Visiting Arches National Park was on our To Do List for a long time. When we got a chance to visit we didn’t think twice. And when we were there, our patience paid off. We still get goosebumps just thinking about the wonders that we saw in the Park. Arches is one of the most famous national parks in Utah and arguably so. It’s a red rock park with naturally formed arches.
The park is a wonderland with beautiful red rocks, unique stone structures, and magnificent arches. It’s an ultimate destination for outdoor activities like hiking, camping, biking, helicopter rides and stargazing. We visited the park for two days and had plenty of time to hike and enjoy. From our experience, we have listed the top 3 must do hikes in the park.
Drones are not allowed in the park. Park closes at 7 PM local time Sunday – Thursday.
Double O Arch
Yup, you read it correctly. As the name suggests you can see two arches; one small and one big and on top of the other.
You will first see the Landscape Arch which in itself is magnificent. Beyond that, you can either take the primitive trail or the regular trail to Double O Arch. The regular trail gets difficult beyond the Landscape Arch, with steep climbs, sandstone slabs, and narrow ledges. Make sure you have a good pair of hiking shoes. Further ahead, the trail splits into two (Spur Trail to the left). If you continue the trail from Double O Arch, you will end up at Devil’s Angel. From here you can enter the Primitive Trail if you want.
Landscape Arch, Partition Arch, Navajo Arch, Double O Arch all covered in the same trail. That is exciting right??
Delicate Arch
We had a strange sensation when we first saw the Delicate Arch in person. It is the most famous of the arches in Arches National Park. It is so beautiful and majestic. The Delicate Arch may be one of the first things that you may associate with the state of Utah.
The hike to Delicate Arch is easy-moderate. Many watch sunset and sunrise from the Delicate Arch area. It can also be good for stargazing on a clear night. Expect to spend around 3 hours on this hike. If you are hiking in the evening make sure to carry hiking headlamps or flashlights. It is not an easy hike, once it gets dark. If you are into Petroglyphs, you are lucky as you will be able to see a wall of Petroglyphs on this trail.
It is the largest free standing Arch in the park. The hike is 3 miles round trip.You will find less number of people during Sunrise.
Parking at the trail entrance fills up pretty fast. So the earlier you get there the better. On Friday and Saturday, the park is open beyond 7 pm. So on those days, you can get there late in the evening and still find parking. To get the most up-to-date information on the trailhead over to the NPS website.
Fiery Furnace
The Fiery Furnace consists of a collection of narrow sandstone canyons, fins, and natural arches. There are several arches within the Furnace including Crawl Through Arch, Skull Arch, Surprise Arch, Flatiron Arch and the Walk-through Bridge. Navigating the Fiery Furnace involves rock scrambling and squeezing through narrow passages. So you have to be in good physical condition.
There are guided tours of the Fiery Furnace every day. Tickets for the guided tours may be purchased at www.recreation.gov. We opted for the self-guided tour. You have to obtain a permit to do the self-guided tour of the furnace. And there is a limit of 75 people each day for the self-guided tour. The permit can be obtained from the Visitor Center. It costs $6 for adults.
If possible take the guided tour as the ranger will point out interesting geological features. Book in advance for the ranger led tour.
There are directional arrow marks in the Fiery Furnace that will guide you during the hike. It is pretty easy to miss the markers and getting lost is a real possibility. If you are feeling adventurous you can venture into the Fiery Furnace. However, make sure to have a clear idea of the path you take (take pictures of the path you take) so that you can retrace your steps to get back on the path if you encounter a dead end or if you get lost.
A good hiking shoes will help you a lot on the hike. Make sure to not leave any food waste inside the Fiery Furnace. Lets keep it clean. Carry water and if possible try to do the hike in the morning.
Here is a glimpse of the Fiery Furnace Hike.
Other Hikes To Consider
- Double Arch (Easy)
- The Windows (Easy)
- Tower Arch (Moderate – Difficult)
- Primitive Trail at Devil’s Garden (Difficult)
To check out all the hikes in National Park, click here. It was one of the best places we have ever been to. This was a dream come true for us. We cherished every moment that we spent in this park. Have you been there? Share your story with us. Connect with us if you have questions on Arches National Park.
