5 Best Hikes You Need to Take at Arches National Park

Arches National Park is excited to welcome you into the adventure of a lifetime. Located in southern Utah and founded in 1929 as a national monument, Arches covers over 76,000 acres of beautiful land surrounded by naturally-formed red rocks. You will see some of the most diverse desert wildlife here alongside a lot of different plant life. 

With some of the country's most incredible natural stone arches (over 2000 of them!), stunning views of the night sky thanks to no light pollution, and excellent hiking trails that allow you to learn about this area's history, Arches National Park is the perfect camping getaway.

With over 45 hiking trails in Arches, we ranked some of our favorite beautiful scenic routes that you need to get out and see.

5. Park Avenue Trail

We wanted to highlight Park Avenue Trail because it is very different from most other trails in Arches. Don't expect to see any natural rock arches here, but you will walk through a stunning canyon located just down the road from Arches National Park Visitor Center. 

This is one of the first trails visitors see when they enter the park. Try to hike Park Avenue at sunrise or sunset to see the sunlight create a warm, orange glow on the canyon walls. 

Total Distance: 1.8 Miles
Elevation Gain: 298 Feet
Difficulty: Easy - Walking, Running, Hiking
Route Type: Out & Back
Other Info:
This Arches National Park trail requires a park pass to enter. For more information and the costs of a park pass, click here.

4. Wolfe Ranch and Petroglyph Trail

Take a trip through history on this short but fantastic trail. Perfect for the little ones, this trail can be completed in 15-20 mins and gives you a taste of what it was like to live on this land long ago.

See Wolfe Ranch, a simple cabin built at the beginning of the 20th century by John Wesley Wolfe. As you continue past the ranch, you go further back in time as you come across petroglyphs. Created by carving into rocks to create shapes, these were most likely created by humans between 1650 and1850 CE.


Total Distance: 0.4 Miles
Elevation Gain: 19 Feet
Difficulty: Easy - Walking, Hiking
Route Type: Loop
Other Info:
This Arches National Park trail requires a park pass to enter. For more information and the costs of a park pass, click here.
Please don’t touch the petroglyphs, as we want future generations to be able to enjoy them.

3. Devils Garden

Located near the end of the park, Devils Garden is one of the most challenging trails in Arches National Park. Devils Garden gives some genuinely incredible sights of the land. You will see some colossal rock arches on your journey, including Landscape Arch, one of the longest rock arches in the world.

Many other arches have fallen in Devils Garden as the weather changes the land here over time or in an instant. So make sure to prepare yourself for this hike. You will be doing some climbing over rocks as you enjoy seeing what else lies ahead on this long trail.


Total Distance: 7.8 Miles
Elevation Gain: 1085 Feet
Difficulty: Hard - Hiking
Route Type: Loop
Other Info:
This Arches National Park trail requires a park pass to enter. For more information and the costs of a park pass, click here.
This area is subject to seasonal closure due to weather conditions; check here for updates.
Recommended to start this trail early due to length.

2. Double Arch Trail

A short but stunning trail that takes you to not one but two huge rock arches. This sandy trail gives you an up-close look at the arches, and while uphill sections can be tiring, this is a short and family-friendly trail.

Wondering how big the largest arch is? Take a guess then scroll down to Other Info to find the answer.

Total Distance: 0.6 Miles
Elevation Gain: 95 Feet
Difficulty: Easy - Hiking, Walking
Route Type: Out & Back
Other Info:
This Arches National Park trail requires a park pass to enter. For more information and the costs of a park pass, click here.
This trail can get busy, and the parking lot fills up quickly. Recommended to go early or late to avoid overcrowding.
The tallet arch stands at 112 feet and 144 feet long. Please don’t climb on the arches; it is not safe.

1. Delicate Arch Trail

Easily the most popular trail in the entire park because it includes the most recognizable landmark in all of Utah. Also known as the “Cowboy's Chaps” or “Salt Wash Arch,” Delicate Arch stands 46 feet tall and 32 feet wide. Most park visitors have already seen the arch hundreds of times if they’ve looked at Utah’s license plates.

Expect this trail to be hectic, and while you might have to wait a bit to see it, Delicate Arch is well worth the wait. Make sure to bring lots of water as this trail doesn't provide much shade throughout the hike.

Total Distance: 3.1 Miles
Elevation Gain: 629 Feet
Difficulty: Moderate - Hiking
Route Type: Out & Back
Other Info:
This Arches National Park trail requires a park pass to enter. For more information and the costs of a park pass, click here.
This trail can get busy, and the parking lot fills up quickly. Recommended to go early or late to avoid overcrowding.
Please don’t climb on the arches; it is not safe.

We hope you experience one or all of these fantastic trails. Arches National Park has many trails to experience during your stay. So whether it's one day or one week, check out what else the park has to offer by clicking the link below and plan your trip to Arches National Park today!