One of the most memorable National Park memories I have was driving into Arches. Coming from the east coast of the United States, we had never seen a landscape like the one we saw there. The red rocks were otherworldly; we truly felt like we were on another planet. This park really kicked off our love of exploring. If you want to read more about our full experience in Utah, you can check out my blog post here!
Visiting in September was really nice. The days were still pretty hot, in the high 80s/low 90s, but the nights cooled down. Plan to hit the trails early and bring plenty of water. Sunscreen, sun shirts and hats are also great to have on hand. Also, the earlier you get to the park, the better your chances are at getting parking spots at popular trailheads! Make sure to check the National Park Service website to see if there are any closures or if timed entry is required.
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝: September 2021
𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: November 12, 1971
𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Moab, Utah
𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤 F𝐞𝐞: $15-$30 or use the America the Beautiful annual pass
Hike Recommendations:
- Easy Hikes
- Balanced Rock – This is a very easy trail to see one of the most famous rock features in the park. Parking is limited
- Click here for AllTrails
- 0.3 miles, 45 ft. elevation gain
- Double Arch & Windows Loop – This was probably our favorite hike we did. We loved being able to scramble around under the arches and admire the geological features.
- Click here for AllTrails
- 1.9 miles, 289 ft. elevation gain
- Balanced Rock – This is a very easy trail to see one of the most famous rock features in the park. Parking is limited
- Moderate Hikes
- Landscape Arch – This is a beautiful out and back trail to the arch with the longest span/opening in North America (306 feet wide)! If you wanted to do a longer hike, you could continue this trail to complete the Devils Garden Primitive Loop.
- Click here for AllTrails
- 1.9 miles, 252 ft. elevation gain
- Landscape Arch – This is a beautiful out and back trail to the arch with the longest span/opening in North America (306 feet wide)! If you wanted to do a longer hike, you could continue this trail to complete the Devils Garden Primitive Loop.
- Hikes I want to do but haven’t yet
- Delicate Arch – this was my biggest regret, we had heard there was a spot with upper and lower viewpoints of the arch without dealing with the crowds on the actual hike but we could barely see anything at the viewpoints. Next time I’m doing the hike!
- Devils Garden Primitive Loop
Things to see and do in and near the park
- Take a scenic drive – The drive into Arches National Park is one of the most memorable. Take your time on the 18 mile drive and enjoy all the sights. There are plenty of spots to pull over for pictures.
- Explore BLM land – We loved the Corona and Bowtie Arch trail (dog friendly, 2.4 miles, pit toilets available, no shade) but there are many other places to check out for hiking and rock climbing.
- Dead Horse Park State Park – Go for sunset! You can also camp here too.
- Canyonlands National Park – Itinerary coming soon!
- Check out Moab’s newest bike path – The Moab Canyon Pathway is a beautiful paved path for bikers, joggers and walkers alike.
- Try a new activity – Moab is an outdoor lovers paradise! There are so many different activities available in the city – horseback riding, rafting, biking, off-roading, fishing – you name it, Moab probably offers it!
Lodging suggestions:
- Red Stone Inn – We stayed here when we were in Moab, it was right in downtown and we were able to walk to restaurants and stores.
- if we went back we’d either want to camp in the park at Devils Garden Campground or at one of the campsites closer to downtown. There are so many hotel, camping and glamping options though! Downtown Moab is close to Arches so you really can’t go wrong wherever you stay.
Suggestions on food/drinks/shop:
- Moab Brewing Company – Large brewery downtown with a food menu and huge gift shop with merchandise!
- Back of Beyond Books – I adored this store! It’s not just books, but gifts and local art too.
- Spitfire Smokehouse – Cold beers and barbecue, what more could you ask for after a long day of exploring?
I’m definitely not done with Arches National Park. Now that we’re more experienced with camping, I’d love to go back to do that there. I was enamored with Moab too and I can’t wait to go back eventually 🙂 I hope this guide helps you start planning your Arches trip!
📍I acknowledge the lands mentioned in this post are the ancestral lands of the Diné Bikéyah, Timpanogos and Núu-Agha-Tʉvʉ-Pʉ̱ (Ute) people.
The Adventures of Suze 
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