There are a number of hikes you can take in Utah’s awesome Arches National Park. They vary in length, terrain, and level of difficulty too. In order to help you work out your hiking itinerary, here are the 15 best hikes in Arches National Park.

The 15 Best Hikes In Arches National Park

The Best Hikes Under One Mile

Have a busy vacation schedule? Not a real hiker? Here are some Arches National Park hikes with a total distance of one mile or less.  

1. The Double Arch Hike

This easy “hike” is only half a mile in total. The trail is semi-paved. Veteran visitors consider this a favorite in terms of short hikes because it takes you right to the impressive Double Arch. Mind you, if you want a little exercise, climb up one of these famous arches and enjoy the view. You will not be disappointed!

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 Balanced Rock Hike

This stroll to rugged Balanced Rock hardly even qualifies as a hike. The total distance is an easy three-tenths of a mile, and the trail is paved. Here you walk around the entire perimeter of this striking rock formation. Enjoy this brief stroll. 

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The Skyline Arch Hike

The Skyline Arch Hike is an easy hike that has a total distance of just under a half mile. The trail is sandy and a little rocky. It not only takes you quickly to the Skyline Arch but also serves as a fun little detour for those who prefer mainly driving through this beautiful American national park.  

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The Windows Trail 

The Windows Trail is a wonderful way for people short on time yet still hoping to see multiple arches. This is an easy 0.7-mile loop trail that will give you access to three different arches including the tremendous Turret Arch, the North Window Arch, and the South Window Arch. Much of the trail is semi-paved as well although you really should make the extra effort to get closer to the arches now that you’re here! (If you take what some call the brief “primitive trail” on your way back to your vehicle, it will make your hike a bit longer).

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The Sand Dune Arch Hike

This is a kid-friendly, easy, 0.4-mile, heavily trafficked hiking trail. It is uniquely located and thus a favorite of families who hike here. It takes you directly to an impressive arch tucked away in a sleek slot canyon.  

Indeed, both the arch itself and the surrounding area is coated with this incredibly smooth sand. In fact, the sand is so smooth it would make some beaches on the planet envious. The entire area is also shaded so that’s another plus. It’s a nice place to cool off and catch your breath before hiking in more challenging areas of the park.

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Delicate Arch Upper Viewpoint Hike

This hike is ideal for anyone who wants to see the park’s most famous arch without actually hiking to it. This viewpoint will give you a look at it. The trail is only half a mile long, but it’s uneven, rocky, a little steep, and there is no shade.   

The experts note that for its length it is still “fairly strenuous.” Some also say that there’s not a significant difference between the view from the Upper Viewpoint and the view from the popular Delicate Arch Lower Viewpoint, which is just a 100-yard stroll on a paved path from the parking area. So, if you don’t like this uneven, rocky climb, short as it is, don’t stress it.  

A Few Fun 1-3 Mile Arches National Park Hikes

The following official Arches National Park hikes feature some of the park’s most iconic arches.

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The Delicate Arch Hike

Hiking to Delicate Arch is not an easy feat. Some veteran visitors say completing this difficult hike on a windy day makes it even harder. It’s three miles long and has an elevation of 480 feet. There’s not a lot of shade here either.  

The hike not only includes a steep climb up a hill of loose sandstone, but also a narrow section with a high wall on one side and a drop on the other. As you approach the end of the hike, you’ll see another arch to your left. It’s called the Twisted Doughnut Arch. Climb and look through it to get a perfect view of Delicate Arch.

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The Park Avenue Hike

It doesn’t include an arch, but stunning Park Avenue is still well worth the visit. The hike is between one and two miles depending on how you plan your adventure. Those in the know suggest beginning the hike at the top and hiking towards the well-known Courthouse Towers since the views as you descend are exceptional. The National Park Service suggests if you decide to hike back up to your vehicle, that you stick to the trail and avoid the actual road. On the other hand, if you arrange to be picked up at the trail’s end, it’s just one easy downhill mile.

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The Broken Arch Hike

Just to clarify, the famous Broken Arch isn’t broken. It’s just cracked. It’s just an easy, 1.3-mile hike across an open field to see it too.  

You’ll also be able to enjoy great views of the lovely La Sal Mountains. You should actually climb through the arch for the very best views. You can combine this tiny trek with that of Sand Dune Arch too since they both use the same trailhead.

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The Landscape Arch Hike

Impressive Landscape Arch is 306 feet in length and (in some spots) only seven feet wide. It’s one of the most popular arches in the park. This easy 1.6-mile-long hike to the arch is along a packed trail. Mind you, if you have the time there are a couple of potential side trips you can make here as well. As this is being written, this arch is behind a fence in order to preserve and protect it.  

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 The Pine Tree Arch Hike

If you don’t have a lot of time, you can see Pine Tree Arch on a short, solo hike or include it as a side trip when you visit Landscape Arch. Check out the desert view through its center! If you have time for another short detour, go see Tunnel Arch too. (Take the fairly easy one-mile trail to see Pine Tree Arch as a fast standalone hike, if need be.

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The Navajo Arch And Partition Arch Hike

A lot of hikers combine hiking to this pair of arches with a hike around the Devils Garden, as they’re found past Landscape Arch but before the Double O Arch. Even if you are not up to hiking all the way to Double O, it’s worth the effort to go past Landscape Arch to see Navajo Arch and Partition Arch. You can see all three arches in three miles. It’s not an easy trek and there is some rock scrambling involved.

Some Longer Hikes in Arches National Park

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The Double O Arch Hike

Some claim that the rugged beauty of this arch is almost overshadowed by the hike itself. The trail here, especially the section between Double O Arch and Landscape Arch, is both memorable and invigorating. It features fantastic views of the La Sal Mountains and the surrounding area. The journey to and from Double O Arch is over four miles, and you will be hiking along high ledges, and doing a bit of rock scrambling too.

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The Fiery Furnace Hike

This is a unique hike. You can only complete it with a permit or on a ranger-led hike. While exploring this natural maze of slot canyons and rugged rock fins is fun, this is a difficult hike.

The ranger-led hike is 2 miles long and takes approximately three hours from start to finish. Keep in mind that you’ll need to use both your hands and your feet to navigate the canyons and be okay with tight spaces in order to master this maze. Don’t be confused by its name though, as this place gets significantly more shade than most of the trails here and is thus literally one of the coolest hikes here.

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The Devils Garden Trail

This trail, plus the optional section of the popular Primitive Trail, which might include a detour to Private Arch, is the Park’s longest. Several arches listed here can be found on the Devils Garden trail, including Pine Tree Arch, Navajo Arch, Landscape Arch, and Double O Arch. Indeed, if you decide to hike the entire trail, including all the optional side trips, you will see a total of seven arches.  

This complete 7.2-mile hike includes sun exposure, some ledges, and some rock scrambling too. None of these hikes specifically require any special equipment or expert technical knowledge. Still, you will need to remember to pack the essentials and follow all the hiking tips you would need on any other hike!  

Do you have any favorite hikes in Arches National Park? Let us know! As always, fellow hikers: Happy Trails!

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