National Parks Journal
Photo: NPS/Veronica Verdin
Arches National Park
Discover a landscape of contrasting colors, land forms, and textures unlike any other. The park has over 2,000 natural stone arches, hundreds of soaring pinnacles, massive rock fins, and giant balanced rocks. This red-rock wonderland will amaze you with its formations, refresh you with its trails, and inspire you with its sunsets.
Entrance Fees
Activities
Top Hikes
3 mi · 538 ft gain · out & back
Steep slickrock ascent to the park's iconic freestanding arch, framing the La Sal Mountains at the trail's end.
Starts at: Wolfe Ranch Trailhead
7.9 mi · 286 ft gain · out & back
The park's longest trail visiting Landscape Arch, Double O Arch, and Dark Angel with narrow ledges, rock scrambling, and a primitive return loop.
Starts at: Devils Garden Trailhead
1.8 mi · 40 ft gain · out & back
Hard-packed trail to one of the longest natural arches in the world. Includes spur trails to Pine Tree Arch and Tunnel Arch.
Starts at: Devils Garden Trailhead
1.8 mi · 322 ft gain · out & back
Walk through a corridor of towering rock walls past formations named Queen Nefertiti, Queen Victoria, and Sausage Rock.
Starts at: Park Avenue Viewpoint
Upcoming Events
Campground Evening Program
Enjoy the setting sun with a park ranger and learn about topics as vast as the night sky or as small as the tiniest pothole-dwelling creatures. Topics change nightly. Free; all ages welcome. No advance reservation needed.
National Day of Service at Arches
Honor National Day of Service (September 11) by giving back to Arches National Park through a community litter‑cleanup effort. This day is dedicated to coming together in service, reflection, and care for our shared public lands. All equipment will be provided, and volunteers of all ages and abilities are welcome. Minors must be accompanied by an adult. The exact location and additional details will be shared one week prior to the event. As a token of appreciation, each participant will receive a thank‑you item in recognition of their contribution to caring for the national park.
Arches in the Evening: Art Tailgate Party
Attend a special event hosted by the 2026 Community Artist in the Parks Chrissy Noel Kinslow. Pull up, paint, play and watch the light disappear! Attendees can bring their own supplies or borrow from the artist. Please bring a camp chair, snacks, curiosity, and creativity!
Best Time to Visit
Best time to visit: January, February, November, December
Pleasant weather with fewer crowds
Weather & Climate
Arches is part of the Colorado Plateau, a "high desert" region that experiences wide temperature fluctuations, sometimes over 40 degrees in a single day. The temperate (and most popular) seasons are spring (April-May) and fall (mid-September-October), when daytime highs average 60 to 80 F and lows average 30 to 50 F. Summer temperatures often exceed 100 F, making strenuous exercise difficult. Winters are cold, with highs averaging 30 to 50 F, and lows averaging 0 to 20 F.