- Attractions
- Activities
- Lodging + Campgrounds
- Area Info
- Services
- Transportation
Arches National Park
The world’s largest concentration of natural sandstone arches.
Arches National Park’s Twitter page is a great source of up-to-the-minute park information. Check it out here.
Mailing Address
Arches National Park P.O. Box 907 Moab, UT 84532Visitors Center GPS Coordinates
38.616391, -109.620345Website
www.nps.gov/archMailing Address
Arches National Park P.O. Box 907 Moab, UT 84532Visitors Center GPS Coordinates
38.616391, -109.620345Websites
www.nps.gov/arch/
Please note that food is not available within the park. The closest restaurants are either in the town of Moab, at Dead Horse Point State Park, or at the dinosaur museum at the intersection of Highways 191 and 313 (entrance fee is not required to access the restaurant).
People come from all over the world to visit Arches National Park, and visiting Delicate Arch is on the top of many visitors’ to-do lists. In a park with over 2,000 stone arches, this particular free-standing arch has become a widely recognized symbol of the state of Utah and one of the most famous geologic features in the world. The light opening beneath the arch is 46 feet high and 32 feet wide, making it the largest free-standing arch in the park.
Learn More About Delicate Arch Hiking Trail
A short paved trail leads visitors to the base of Balanced Rock. The landform’s total height is 128 feet, with the huge balanced rock rising 55 feet above its base.
The longest natural rock span in the world, this arch’s opening is 306 feet wide – 6 feet longer than a football field. A nine story building would easily fit beneath this thin span. In 1991, a massive slab of rock fell from its underside, resulting in an even thinner ribbon of rock.
April and May bring a variety of desert wildflowers to Arches.
Located in the Windows Section of Arches National Park, Double Arch was used as a backdrop for portions of the 1988 movie “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”. Numerous other movies have been filmed in Arches National Park, including Thelma and Louise in 1991.
From Park Avenue parking area, the trail descends steeply into a spectacular canyon and continues down the wash to Courthouse Towers. If you have a shuttle driver, you can begin at one point and be picked up at the other. For round-trip hiking, retrace your steps along the trail rather than walk along the park road.
Winter brings a blanket of pristine snow to Arches, providing dramatic contrast to the surrounding red rocks.
There are many family friendly hikes in Arches, including the hike to Turret Arch in the Windows Section.
Your help is crucial in preserving our trails and protecting the fragile soil that sustains the desert ecosystem. The biological soil crust, also known as cryptobiotic soil, serves as the foundation for desert plant life. This unique black, knobby crust is composed of diverse living organisms and plays a vital role in maintaining the delicate balance of the desert environment.
However, this soil crust is exceptionally delicate and can take several decades to regenerate. Even a single footstep can cause irreparable damage that can persist for years, impacting the entire ecosystem. We urge you to stay on designated roads, routes, and trails to ensure the preservation of this fragile life. In areas where hiking trails are not established, it is advisable to hike on sandy washes or bare rock surfaces to minimize the impact on the soil.
By remaining vigilant and adhering to these guidelines, you contribute to the long-term sustainability of the desert ecosystem and help safeguard its natural beauty for generations to come. Let’s work together to keep all of our trails open and protect the invaluable biological soil crust.
Try not to limit your creativity by simply capturing images of iconic places using the same composition as countless photographers before you. Arches National Park contains thousands of arches and vast expanses of breathtaking scenery just waiting for you to introduce your own personal style and interpretation. For those seeking solitude, Arches has much to offer beyond its iconic places. For example, consider a hike to Double O Arch, returning via the Primitive Trail, for some of the most spectacular scenery in the park. Just remember to bring enough memory cards to capture all of the great views!
| Early Morning | Late Afternoon |
| Moab Fault | Park Avenue |
| The Three Gossips | Courthouse Towers |
| Sheep Rock | Petrified Dunes |
| The Great Wall | Balanced Rock |
| Turret Arch | The Garden of Eden |
| The Spectacles | North and South Windows |
| Double Arch | Delicate Arch (at end of main trail) |
| Cache Valley | Fiery Furnace |
| Wolfe Ranch | Skyline Arch |
| Landscape Arch | Fins in Devil Garden |
| Double O Arch | Tower Arch |
Canyonlands Natural History Association
Canyonlands Natural History Association (CNHA) is a nonprofit organization assisting the National Park Service in its educational, interpretive and scientific programs throughout southeast Utah. Known as a "cooperating association," CNHA’s goals include enhancing visitors’ understanding and appreciation of public lands by providing a selection of quality, educational materials for sale in many vistor centers. Twenty percent of these sales is returned to the National Park Service and other federal land management agencies.
CNHA operates the bookstore at Arches Visitor Center.
Friends of Arches and Canyonlands Parks
The Friends of Arches and Canyonlands Parks: Bates Wilson Legacy Fund provides direct support to Arches and Canyonlands national parks and Natural Bridges and Hovenweep national monuments in order to enhance existing projects in these spectacular areas, and to conserve the land and its cultural treasures for present and future generations to enjoy.
This mission honors the legendary work of Superintendent Bates Wilson, who came to Arches in 1949, inspiring and leading the effort that resulted in the establishment of Canyonlands National Park in 1964. The Friends Group offices are in the Rock House behind Arches Visitor Center, where Bates once lived with his family.
Moab Photography
Tips for Capturing the Beauty of Red Rock Country
Evening light paints the rock with colors much more vivid and rich than would be seen in the middle of the day.
The right time of day can make all of the difference when it comes to photography in the Moab area. Certainly the best time of day for photography is during sunrise or sunset, when the red rocks seem to glow with intense color. However, since you can’t be everywhere at the same time, simply avoiding the flat light on cloudless days between 10:00 am & 3:00 pm will go a long way toward getting some great shots. With all of our amazing rock formations, a lower sun angle can add real depth to your photos. If you absolutely must take photos during midday, try slightly underexposing your red rock photos by 1/3rd to 2/3rd of a stop. (Many cameras have exposure compensation buttons that allow you to easily do this.) Our red sandstone is darker than it may appear to the naked eye and cameras tend to overexpose it in bright light.
Dramatic cloud formations and the interplay of shadows can bring depth and dimension to your photographs. When the sky is adorned with scattered clouds, any time of day becomes an opportune moment for photography in the Moab area. If you find yourself blessed with the presence of a passing storm, consider yourself fortunate, as stormy weather often leads to exceptional photo opportunities.
Capture the awe-inspiring panoramic views when a sunbeam breaks through the clouds, unveiling a spectacle of nature’s beauty. Furthermore, the wetness from rain intensifies the color of the sandstone, adding richness to your compositions. Embrace the dynamic nature of the weather and the visual impact it can bring to your photographs, creating memorable and captivating images.
Be ready to seize these moments of atmospheric drama and leverage them to convey the raw beauty of the Moab landscape. Let the elements guide your creativity and enhance the impact of your photos.
A passing storm as seen from the Fiery Furnace Viewpoint in Arches National Park
An overlook provides the perfect vista for a breathtaking photo.
In the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park, the low sun angles during sunrise and sunset bring a remarkable infusion of color and depth to the scenic views. The morning views from the overlooks benefit from calm atmospheric conditions, resulting in reduced haze compared to later in the day. Additionally, scattered clouds play a significant role in adding depth and dimension to your images through the shadows they cast. Keep an eye out for passing storms, as they can introduce dramatic lighting that elevates the visual impact of your photographs. Embrace these natural elements to create awe-inspiring compositions that showcase the beauty of the area.
Arches National Park offers unparalleled photographic flexibility among the parks in southeastern Utah. You have the freedom to capture stunning photographs at any time of the day. With numerous colossal sandstone formations to explore, you’ll often discover favorable angles for optimal lighting. Keep a keen eye on the interplay of shadows, as they contribute depth and visual intrigue to your photos. By leveraging the unique lighting conditions and observing the dynamic interplay of light and shadows, you can unlock the true potential of your images and create remarkable compositions that showcase the awe-inspiring beauty of Arches National Park.
View of the La Sal Mountains from the Windows Section of Arches National Park during sunset.
Arches National Park attracts over one million visitors annually, all eager to explore its remarkable landscapes. Among the park’s iconic features, Delicate Arch is particularly popular and often surrounded by people. While it’s unrealistic to expect a solitary experience at this world-famous arch, it’s essential to be considerate of fellow visitors. Respect their presence and don’t expect them to move away for your photographs. Remember that not everyone visiting Delicate Arch is a photographer; many simply want to revel in the beauty of this landmark. Embrace the opportunity to capture the arch with people, as they can add scale and perspective to your photos, creating a shared experience.
Don’t confine your creativity to replicating compositions used by countless photographers before you. Arches National Park boasts thousands of arches and vast scenic wonders, inviting you to infuse your unique style and interpretation. If solitude is what you seek, explore less crowded areas such as the hike to Double O Arch, followed by the Primitive Trail, offering spectacular scenery off the beaten path. Just ensure you have enough memory cards to capture all the incredible views that await you. Embrace the diversity and vastness of the park, and let your imagination roam freely.
Delicate Arch is one of the most photographed of Utah’s natural wonders.
View of the La Sal Mountains from the Windows Section of Arches National Park during sunset.
One of the best places to view autumn foliage in the Moab area is in the La Sal Mountains, located approximately 20 miles south of town. Foliage usually starts to change in mid-September and continues into early October. The La Sal Mountain Loop Road is the easiest way to view the foliage change.
The La Sal Mountain Loop Road, suitable for all passenger cars and RV’s, features a wide variety of canyon country scenery. The 60-mile route begins by following the Colorado River along Highway 128. It then approaches the La Sal Mountains via Castle Valley. The route through the Manti-La Sal National Forest offers great views of the 12,000 foot plus peaks and the red rock canyons far below. Completion of the loop brings the motorist back to Moab via U. S. Highway 191.
