More than 2,000 natural sandstone arches have been documented within Arches National Park — the highest concentration of natural arches on Earth. They range from modest openings barely large enough to crawl through to Landscape Arch, which spans 306 feet and is one of the longest natural arches in the world. The park sits on a plateau above Moab in southeastern Utah, and the Entrada Sandstone that formed these arches has been eroding into fins, towers, and windows for millions of years, producing a landscape that looks sculpted rather than weathered. Delicate Arch, standing alone on a slickrock bowl above a canyon with the La Sal Mountains rising behind it, has become one of the most reproduced images in American landscape photography. Seeing it in person does not disappoint.
Timed Entry Permits: What You Need to Know
Arches requires timed entry reservations during peak season — typically from early April through mid-October — for vehicles entering the park between 6:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. These reservations are issued via Recreation.gov and book out quickly, often within minutes of the release window opening. Check the current reservation schedule and release dates as early as possible.
Arriving before 6:00 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m. does not require a timed entry permit, making early morning and evening visits a viable strategy during peak season. This also happens to be when the light is best for photography and the heat is most manageable in spring and summer.
The park entry fee (or America the Beautiful pass) is required in addition to the timed entry reservation. Hold onto both.
Delicate Arch: The Iconic Hike
The trail to Delicate Arch is 3 miles round trip with 480 feet of elevation gain over slickrock, and it earns every bit of its reputation as the park’s signature hike. The route climbs open sandstone domes with no shade, crosses a narrow ledge section above a canyon, and arrives suddenly at the bowl’s rim — where Delicate Arch stands at the bowl’s far edge, framing the La Sal Mountains behind it, with a canyon dropping away below the arch.
First-timers are almost universally surprised by the arch’s scale — it stands 46 feet high and 32 feet wide, which photographs rarely capture accurately. Allow two to three hours for the round trip, wear sun protection, and bring at least two liters of water per person. Start before 9:00 a.m. in warmer months to avoid the worst heat on the exposed slickrock.
A viewpoint accessible by a short flat walk from the lower parking area offers a distant but clear view of Delicate Arch for visitors who cannot manage the full hike.
The Windows Section
The Windows Section, accessed via a side road near the park’s center, clusters several large arches in a compact area accessible via short, easy trails. The North and South Windows are visible from the same viewpoint, a double arch formation that frames blue sky through two adjacent openings. Turret Arch nearby is another distinctive formation with multiple openings. The Double Arch, a short walk from the Windows parking area, is the largest arch formation in the park — two openings sharing a single rock column, spanning 148 feet and 112 feet respectively.
This area is the best option for visitors with limited time or mobility — meaningful arch viewing with short distances from the parking area. It’s also popular for sunrise photography, when the east-facing openings catch the first light of day.
Fiery Furnace: Permit Required
The Fiery Furnace is a maze of narrow sandstone fins and slots in the park’s central section that requires a permit to enter independently. The permit system controls access to protect the fragile desert crust and the cryptobiotic soil communities that take decades to recover from a single footstep off the established path.
You can enter the Fiery Furnace either on a ranger-led tour (advance booking required through Recreation.gov) or with a paid independent hiking permit — but independent permit holders must watch a mandatory orientation video at the visitor center before entering. The maze is genuinely navigational, and getting lost inside the fins is easier than it sounds. The ranger-led tour is the better option for most visitors and provides significant interpretive value.
Devils Garden and the North End
The park road’s northern terminus at Devils Garden is the trailhead for the park’s longest and most varied hiking route. The Devils Garden Trail leads to eight named arches including Landscape Arch — its 306-foot span is so thin in places that large sections have fallen in recent decades. The trail continues past Landscape Arch to more remote arches on primitive routes across slickrock; this extension is for experienced hikers comfortable with route-finding and exposure.
The Devils Garden Campground, the only campground in the park, is located at this end of the park. Reservations open 6 months in advance and fill almost instantly for spring and fall dates.
Planning Your Visit
Moab, 5 miles south of the park entrance, is the natural base with extensive lodging, dining, and outfitter services. Spring (March–May) and fall (September–October) are the optimal seasons — manageable temperatures, good light, and blooming desert wildflowers in spring. Summer brings intense heat but also dramatic afternoon thunderstorms that can clear quickly and leave brilliant rainbow light over the red rock.
For Colorado Plateau trip planning, the Park Guides section includes related destinations — Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Grand Canyon National Park are natural companions on a Utah-Arizona road trip. See Planning Tips for multi-park itinerary logistics.
FAQ
When do I need a timed entry reservation for Arches? Timed entry is required from early April through mid-October for vehicles arriving between 6:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Vehicles entering before 6:00 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m. do not need a reservation during these hours. Check the NPS website for current year dates.
How difficult is the Delicate Arch hike? The Delicate Arch Trail is rated moderate — 3 miles round trip, 480 feet of elevation gain over slickrock with no shade. Fit hikers do it in 2–3 hours. The main challenges are heat, sun exposure, and a short exposed ledge section. Not suitable for those with significant fear of heights.
Is there any easy way to see Delicate Arch without the full hike? Yes. A separate viewpoint trail (about 0.5 miles round trip, flat and accessible) reaches a ridge with a distant but clear view of Delicate Arch from across the canyon. It’s free of charge and requires no special physical ability.
What is the best time of day to photograph the arches? Delicate Arch photographs best in late afternoon, when the arch catches warm light against the La Sal Mountains. The Windows Section faces east and is best in morning light. Landscape Arch is in a shaded canyon and can be photographed throughout the day.
Can I camp inside Arches National Park? The Devils Garden Campground is the only camping option inside the park. Sites must be reserved months in advance for peak season dates. Moab and the surrounding BLM land offer additional camping options.