Description
Area: 120sq.mi/310sq.km.

Established: 1929

Arches National Park lies at altitudes between 3,900ft/1,200m and 5,600ft/1,700m in the desert-like southeastern part of Utah, through which flows the Colorado River. It is world-famed for its extraordinary rock formations - several hundred sandstone arches, some of them of gigantic size, mushroom-shaped rocks, high sandstone rock faces, pinnacles, battlements, buttresses and ridges - created mainly by the action of wind and weather. The reddish Entrada sandstone laid down some 150 million years ago was subjected to tectonic movements of the earth's crust and thereafter was exposed to severe chemical and physical erosion. Animals

With luck visitors to the Park may encounter desert hares, deer, coyotes. red foxes and porcupines.

Scenic Drive

The 21mi/38km long Scenic Drive takes visitors round the most impressive features in the National Park (nature reserve). From Moab Canyon it runs to the LaSal Mountains View Point, from which mountains rising to almost 13,000ft/4,000m can be seen in the distance. Then follow the Courthouse Towers, a series of unusual rock formations (including the Three Gossips and the Tower of Babel). The road continues along the Great Wall and past the Petrified Dunes. At the Balanced Rock, which is almost 130ft/40m high, a road goes off on the right to the Windows Section with its rock arches (Cove Arch, Double Arch, etc.) and rock windows (North Window, South Window, etc.). Then down into Salt Valley, with a road branching off on the right to the Wolfe Ranch (once owned by a Civil War veteran) and the Delicate Arch View Point. From Salt Valley the road continues past Salt Valley Overlook, the Fiery Furnace Viewpoint and the Skyline Arch to end at the Devil's Garden car park.
Hobbies & Activities category: National park;  Biking opportunity;  Climbing activity;  Hiking opportunity;  Scenic site or route
Attractions within Arches National Park

Balanced Rock Trail

The Balanced Rock Trail in Arches National Park is a short loop of 0.3 mi/0.5 km round trip from the parking area to the base of Balanced Rock.

Broken Arch

The Broken Arch trail in Arches National Park is a 1.2 mi/2 km round trip walk from the Sand Dune Arch parking area.

Delicate Arch Trail

The Delicate Arch Trail (1.5mi/2.5km) starts from the Wolfe Ranch.

The 3mi/4.8 km round trip route to the arch involves an elevation change of 480 feet. Just before the Delicate Arch the trail follows a rock ledge for around 200 yards.

Desert Nature Trail

The Desert Nature Trail in Arches National Park is a 0.2-mile short guided nature walk that begins at the Arches Visitor Center.

Devil's Garden

In view of the very fragile desert vegetation there are only a few hiking routes in the National Park. Among them is the Devil's Garden Trail (2mi/3.2km), on which there are eight rock arches,
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Double Arch Trail

The 0.5mi/0.8km round trip flat and sandy Double Arch Trail in Arches National Park leads from the parking area to the Double Arches seen in the movie "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade".

Fiery Furnace

The rock labyrinth known as the Fiery Furnace, in which it is easy to lose your way, should be entered only on a guided walk conducted by a park ranger.

In order to explore the Fiery Furnace
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Park Avenue Trail

The Park Avenue Trail in Arches National Park is a 1.0mi/1.6 km walk from the South Park Avenue parking area to the Courthouse Towers parking area with an elevation change of 320 ft.

Sand Dune Arch

The Sand Dune Arch in Arches National Park is an easy 0.4mi/0.6km round trip walk from the parking area through deep sand to an arch in sandstone fins.

Skyline Arch Trail

The Skyline Arch Trail in Arches National Park is a short 0.4mi/0.6km round trip walk from the parking area. A rockfall in 1940 caused the opening of Skyline Arch to double in size.

Tower Arch Trail

There is an attractive walk from the car park at Klondike Bluffs to the Tower Arch area on the northwestern edge of the National Park.

The trail is 3.4mi/5.6km round trip first climbing a steep rock wall and then cutting across a valley.

Visitor Center

The Visitor Center at Arches National Park has exhibits on the park and a slide show that helps orient visitors to the features of the park.

Windows Trail

The Arches National Park Windows Trail loops for 1.0mi/1.6km from the parking lot and leads to three massive arches, the North and South Windows and to Turret Arch.
Address
Arches National Park
Box 907
Moab, UT 84532-0907
United States
Phone 1 (435) 719-2299
Fax 1 (435) 719-2305
Hours
Always closed on:
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Cost
Vehicle plus all occupants$10.00
Adult$5.00
Tips
Best time to visit is from April to September.
No pets allowed on trails.
A Local Passport sells for $25. It is good for one year and for entrance to Arches, Canyonlands, Hovenweep and Natural Bridges.
Attractions Near Arches National Park, Utah - Canyonlands