How to Hike to Navajo Arch in Arches National Park + Tips & FAQs
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Looking to visit Navajo Arch while visiting Arches National Park?
While all of the arches in Arches National Park are amazing in their own way, I have a particular fondness for Navajo Arch. It’s one of the quieter arches in the Devils Garden area, and it’s unique because it has a pine tree growing right underneath the arch itself. I found it incredibly peaceful after a long day of exploring!
However, you do need to have a sense of where it is in Devils Garden in order to access it, and you need to know whether or not you are planning on taking the Primitive Trail to get there. Plus, there is a bit of scrambling on slick rock that you should be aware of–bring your hiking boots or trail runners!
We’ll go over how you can get to this spot and what you should expect when you are taking on this hike in Arches–it’s definitely a highlight for me in Devils Garden!
In summary: This guide will cover how to get to the trailhead for Navajo Arch, trail information, some tips for taking on the hike, and some common FAQs.
Quick tip: Be sure to check the weather report so you know if there has been flash flooding in the area or if you are likely to run into a storm when you’re hiking!
Quick stats
Distance: 2.9 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation gain: 492 feet
Time on trail: 1 1/2 hours
How to hike to Navajo Arch
The hike to Navajo Arch starts at the Devils Garden parking lot at the far northern end of the park. While you can do this hike solely just to get to Navajo Arch, most visitors do it as a full loop through the Devils Garden area. However, it just depends on how long you would like to spend in this area and how difficult of a hike you want.
In order to get to Navajo Arch, you’ll be passing several other of the most famous arches in the park, including Tunnel Arch, Pine Tree Arch, and Landscape Arch. If you decide to stop and admire these, it will take a bit more time to finish–but I would definitely factor that in while you’re on the trail anyway.
Once you reach Landscape Arch, the trail will become a bit more difficult, and you will be dealing with some slick rock and some minor scrambling. This is nothing too strenuous, but you’ll want to make sure you have some decent footwear and you take your time. While we hiked this during a less-busy time of year in October, I could see it being more stressful when dealing with crowds.
Keep on the lookout for the Navajo Arch Spur Trail–this is where you will want to turn in order to get to Navajo Arch. Even though this doesn’t require a ton of backcountry navigation, it doesn’t hurt to have a map downloaded from AllTrails or another hiking app so you know you’re on the right track.
Once you reach Navajo Arch, you’ll know you’ve reached it when you see a pine tree growing underneath the arch. Honestly, I found this spot such a haven from the crowds, and Daniel and I took several minutes to enjoy this area before heading on to the next arch.
After you have enjoyed some time at Navajo, you can continue on the Primitive Trail to see other formations in the Devils Garden area (just make sure you are prepared–it’s a lot tougher and requires route finding), or head back the way you came.
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Map of the Navajo Arch trail
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Tips for hiking to Navajo Arch
Here are some tips I found helpful when Daniel and I hiked to Navajo Arch.
- Bring plenty of water: No matter what time of year or day you choose to visit, you’re probably going to want to bring more water than you think you will need. For Navajo Arch, I would recommend at least a liter.
- Hike in the morning: As with all the hikes in Arches, I recommend shooting for the morning since not only will the trails be less busy, but the temperature will be better. If you can, getting in before reservations for Arches are required at 7:00 am is ideal.
- Go into the Primitive Trail prepared: If you are planning on using the Primitive Trail to get to Navajo Arch, then I definitely recommend you have an app that can help you find your route. Don’t forget to bring more food and water too!
Navajo Arch FAQs
Here are some commonly-asked questions I often get about hiking to Navajo Arch.
Navajo Arch is located in the northern area of the park in the Devils Garden area. I’ve included a map below so you have some reference of where you can find it.
Since the Navajo Arch hike isn’t very long and doesn’t have a lot of elevation gain, I would say that it is good for most kids over the age of six. There is some scrambling, so I do recommend that kids have some hiking experience before taking this on.
I recommend getting up early in the morning, especially if you only have one day in Arches to explore. I personally think the best time to visit Arches is in the fall, but spring can be equally as lovely and is less busy.
Another way to reach Navajo Arch is to hike the Primitive Trail in Devils Garden. Daniel and I hiked this trail and while we enjoyed it, we were not prepared for a hike with route finding. If you are up for adventure and have a hiking app with a map downloaded, go for it! Just know that it does require more planning and it is much more strenuous than the regular hike.
Conclusion
Navajo Arch was one of my favorite stops in Devils Garden, and I found it worth the hike in order to reach it. Plus, you get to see some of the park’s other famous arches along the way, so it’s a no-brainer of whether or not you should take the time to stop here. Just make sure to bring your water and know which route you are taking in advance!
Have any questions about hiking to Navajo Arch? Let me know in the comments!
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