Arches – Utah

 

Date of Visits: July 7, 2015, March 28 & April 1, 2021

How we got there: Combined park visit with nearby Canyonlands.

Lodging: Inca Inn (2015), StellaRuby Cottages (2021)

Favorites:

• Delicate Arch Sunrise – We chose to visit the park’s most iconic arch at sunrise, when there were no crowds. A 3-mile round-trip hike up open slickrock leads to an overview of the arch and basin below it. Arriving for sunrise in the summer means beginning the hike in total darkness.
• Devil’s Garden Trail – Popular trail that leads to a high concentration of arches, including Tunnel, Pine Tree, Landscape, Partition and Navajo. The “Primitive Loop” part of the trail leads to Double O Arch,
• The Windows – Short, easy trails lead from a central parking area to some enormous arches. Double Arch was our favorite formation in the park.
• Fiery Furnace – Ranger-guided tour of a complex maze of narrow canyons and towering fins. Requires some minor rock scrambling.
• Klondike Bluffs hike to Tower Arch – An 8 mile drive down a gravel road leads to this remote trailhead, where you’re guaranteed to not run into crowds. A 3 mile round trip hike ends at the incredible Tower Arch.

Tips: This park gets extremely busy during the summer, arrive early to avoid waiting in line at the entrance. We got lucky with moderate temperatures, but heat can be intense in summer. Our springtime visit weather was perfect.

Next time: Camp at Devil’s Garden Campground.