park
Other great areas in the park to see non-arch formations
Parts of the park to explore if you have a Jeep
What to do, where to stay, and where to eat in Moab
Arches entrance reservations

We hope you get the chance to explore this incredible park yourself this year! To see the best of the park without getting stuck in the crowds, check out our full Arches National Park Itinerary.

Listen to the Full Podcast Episode:

Introduction to Arches National Park

From the moment you drive through the park entrance (entrance reservations may be required), you’re transported into a land with incredible red rock formations that you won’t see anywhere else, including over 2,000 natural rock arches! As you drive along the park’s scenic drive, you’ll love seeing famous sights like Balanced Rock, the Windows, Double Arch, and more.

We love visiting Arches — you’ll find us here almost every year! If you are planning your first visit or putting this destination on your bucket list, we are here to explore Arches National Park with you in today’s podcast episode.

Arches National Park is located in southeastern Utah, about 3.5 hours from Salt Lake City. Arches stays open year-round, but we think the best time to visit is during the spring or fall. Daytime temperatures during the summer months can easily be 100 degrees +, so we tend to avoid that time of year. The winter months can be snowy and cold, but most of the best things to do in this park are accessible even in the winter.

Let’s start exploring!

The Devils Garden Trailhead

We absolutely love the Devils Garden trailhead area. Hiking to Landscape Arch is our favorite — it’s massive! It’s one of the widest natural arches in the world and looks more fragile than Delicate Arch.

There are giant sandstone fins of red rock all around you in Devils Garden, and you’ll feel like you are in a playground! You’ll see different evolutionary stages of the arches being formed and winding trails that take you to some of the coolest arches in the park.

For all the details on the Devils Garden area, make sure you read The Devils Garden Trail Guide. The Devils Garden parking lot is one of the busiest spots in Arches, so be sure to follow this itinerary if you want to avoid the crowds!

Beyond Landscape Arch along the Devils Garden Trail, you will see even more natural stone arches. Partition Arch and Double O Arch are absolute must-sees if you decide to hike further. If you decide to hike the whole primitive trail, be prepared for some climbing – this isn’t like regular hiking!

If you’re hoping to camp in the park, try to get a reservation out here at the Devils Garden Campground. It’s the only established campground in the park, and it’s so much fun to camp so close to all of the amazing arches in the Devils Garden area of the park.

Sand Dune Arch

Admittedly, we’re not fans of sand, so the Sand Dune Arch area of Arches is not at the top of our favorites list. But our kids love to play here!

Sand Dune Arch Trail is a short walk that takes you through a small slot canyon to a sandy arch. There is a small sand dune that is perfect for kids to play in — it’s like a natural sandbox!

We like to hike past Sand Dune Arch and head over to Broken Arch and Tapestry Arch to get away from the crowds. Don’t let the namesake fool you – Broken Arch is still intact but has a crack.

Following the trail loop to Tapestry Arch and through the campground, you can hike on another sandstone fin with almost nobody else around.

The Fiery Furnace

You can only enter the Fiery Furnace area with a permit or on a guided hike with a national park ranger. Make sure you catch the full podcast episode above to hear about our experience on a ranger-led tour!

It’s difficult for even experienced hikers to navigate the Fiery Furnace independently because of the hoodoos and fins. If you are lucky enough to snag a guided tour, you’ll be able to explore this area safely, see a few more arches, and enjoy “getting lost” with a ranger.

Permits to enter the Fiery Furnace area are as hard to get as camping reservations at Glacier National Park (and if you don’t know what we’re talking about, listen to Episode 61: 2024 in the National Parks).

Delicate Arch

Delicate Arch is the most famous arch in Arches National Park, so you definitely don’t want to miss this one. If you want to see Delicate Arch up close, you’ll need to hike the 3-mile Delicate Arch Trail!

Park in the Wolfe Ranch Trailhead parking area to start your hike. The trail starts with petroglyphs before turning into a giant slickrock slab. Luckily, the trail flattens out after this adventurous opening. The reveal of Delicate Arch is worth every step. It really is magnificent!! Check out our guide to hiking Delicate Arch to learn more about your route.

If you aren’t up for hiking to Delicate Arch, there are viewpoints you can drive to. You’ll be farther away, but it doesn’t take away from how magnificent it is. We can’t use the word magnificent enough to describe this breathtaking arch; there’s a reason it’s on Utah’s license plate.

The Windows

It’s not often something gets a different name for its front and back sides (we talk and laugh about this in detail in the podcast episode). That just speaks to how unique this area of Arches is! In the Windows Section of the park, you can see the North and South Windows (aka the Spectacles), Turret Arch, Bicep Arch, and Double Arch.

Double Arch is one of our absolute favorite arches in the park, and all you have to do to see Double Arch is take a very short walk from the Windows. And if you don’t want to walk closer, you can still see this impressive arch from the parking lot. Double Arch is the tallest arch in the park, so you definitely don’t want to miss this one.

Park Avenue

If you head out of the Windows Section and back to the main road (the Scenic Drive) and start driving toward Park Avenue, you’ll see Balanced Rock, one of the few non-arch features you can find while exploring Arches National Park. You’ll also come across Sheep Rock, The Three Gossips, and Courthouse Tower as you drive along the Scenic Road.

Do you want to feel like you’re in New York City without the hustle and bustle? You’ll love Park Avenue Trail. If you decide to hike this trail, you’ll be surrounded on all sides by walls of rocks like you’re walking through a city street with towering skyscrapers.

As you head from Balanced Rock to Park Avenue, keep your head on a swivel to see the petrified dunes. This area underwent immense pressure that petrified dunes from an ancient desert. Most people miss this cool feature of Arches. We have more articles about exploring Arches so you don’t miss the best hiking trails and cool features around the park!!

Jeeping in Arches National Park

We absolutely love renting a jeep and heading off into the beautiful red rocks in Arches National Park and nearby Canyonlands National Park. For a really cool off-roading adventure, drive along the Salt Valley Road to Tower Arch! Beyond Tower Arch, you’ll love the solitude you can find along the 4×4 road out here as you make your way to Eye of the Whale Arch and back out to the park’s main road.

You’ll need a high-clearance vehicle to experience this part of Arches. Our favorite place to rent a jeep is Twisted Jeeps in Moab. Read our Jeeping in Arches National Park post for more tips and pictures.

Staying in Moab

Moab is one of our favorite national park gateway towns. The Colorado River runs right through town, and you’re surrounded by gorgeous desert landscapes and red rocks everywhere you turn. Moab is close to both Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, plus plenty of other awesome areas for exploring.

Adventurers of all kinds flock to Moab as a basecamp for some of the most epic outdoor adventures in the United States! River rafters, rock climbers, hikers, ATVers, and so many more types of people who love the outdoors gather here, and the atmosphere is full of excitement!

When we’re here, we love eating at either Thai Bella or Sultan Mediterranean Grill. There are loads of hotels to stay at, depending on your budget. We typically camp when we’re here — either in the Devils Garden Campground or the campgrounds along the Colorado River on Highway 128.

Watch our YouTube Video for more tips on getting a campsite in or near Arches. For the best experience getting to all of the amazing hiking trails and other things to do in Arches, you’ll want to check out our Arches Trip Itinerary.

Thanks for exploring Arches National Park with us today on the Exploring the National Parks Podcast. We look forward to seeing you out in the parks!

Don’t forget to complete your task for this week! Head over to our Facebook or Instagram @dirtinmyshoes and show us what you like to wear when you’re out exploring the national parks. (This has a funny tie-in with the town of Moab, which we discuss near the end of the episode.)

Links mentioned in this podcast episode:

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