Things You Should Know Before Going to Arches National Park

Are you planning a trip to Utah and wondering if you should make the time to visit Arches National Park? Well I am here to share with you the things I think you need to know about visiting Arches National Park

But first let me tell you a little about the park to pique your interest.

Located in eastern Utah, Arches National Park is a stunning landscape of red rock formations, sandstone arches, and natural bridges. The park is home to over 2,000 sandstone arches, the largest concentration of arches in the world, making it a popular destination for photographers and nature lovers alike. In addition to its unique geology, Arches National Park also offers visitors plenty of activities, such as biking, hiking, camping, and backcountry exploration.

Now that I have your interest, let me tell you about our experience and some helpful tips.

Today, as I am writing this, you will need a timed entry “ticket” to enter the park. National Parks have gained a lot of popularity over the past couple years and using a timed entry model will hopefully make your experience much better without the hoards of people.

We visited at the end of September right after school started (we hoped to see less crowds) and the weather was still very, very hot. No matter where you go in Utah, you definitely need to bring plenty of water and stay hydrated!

a rare moment with no other tourists at the windows

If you are an avid hiker than you will enjoy the hike to Delicate Arch. Delicate arch is a stunning natural arch, and is arguably the most iconic and popular arch in all off Utah, I mean its the arch on all the liscense plates! If you want to see Delicate Arch there are two options for viewing, you can take the difficult 3 mile out and back hike. Or if that is not your thing you can drive out to a different angle for a view thats further away.

So. . . we decided to hike the 3 miles.

Watch my YouTube video all about how we spent our time at Arches National Park

I went in thinking this was an easy moderate hike, only later when I got back in the van did I realize that it was labeled as difficult. I felt so much better about myself! There is no shade on this hike. The only relief you get depending on the day is from the mountain/fin a few hundred feet away from the arch. But I thought it was completely worth it. I won’t lie there is a section of the hike where you are going up this sandstone bluff, which from far away looks scary, and slippery but does actually have a little grip. Once you have arrived at the arch I was surprised to see the sandstone somewhat slope in towards the center. Imagine one of those old coin donation contraptions where if you toss a coin in it will spiral towards the middle and eventually fall into the chamber below. That is almost what the scene looks like with the famed delicate arch on the rim. Thankfully the surrounding rock was made of sandstone because all I could think about was rolling down towards the center with maybe a 20ft drop. Some visitors lost a few water bottles. Not to scare you at all, and in fairness it’s not slippery its just that round things roll.

I plucked up the courage to go take a photo under the arch, I over heard an older gentleman maybe in his late 60’s early 70’s say that he was not going to do it, he was terrified of heights. With a little prodding and feeling left behind because his family left him at the ridge he first went to the arch, and I could here him under his breath saying that “Well if I die, I’ve lived a good life” And that is what gave me the courage to say I might not get the chance to visit again. So I left the safety of the ridge and made my way into the spiral slope. And I got my picture

If hiking is not your thing don’t worry there are plenty of arches you can visit even a few of them you can see from the road. There are over 2,000 after all, But I will just mention 4 stops.

The next stop you should make is panoramic arch. This arch is a ribbon of an arch barely holding itself together. It could collapse at any time which is why I think you should visit. This arch you do have to walk on a paved path for about a mile and a half but you get great relief of shade from some enormous fin shaped rocks (fins are “pre-arches’). See it before it collapses!

The next stop you should make, is to Sand Dune Arch. This is probably one of my favorites! You have to walk maybe a quarter mile on a paved path and maybe a few hundred feet through sand, but with the sandstone around you you feel like you are walking in a very lit cave with cool sand at your feet and then you come upon a little arch tucked away. A super cool spot, and popular with the family. A fun place to bring a shovel and pail.

And the last stop you should make is to the windows loop area. Here you get to see 4 arches and they’re super close to the parking lot. It was very busy when we got here around 1:30p so be prepared for a crowd. But I think it is a great spot to see some famous arches like the double arch without having to hike, if hiking is not your thing. You will also find the north and south window arches here and the turret arch which was, my favorite of the three and you get a great view of turret arch from the north window. Just grab a seat, take sip of water and marvel at the beauty!

As you can see visiting Arches National Park is an unforgettable experience! With the stunning red-rock formations, the incredible views of the desert landscape, and the peaceful and serene atmosphere, you will be sure to create memories that will last a lifetime. I only shared which arches I think you should visit, but there are plenty of activities to enjoy other than hiking. You can bike, go canyoneering, and rock climbing. You can also take a guided tour and learn about the history of the park, or take a scenic drive and enjoy amazing views of the natural arches and other formations. Arches National Park is an amazing place to get away from it all and enjoy the beauty of nature. So, why not come and experience all that Arches National Park has to offer?