Arches National Park - What to Do in Arches
What to Do in Arches National Park - Arches National Park Travel Guide
Arches National Park offers several hikes from easy to hard or points of interest to visit during your time in the park. Depending on how much time you have to visit Arches, you might want to consider some of these points of interest:
Delicate Arch:
This hike offers one of Arches' most famous arch, the Delicate Arch. We have all seen it appear on commercials, backdrops and even on the Utah license plate! The hike is a difficult one and offers very little protection from the sun. It is very important to dress appropriately and carry plenty of water. Quick Details: approx 3 miles round trip, exposed rock, elevation change 480ft
Landscape Arch:
A relatively flat, gravel-surfaced trail leads to a spectacular ribbon of rock, whose span is more than a football field in length. In June '95, a portion of the arch (47-feet long) fell as well as another 30 foot portion later in the month. This closed the loop portion of the trail that was under the arch. Short side trips to Tunnel and Pine Tree Arches. Quick Details: approx 2 miles round trip.
Delicate Arch Viewpoint:
In addition to the short accessible trail, another (moderately strenuous) hiking trail climbs one-half mile (0.8 km) toward Delicate Arch and ends at the rim of a steep canyon that separates the viewpoint from the arch. Quick Details: approx 100 yards round trip.
Skyline Arch:
A short hike on a flat, well-defined trail. Fairly strenuous scramble up rocks to get under the arch. On a cold November night in 1940, a large chunk fell out of the arch, instantly doubling the size of its opening! Quick Details: approx 0.4 miles round trip.
The Windows:
A gentle climb up a gravel loop trail leads to three massive arches (North and South Windows and Turret Arch). An alternate return, slightly longer, is by way of the primitive loop around the back of the two Windows. The primitive loop trail starts at the South Window viewpoint. Quick Details: approx 1 mile round trip.
Park Avenue:
From Park Avenue parking area, the trail descends steeply into a spectacular canyon, which resembles a city skyline, and continues down the wash to Courthouse Towers. If you have an extra driver, you can begin at one point and be picked up at the other. For round-trip hiking, retrace your steps along the trail rather than walk along the park road. Quick Details approx 1 mile one way, elevation change: 320 feet, start point: Park Ave parking area, end point: Courthouse Towers parking area.
Balanced Rock:
Balanced Rock is a popular spot for photography. Great place for a short amble. A loop trail around the base of a fragile, picturesque rock formation. Quick Details: 0.3 mile round trip.
Interpretive Programs Offered Through The National Park Service
Fiery Furnace Walks
Rangers lead walks into the Fiery Furnace twice each day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. These 2.5 to 3 hour hikes are moderately strenuous, requiring the occasional use of hands to scramble through narrow cracks and along narrow ledges. Visitors are encouraged to accompany a ranger for safety and to reduce impacts. In order to visit the Fiery Furnace without a ranger, visitors must obtain a permit (fee charged) at the visitor center.
In order to support the program, fees are now charged for Fiery Furnace walks. The cost is $8 for adults; $4 for children 6 to 12 years old and Golden Age Pass holders; kids up to 6 years old are free. Group size is limited, and these popular walks often fill a day or two in advance. Sign up and pay your fee in person at the visitor center no more than 7 days in advance of a walk. Maximum tour size is 25 people, 10 of whom may be from a single party. Larger groups can attend separate walks or request a special tour by contacting the park; a minimum of four weeks' notice is advised.
Other Guided Walks
Rangers lead easy, one-hour walks each day at different locations throughout the park. Check at the visitor center or on any park bulletin board for current schedules.
Evening Programs
Join a ranger at the Devils Garden campground amphitheater (next to Canyon Wren group campsite and across the road from campsite #25) nightly. Programs last about forty-five minutes. Check at the visitor center or on any park bulletin board for current schedules.
Mountain Hardwear
Bite
The North Face