Best Hikes in Arches National Park: Trails, Tips & Maps

Park Avenue

The Park Avenue Trail is one of the first designated points of interest upon entering the Park. Opt for just the Viewpoint, or descend this two-mile trail  through the bottom of canyon where it meets the park road at the base of Courthouse Towers, The Gossips, and the Tower of Babel. If you have a shuttle driver, you can be picked up at the end of the walk in the Courthouse Towers viewpoint.

• Distance/Time: 1.8 mi (shuttle A to B recommended), 1 hr
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Best Time: Morning or late afternoon
• Parking & Trailhead Directions 

Balanced Rock

One of the park’s most famous landmarks, Balanced Rock sits atop a slender pedestal, appearing precariously perched. A short, paved loop circles the formation, making it an accessible stop for all visitors. This quick hike is great for photos, especially at sunset when the rock glows.

• Distance/Time: 0.3 miles loop, 15-20 minutes
• Difficulty: Easy
• Best Time: Sunset for best color
• Parking & Trailhead Directions 

The Windows & Turret Arch

One of the more popular features of Arches National Park. This area is featured in the opening scene of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The hike from the parking lot to each arch follows an easy gravel trail that leads to one fin, which houses two arches.

The Windows Section is a popular area, so finding a parking spot can be challenging. Check out our Guided Arches National Park Tours, where you enjoy the park—and skip the parking.

• Distance/Time: 0.75 miles round trip, 60 minutes
• Difficulty: Easy
• Best Time: Late afternoon or early morning
• Parking & Trailhead Directions 

Double Arch (in Windows Section)

One of the more popular features of Arches National Park. This area is featured in the opening scene of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The hike is an easy gravel trail leading to one fin which houses two arches.

The Windows Section is popular, so finding a parking spot can be difficult. A great reason to plug our Guided Bus/Van Tours where you enjoy the park, and skip the parking.

• Distance/Time: 0.5 miles round trip, 30 minutes
• Difficulty: Easy
• Best Time: Late afternoon for great photos
• Parking & Trailhead Directions 

Delicate Arch

The icon of the American Southwest is found at the end of a steadily inclining trail along exposed slickrock with a narrow rock ledge. You need to be prepared for this 3 mile hike. This challenging hike will reward your efforts once you get to this incredible arch. It’s no wonder this is the symbol on Utah’s license plate and commemorated in the America the Beautiful Quarters Program. Be sure to make a quick stop at the old Wolf Ranch before you start your hike.

• Distance/Time: 3 miles round trip, 2-3 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous (steep inclines, no shade)
• Best Time: Early morning or late afternoon
• Parking & Trailhead Directions 

Fiery Furnace Viewpoint

Fiery Furnace is a labyrinth of narrow sandstone fins, hidden arches, and slot-like passages that require careful navigation. Permits or ranger-guided tours are required, ensuring both safety and preservation of the fragile landscape. It’s an adventurous option for those seeking a more rugged, off-trail experience. The viewpoint, however, is just a short stroll from the parking lot.

• Distance/Time: About 2 miles, 2–3 hours
• Difficulty: Strenuous, requires scrambling
• Best Time: When your permit says to
• Directions to Viewpoint

Sand Dune Arch

This is not just a kid favorite but an adult favorite too. The hike is simple and short, but the exploring opportunities are endless. A small slot canyon sets the tone for this intriguing and fun walk. What's great is the guaranteed shade in this narrow, sandy alcove. If you get the right angle you may spot the shape in the arch of two seals kissing!

• Distance/Time: 0.3 miles round trip, 15-30 minutes
• Difficulty: Easy
• Best Time: Mostly shady all day
• Parking & Trailhead Directions 

Skyline Arch

Visible from the road, Skyline Arch is perched high in a sandstone wall and has one of the park’s most dramatic stories: in 1940, a massive rockfall doubled the size of its opening. A short, easy trail leads closer to its base, making it a quick and rewarding stop. Its lofty position against the sky makes it especially photogenic in morning or late-day light.

• Distance/Time: 0.4 miles round trip, 15-30 minutes
• Difficulty: Easy
• Best Time: Morning or evening for great lighting
• Parking & Trailhead Directions 

Landscape Arch

This impossibly thin ribbon of stone stretches more than 290 feet across the sky—making it one of the longest natural arches in the world. The trail winds gently through a maze of sandstone fins before revealing the arch’s graceful curve, balanced delicately above the desert floor. It’s an awe-inspiring sight that feels both fragile and eternal.

• Distance/Time: 1.9 miles round trip, 1 hour
• Difficulty: Easy (moderately longer)
• Best Time: Year-round; best light in the morning
• Parking & Trailhead Directions 

Partition Arch

This dramatic formation features two arches stacked on top of each other—one large and one small—creating a unique double window through the rock. The trail to reach it is adventurous, with narrow ledges, slickrock scrambles, and stunning views of the surrounding fins. It’s one of the most rewarding hikes in Arches for those prepared for a challenge.

• Distance/Time: 4.1 miles round trip, 2-3 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous (exposed slickrock, ledges)
• Best Time: Spring and Fall; early morning in summer
• Parking & Trailhead Directions 

Pine Tree Arch and Tunnel Arch

Just off the Devils Garden Trail, these two arches make for a rewarding, easy side trip. Pine Tree Arch offers a broad opening framed by desert greenery, while nearby Tunnel Arch is a narrow window carved high into a sandstone wall. Together, they’re a quick but memorable stop before continuing on to Landscape Arch.

• Distance/Time: 1 mile round trip, 30-45 minutes
• Difficulty: Easy
• Best Time: Pair this hike with your hike to Landscape Arch
• Parking & Trailhead Directions 

Broken Arch

Despite its name, Broken Arch isn’t actually broken. Instead, it spans gracefully across a sandy meadow surrounded by fins and desert grasses. The hike is a pleasant stroll from the Sand Dune Arch parking area or can be done as part of a loop connecting to Tapestry Arch and the Devils Garden Campground. Its quiet setting makes it a great choice for those seeking fewer crowds.

• Distance/Time: 2 miles round trip, 1-1.5 hours
• Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
• Best Time: Morning or evening for great lighting
• Parking & Trailhead Directions 

Devil's Garden Primitive Loop

For adventurous hikers, the Primitive Loop extends beyond Landscape Arch into some of the most rugged and rewarding terrain in the park. This route requires scrambling, navigating uneven slickrock, and crossing sandy washes, but it delivers solitude and encounters with unique arches like Private Arch, Double O Arch, Partition Arch, and Navajo Arch. The Primitive Loop combines challenge with incredible scenery, offering a true backcountry feel inside Arches.

• Distance/Time: Full loop ~ 7.2 miles, 4-5 hours
• Difficulty: Strenuous (route finding, scrambling)
• Best Time: Spring and fall; avoid midday heat in summer
• Parking & Trailhead Directions 

Double O Arch

This dramatic formation features two arches stacked on top of each other—one large and one small—creating a unique double window through the rock. The trail to reach it is adventurous, with narrow ledges, slickrock scrambles, and stunning views of the surrounding fins. It’s one of the most rewarding hikes in Arches for those prepared for a challenge.

• Distance/Time: 4.1 miles round trip, 2-3 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous (exposed slickrock, ledges)
• Best Time: Spring and Fall; early morning in summer
• Parking & Trailhead Directions 

Tower Arch

Requiring a 4WD or high clearance vehicle, Tower Arch is tucked away in the park’s Klondike Bluffs section. Tower Arch is a less-traveled gem framed by towering sandstone fins. The hike offers a more secluded experience with sweeping desert views and fewer crowds than Arches’ main trails. Reaching the arch requires some sandy climbs and slickrock scrambles, but the payoff is a massive arch in a peaceful setting.

• Distance/Time: 3.4 miles round trip, 2-3 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate - 4WD required
• Best Time: Spring and fall; avoid hot temperatures
• Parking & Trailhead Directions