Camp > Destinations > Utah > Arches National Park > Hiking
Arches National Park
Hiking
This page contains information on hiking within Arches National Park in Utah.
Outside the developed visitor area there are no designated trails, campsites, or reliable water sources. If you'd like to backpack, consider nearby Canyonlands National Park. It offers more extensive backcountry opportunities.
If you do backpack in Arches, you must obtain a backcountry permit at the visitor center. The maximum group size permitted is twelve, but smaller groups are strongly recommended to reduce impacts. You should know how to navigate with a topographic map, recognize safety hazards, and practice low-impact camping specific to the Colorado Plateau. Primary safety considerations include rocky, steep terrain; lightning; flash floods; and dehydration. Know how to avoid problems and how to solve them if they occur. You must carry all your water. No fires are allowed.
When hiking in Arches:
Hiked
Check our personal notes for detailed descriptions of these trails:
| Balanced Rock Loop Trail |
| Distance: |
.3 mile loop |
Rating: |
Easy |
| Elevation: |
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Total Ascent: |
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| Trailhead: |
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| Description: |
An walk around the base of Balanced Rock. ( Map ) |
| Broken Arch Trail |
| Distance: |
1.3 miles one-way |
Rating: |
Easy |
| Elevation: |
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Total Ascent: |
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| Trailhead: |
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| Description: |
The trail crosses open grassland. ( Map ) |
| Courthouse Wash |
| Distance: |
5 miles one way |
Rating: |
Easy |
| Elevation: |
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Total Ascent: |
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| Trailhead: |
Just north of the Courthouse Wash bridge, on the north (Park side) of Highway 191. There is a large parking area. |
| Description: |
There are two ways to hike this route, either from inside the Park, or from a trailhead outside the Park, just off of Highway 191, near the Courthouse Wash bridge. It is mostly flat, but crosses the wash numerous times along the route. Vegetation along the stream can be heavy in some areas. This is an unmarked route, not a formal trail. |
| Delicate Arch Trail |
| Distance: |
3 miles round trip |
Rating: |
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| Elevation: |
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Total Ascent: |
480 feet |
| Trailhead: |
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| Description: |
There is no shade and an abundance of open slickrock with some exposure to heights. This trail is best at sunset. ( Map ) |
| Delicate Arch Viewpoint |
| Distance: |
100 yards |
Rating: |
Easy |
| Elevation: |
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Total Ascent: |
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| Trailhead: |
At the Viewpoint parking lot. |
| Description: |
This is a surfaced trail with a distant view of Delicate Arch. You can reach the base of arch only on Delicate Arch Trail. There are switchbacks up the slickrock to the edge of Winter Camp Wash. At this point the canyon wall drops 160 feet. The distance to Delicate Arch is about .3 miles. ( Map ) |
| Devils Garden Trail |
| Distance: |
8 mile loop |
Rating: |
Moderately Easy |
| Elevation: |
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Total Ascent: |
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| Trailhead: |
At the Devils Garden parking area. |
| Description: |
This loop includes the Primitive Loop. It is 1.6 miles to Landscape Arch over a gravel path with some elevation gain. Along the way are short side trips to Tunnel and Pine Tree arches. From Landscape Arch you can continue on 4.2 miles to Double O Arch. This part of the trail is more difficult, with many short elevation changes, rocky footing, and some exposure to heights. There are side trips to Navajo and Partition Arches. The Primitive Loop, from Double O to Landscape Arch, is 2.2 miles. This is a more difficult low route through fins and washes and across a short section of smooth slickrock that can be slippery when wet. There is a side trip to Private Arch. Watch carefully for the cairns to find your way. ( Map ) |
| Double Arch Trail |
| Distance: |
.8 miles one-way |
Rating: |
Easy |
| Elevation: |
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Total Ascent: |
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| Trailhead: |
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| Description: |
This trail passes through some loose sand to a view of a spectacular arch. ( Map ) |
| Fiery Furnace Trail |
| Distance: |
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Rating: |
Moderately Strenuous |
| Elevation: |
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Total Ascent: |
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| Trailhead: |
Fiery Furnace parking area. |
| Description: |
This is a Ranger led tour, and there is a fee of $8.00 for adults and $4.00 for children six to twelve years old and for Golden Age card holders. Check at the Visitor Center for reservation information. The Ranger guided hike explores a labyrinth of sandstone canyons. There are no marked trails. Visitors are strongly discouraged from entering on their own and will be ticketed if spotted my a Ranger. |
| Landscape Arch Trail |
| Distance: |
2 miles round trip |
Rating: |
Easy |
| Elevation: |
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Total Ascent: |
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| Trailhead: |
Begins at the Devils Garden trailhead parking area. |
| Description: |
This is a relatively flat, gravel-surfaced trail (usually heavily populated with hikers) which leads to a spectacular ribbon of rock, whose span is more than a football field in length. There are short side trips to Tunnel and Pine Tree Arches. There is a trail guide available at the trailhead. This is part of the Devils Garden Trail. ( Map ) |
| Park Avenue Trail |
| Distance: |
2 miles round trip |
Rating: |
Easy |
| Elevation: |
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Total Ascent: |
320 feet |
| Trailhead: |
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| Description: |
A short hill leads to a smooth rock canyon bottom between tall walls and balanced rocks. This trail follows a canyon bottom offering a close-up of massive fins and monoliths. ( Map ) |
| Sand Dune Arch Trail |
| Distance: |
.3 miles one way |
Rating: |
Easy |
| Elevation: |
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Total Ascent: |
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| Trailhead: |
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| Description: |
This trail is great for kids. ( Map ) |
| Skyline Arch Trail |
| Distance: |
.4 miles one way |
Rating: |
Easy |
| Elevation: |
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Total Ascent: |
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| Trailhead: |
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| Description: |
This is a walk over rocks to a closer view of this arch. |
| Tower Arch Trail |
| Distance: |
2.4 miles round trip |
Rating: |
Moderate |
| Elevation: |
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Total Ascent: |
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| Trailhead: |
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| Description: |
This trail passes through a remote section of the Klondike Bluffs. There are several sandy stretches with elevation changes. ( Map ) |
| Windows Loop Trail |
| Distance: |
1.25 mile loop |
Rating: |
Easy |
| Elevation: |
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Total Ascent: |
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| Trailhead: |
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| Description: |
This trail is to the North and South Windows and Turret Arch. ( Map ) |
| Windows Primitive Loop Trail |
| Distance: |
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Rating: |
Easy to Moderate |
| Elevation: |
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Total Ascent: |
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| Trailhead: |
At the Windows parking area. |
| Description: |
( Map ) |
Not Hiked
- Desert Nature Trail
- Lost Spring Canyon Trail
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