The park also boasts an abundance of towering pinnacles, rock fin formations, and balanced rocks that seem to defy the laws of gravity. The park also graces visitors with views of unbelievable rock formations on a grandiose scale. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more stunning set of Arch formations anywhere on the planet.
Arches has activities for every member of the family. From relaxing scenic drives to day hikes, or rock climbing for those who live on the edge (literally), the Park truly has it all. In this article, we’ll discuss the top 5 activities most visitors enjoy when visiting this surreal National Park.
1. Scenic Drives
The park contains multiple paved scenic roads for vehicles to travel on. The scenic road passes through many popular points of interest in the park. The drive is perfect for those who maybe aren’t the “hiking” type or for those who want a quick tour of the park within 1.5 to 4.5 hours.
Crunched for time when visiting? No problem! It’s possible to see some of the most impressive viewpoints on the drive in less than 1.5 hours. You can drive to the section of the park that contains “The Windows”; a collection of some of the biggest Arches in the park. If possible, add another half hour to enjoy a walk underneath Double Arch or North Window.
You could also take a drive to Delicate Arch Viewpoint and hike the trail to see the World’s most recognized, and arguably most beautiful arch. You could also take a quick minute to stop at nearby Wolfe Ranch to see a cabin constructed in 1906 that was used by settlers in the area.
If you have 3 hours, it’s doable to do both The Windows and Delicate Arch Viewpoint. If you have 4.5 to 5 hours, you take a drive on all of the park’s paved roads. But make sure you set aside time to see The Windows section and Delicate Arch as they are easily the most impressive sights in the park.
2. Hiking
Arches National Park contains a variety of hiking trails ranging from easy, moderate, to strenuous. The majority of them though are easy to moderate.
Some easy hikes include Balanced Rock Viewpoint and Trail, Double Arch Viewpoint and Trail, Landscape Arch Trail, The Windows Viewpoint and Trail, Skyline Arch Trail, Sand Dune Arch Trail, Broken Arch Trail, and Courthouse Wash Panel Trail. Most of these hikes range from 10 to 60 minutes to complete and have an elevation change of only 0 feet at the least and 171 at the most.
Two moderate trails include Courthouse Towers Viewpoint and Trailhead and Park Avenue Viewpoint and Trail. Each takes about an hour and has an elevation change of around 322 feet. More strenuous hikes include Devils Garden Trail, Delicate Arch Trail, Tower Arch Trail, and Fiery Furnace Viewpoint. The more challenging hikes may take anywhere from 2–5 hours to complete and have considerable elevation change, up to 538 feet.
3. Photography
Arches is truly a landscape photographer’s paradise. The abundance of stunning rock formations coupled with vibrant contrasting colors makes the park a prime location for taking spectacular pictures. A large amount of towering sandstone rock formations present in the park allow you to typically find a good angle for lighting within your photograph.
Because of the large number of rock formations with varying angles in this park particularly, a good photograph is easy to take at any time of the day. However, if you want a great photograph, it’s best to shoot in the early morning and late afternoon as this is when the best photographic light is present.
During these times, there is a much lower angle of light which gives your photos greater depth and contrast. The warm light of the desert helps intensify the red-orange hue of the rocks which makes for excellent photos.
4. Stargazing
The National Parks within the Colorado Plateau contains a portion of the darkest skies left within the contiguous 48 United States. Arches is no different. Its location away from urbanized areas filled with light pollution makes it one of the ultimate places to view stars at night. The park was even recognized in 2019 as an official international Dark Sky Park.
The best time to view the night sky is when the moon is below the horizon or when there is a new moon. Even a little sliver of moonlight is enough to make it hard to see the Milky Way and its stars. Allow yourself time for your eyes to get used to the dark. Make sure you take some time away from bright lights to help your eyes adjust faster.
It’s also a good idea to bring a star chart to aid you in finding constellations and stars within the Milky Way. The skies will get darker when you drive further from Moab as the lights of the city are left behind. The most ideal areas to view the sky are off the main road away from any objects or rock formations that may impede your view.
5. Ranger-led programs and tours
Throughout the Spring, Summer, and Fall Park Rangers and volunteers usually offer several varying programs and tours. The type of program, the time they are held, and their location are different throughout the year and can be subject to change depending on weather conditions and additional factors.
One popular tour is the late afternoon Windows Guided Walk Tour. This tour starts at 5 pm and lasts for around 45–60 minutes. This is a free guided tour from one of the Park’s Rangers who take you through the Windows Section of the park which contains the park’s highest concentration of natural stone arches.
The Park also frequently hosts Campground Evening Programs at Devils Garden Campground Amphitheater. Rangers discuss numerous aspects and topics about the park that changes daily. These programs typically last 45–60 minutes and are usually held at 9 pm.
Recap of the 5 best activities in Arches National Park
- Fabulous Scenic drives on the park’s paved roads
- A multitude of hiking trails for all skill levels
- A chance to photograph a landscape like no other
- Spectacular stargazing opportunities
- Informative and fun Ranger-led tours and programs
Hopefully, this article helped you get an idea of what kind of stuff there is to do at Arches. There truly isn’t a shortage of activities here, and thankfully there’s something for every member of the family to do! So what are you waiting for? Plan a trip to this one-of-a-kind National Park ASAP!