Arches National Park in one day

You cannot come to Utah and not visit Arches National Park. This red rock filled paradise is home to over 2000 natural arches and is a photographers dream. There is so much to do in Arches National Park but if you only have one day, here are the top things not to miss.

How to get here

Arches National Park is 3.5 hours, 29 miles from Salt Lake City Utah and 5.5 hours, 350 miles from Denver Colorado. These are the two most popular places people come in from.

Entering into Arches National Park

To get into the park there is an entrance fee of 30.00 per car, 25.00 per motorcycle and 15.00 per person if you come in via foot or bicycle. Under 15 gets in free. Now this is a National Park so if you have your pass it works here. To get your pass online here is the link for the Annual National Park Pass

There is also a 2.00 fee for a time entry ticket, a reservation which you must have. This ticket is required to enter the park between April 3–October 3, 2022, between the hours of 6am and 5pm

Here is a little secret that most do not know. If you enter the park before 6am or after 5pm you do not need a timed entry. However, if you plan to enter the park between those times you will need to register a time slot. You will have to go online to pick your time. These fill up fast about 3 months ahead, but they do however have a few more that they let go the night prior at 6pm.

What to bring with you

Water and snacks. Water is a must, no matter how short your hike is. You are at high elevations and the air is very dry. Be sure to bring a lot of water or a hydration pack. Snacks are a great item as well. You will be burning those calories so bring some pepperoni sticks and some energy bars. If you are planning to be here for the day bring lunch with you. Check the weather before you go as the mornings can be chilly and by afternoon hit the high 80’s or higher, dress for this and bring change of clothing. Also don’t forget your camera!!

Warm clothing and light clothing. The temperatures range throughout the day. It will start quite cool and end warm to hot. Be sure to bring layers with you not to freeze or overheat.

Trail maps are always a good thing to bring. All trails has a great app to use while in the park. Most of the trails are marked well but you do want to get lost.

A flashlight and first aid kit. If you are planning to catch the sunrise or sunset from any of the trails a flashlight is a must. Safety is and should always be a priority so be sure to bring a small first aid kit with you.

Plan a trip to The Narrows at Zion National Park

Sunscreen is another must as well as a hat. White is always a great color to wear in the summer months.

Places to visit in Arches National Park

Double Arch in Arches National Park is mind blowing. The size, the structure and all brought to you by mother nature. This short hike of 0.6 miles to the arches is well worth the hoards of people. You can take the well groomed trail as we did or you can hike right up under the arch.

The North and South Window Arches are another short hike at just 1 mile with lovely views. Don’t have the means to get up close and personal? You can see both from the parking area. There are a few trails from this lot, plan for a couple hours if you want to visit all the arches from this spot.

Garden of Eden is a great spot to park and enjoy a relaxing view of the park. This is a small parking lot but is worth the stop for the stunning views. We stopped here because of our friend Eden, who you may remember from my hike in Banff.

Balanced Rock is Arches National Park can be seen right from the road and has a few spots around to stop and see it. From the main parking area you are able to walk up. The loop trail around the rock is only 0.3 miles and has 35 feet of elevation change. There is also a picnic area near by for a stop for lunch or dinner.

Delicate Arch is worth the strenuous 3 mile hike. It may not seem like a lot at first, but in the summer sun with no shade on the trail, it is difficult. Now, I’m not in the greatest of shape, and I made it. So if I can do it so can you. The trail will take you about a hour and 30 min to get up, of course with stops, and about 30 min to get down. This is a great place to go for sunrise or sunset but make our you bring a flashlight or headlamp with you. The top portion of the trail has a very narrow path with a steep drop. Also if you are bringing your kids with you please keep them close. Do not forget to bring your water, and lots of it, as well as your sunscreen.

Trails to go on if you have more time

Easy Trails

Nature Trail – this 150 foot trail is short and sweet with no elevation

Sand Dune Arch – at only 0.4 mile you could do this trail in less than 30 min

Broken Arch – is a little longer at 1.4 miles with a elevation gain of 59 feet

Skyline Arch – at 0.4 miles this out and back trail has a gain of 28 feet

Landscape Arch – located at the devils garden this 1.8 mile this hard packed trail should be on your list

Courthouse Wash Panel – a 0.8 mile hike will lead you to some rock markings

Difficult Hikes

Tower Arch – this trail is 2.6 miles also has a 290 elevation change.

Devils Garden – this trail will take you about 3 – 5 hours to complete at 7.9 miles and an elevation of 286 feet. You will need to bring at least 3L of water with you. This trail includes Landscape Arch, Double O arch, Dark Angel, and the Primitive Trail.

A great place to leave the park for the final light in the sky is the Park Avenue pullout. There is also a trail here marked moderate. As the sun disappeared, we made our way out of the park. There are plenty of stops to watch the sunset and this one was interesting. As we were leaving I seen this rock formation peaking from the cliffs. To me at first I could see Cleopatra then he appeared, Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy lol.

We had an amazing time here and both agreed to come back as there is so much we missed out on. If you want the full experience I would suggest 3 days at least and not during the summer as it is so hot to do anything during the day.

FAQ

What are the best times to visit Arches National Park? I would say spring and fall are the best times to visit Arches National Park. Summer is too hot and winter they do get snow making the trails harder and more dangerous to do.

What should I bring with me to Arches National Park? Water is a must at Arches National Park, even if it is not super hot, it is dry and you will need lots of water. Sunscreen is another, as a lot of trails do not offer much shade. Snacks and lunch are always a good thing.

How long does it take to just drive around Arches National Park? Plan for 3 hours if you want to drive around Arches National Park, this will give you 10 minutes at each viewpoint.

Can I see Delicate Arch from the road? You can see Delicate Arch from the view point in Arches National Park. You will not get the up close and personal feel of it, but if you cannot do the hike, this is a great spot to see it from.