10 Best Things to Do in Arches National Park

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Not sure what are the best things to do in Arches National Park on your Utah trip?

One of the things I love most about Arches National Park is that you can do pretty much all the major things to do within one day. While you can also spend multiple visits getting to know the park, if you are crunched on time then you can still get to enjoy the top sights without feeling like you are missing out on too much.

Daniel and I tried to fit as much as we could in on our trip to Moab. While we had a bit more time to explore than most visitors to the park, that doesn’t mean that we didn’t have some favorites that we saw while we were there. Also, you will need to keep in mind that Arches has a reservation system, so if you are entering at a certain time, it may be more difficult to see everything you want to.

Luckily, it’s a compact park, meaning that with this list in hand you can see some of the highlights and the hidden gems within a day or two depending on how much time you have to stop and what pace you are moving at.

In summary: This article covers the can’t-miss things to do in Arches, as well as some information on each thing to see and my top choices!

Quick tip: If you want more time to explore, make sure to enter before reservations are required at 7:00 am MT!

1. Delicate Arch

You would definitely be missing out if you chose to skip the park’s most famous attraction! In order to get up close and personal, you will need to embark on a 3.2-mile hike with 629 feet of elevation gain. If you are planning on visiting in the summer, bring your water and look to go in the morning or evening when it’s cooler.

You’re going to recognize the formation immediately since it’s on the Utah license plates, and as the most famous arch in the United States (and maybe the world), it’s worth it to wait in line to get a photo underneath–just expect to wait a while when the park is during its busy season.

Quick tip: If you are a photographer, consider visiting in the winter for some excellent shots of the arch covered in snow.

2. Devils Garden

This area is home to some of the best hikes in the park, as well as the equally-impressive arches that get overlooked by Delicate Arch. One of the things I love about Devils Garden is that it is kind of a choose-your-own-adventure. You can decide which arches you feel like seeing and hike as little or as much as you would like.

Other than Delicate Arch, this is where I would recommend you spend the majority of your time since there is a lot to see and if you plan on completionism and seeing all the arches and formations, it can take a while.

3. Park Avenue

One of the things I love about Park Avenue? I find it just as special as other areas of the park, but it’s often overlooked for the more well-known sights. It’s also my favorite way to end the day exploring since during the evening the tall formations offer some shade and it’s a bit cooler!

Be on the lookout for the Courthouse Towers, which are the main attraction of the Park Avenue area. You will need to embark on a short, 1.8-mile to see them, but it’s worth getting out of the air conditioned car to do so!

4. Arches National Park Scenic Drive

Perhaps the best part about this thing to do in Arches is that you are likely already doing it by being in the park. The Arches Scenic Drive runs from the visitor’s center to Devils Garden with plenty of stops for viewpoints along the way.

If you are booking it and there is no traffic, you can complete the drive within 45 minutes. However, if you want to stop and take a look at formations and hike, it will probably take the entire day!

5. Balanced Rock

This stop on the Arches Scenic Drive is pretty self-explanatory, but it is also super impressive. At 128 feet tall, the rock at the top appears to be “balancing” on a rock below. It’s actually an optical illusion–you have sandstone top and mudstone on the bottom. After some erosion, you have a formation that looks like it might fall down at any moment, but it’s unlikely to collapse soon!

I think we spent around 15 to 20 minutes walking around the base of the structure, and it shouldn’t take you much time to do so, either!

6. Fiery Furnace

Unfortunately, this is an activity that takes a little bit of planning if you would like to do it–and it’s absolutely worth doing if you can! You will need to sign up for a permit with a guided ranger hike, or a backcountry permit if you plan on doing it yourself.

Also keep in mind that it is not the easiest of adventures. It includes a lot of scrambling and tight spaces, so come fully prepared for an adventure if you choose to add this to your Arches itinerary.

Quick tip: Don’t feel like putting in the effort? I recommend checking out the viewpoint for a great photo and without the workout.

7. Garden of Eden

Located a little bit off the main road–you’ll need to take the Windows Road to get to this viewpoint–this quick stop is worth taking the time to visit in order to see the La Sal Mountains as a backdrop. You’ll see a number of neat hoodoos reminiscent of nearby Bryce Canyon National Park, and it’s not a super busy spot so it’s a good place to have the park to yourself.

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8. La Sal Mountains Viewpoint

Love those La Sal Mountains? Here’s another spot where you can get a wonderful view that’s perfect for capturing photos. If you are looking to escape the heat with a breeze, this is also the best place for that, as well.

This stop on the scenic drive should take you a total of ten minutes tops, but it’s well-worth it for the panoramic view of the mountains and red rock formations.

9. Lower Delicate Arch Viewpoint

Don’t feel like heading out on the Delicate Arch hike but still want a glimpse of this iconic Arches attraction? There is a way to see it without pulling on your hiking boots. The Lower Delicate Arch Viewpoint is located a little farther into the park and you will have to hike a short walk to see the main sight, but it’s a much shorter 0.6 miles to do so.

It’s also a lot less busy than the main hike, meaning you’re more likely to get a people-free view of Delicate Arch. It is pretty far away, so if you plan on taking photos, a telephoto lens might be the way to go here.

10. Landscape Arch

It’s hard to miss Landscape Arch when visiting the Devils Garden area of the park–it’s kind of the main thing to see while you’re here! From the parking lot, you’ll have a 1.6-mile stroll to get there, and it is a bit sandy so you’ll want to keep that in mind when choosing what footwear you’ll bring with you.

I also recommend filling up your refillable water bottle at the trailhead since that is the last place to get water in Devils Garden and it can get very hot. It’s so worth the effort as one of the longest natural arches in the world.

Conclusion

While it is hard to narrow it down to 10, I hope this list has helped you decide what you want to see and do when you are exploring Arches, as well prepare for what you should bring with you and how much time you’ll need to see the highlights. Again, one of the awesome perks of this park is you can catch all of these in one day if you plan on getting in early and staying late.

Have any questions about which things are best to do in Arches National Park? Let me know in the comments!