Arches National Park in Utah, USA - map, photos and visitor information

Arches National Park lies just north of Moab in southeastern Utah. Its scenic road reaches sandstone towers, balanced rocks, and trailheads leading to natural arches. You can combine roadside stops with short walks, or spend more time on exposed desert trails. The main planning decisions are how much walking to attempt, how to avoid the heat, and which activities need a separate booking.

Highlights of Arches

• Delicate Arch: Choose between a distant viewpoint and the uphill hike to the arch. They use different trailheads and involve very different levels of effort.
• Devils Garden: Walk among sandstone fins toward Landscape Arch, with more difficult routes continuing beyond it.
• The Windows and Balanced Rock: These are useful stops along the scenic road when planning a day with several shorter outings.
• Fiery Furnace: This restricted hiking area requires a ranger-led tour or a self-guided permit.

Know before entering the park

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Heat, exposed rock, and changing weather

Plan strenuous walking for cooler parts of the day. Carry enough water for your route, food, sun protection, and layers for changing weather. Keep extra water in your vehicle. Shade is limited, and rescue may take time.

Sandstone becomes slippery when wet, icy, or covered in loose sand. Stay back from drop-offs and pay attention to route markers across bare rock. Download maps before arrival and carry a backup; mobile coverage is unreliable. Avoid flooded washes and roads. If thunder approaches, seek shelter in a building or vehicle. Call 911 in an emergency.

Protect arches and living desert soil

Stay on established routes to protect biological soil crust. Do not climb, stand on, or rappel from an arch. Leave cairns in place, do not mark the rocks, and avoid walking through desert potholes even when they are dry. These small basins support living organisms.

Pets are allowed on a leash no longer than 6 feet (1.8 m) along established roads and in parking, campground, and picnic areas. They cannot use hiking trails or overlooks, even in a carrier, and cannot enter park buildings. Do not leave an animal in a vehicle where heat puts it at risk. Service animals follow separate rules.

Entry and activity reservations

Arches does not require timed entry reservations in 2026. Admission does not guarantee immediate entry or a parking space. Confirm the policy for your travel year.

Devils Garden campsites are reservable for March 1–October 31. From November through February, sites are first come, first served. Book busy-season stays in advance rather than expecting an empty site on arrival.

Fiery Furnace requires a reserved guided tour or self-guided permit. Backpacking uses designated sites and requires a permit. Canyoneering also requires a permit. The official reservation and permit guide provides the correct channels for each activity.

Getting to Arches and choosing your stops

The park entrance is 5 miles (8 km) north of Moab on US 191. Follow signs to the main entrance and visitor center. The scenic road continues to Devils Garden, 18 miles (29 km) from the visitor center, with side roads serving The Windows and the Delicate Arch area.

Use the official park maps to separate road stops from trail destinations. Delicate Arch Viewpoint is not the start of the main trail to the arch. When a parking lot is full, use another designated stop and return later; do not block the road or park on vegetation.

Nearby parks

• Utahraptor State Park: This nearby park northwest of Moab has an entrance from US 191.
• Dead Horse Point State Park: Reach it from US 191 via State Route 313 on the mesa west of Moab.

Pick a trail that matches your day

For a brief Delicate Arch view, the lower viewpoint has a level approach of about 100 yards (91 m). The arch remains about a mile away. The main trail from Wolfe Ranch is 3 miles (4.8 km) round trip with 480 feet (146 m) of climbing. Heat, ice, and exposed terrain can make it demanding.

For a Devils Garden walk, Landscape Arch is 1.9 miles (3.1 km) round trip. The route becomes substantially harder beyond the arch. Continuing to Double O Arch involves narrow ledges, steep drops, and scrambling; it is not simply more of the same easy trail.

For a visit with less hiking, combine scenic-road stops with the visitor center and a seasonal ranger program. Junior Ranger activities help children explore the park's natural features. Night-sky viewing is another option, but bring a light and know your route back.

Water, camping, and accessible facilities

Drinking water is available year-round at the visitor center and Devils Garden Campground, and seasonally at Devils Garden Trailhead. There are no gas stations or RV dump stations inside Arches. Moab provides supplies and accommodation; the park has no lodging.

Devils Garden is the park's only developed campground. For campsite booking details and seasonal arrangements, use the campground guide. Parking areas at popular trailheads can fill during busy periods.

The visitor center has accessible parking, a paved approach, accessible restrooms, and wheelchair-height exhibits. Devils Garden has accessible campsites. Trail accessibility varies: short barrier-free sections do not mean that an entire route is suitable for a wheelchair. Ask about current surfaces, slopes, and temporary obstacles before setting out.

About Arches National Park

From ancestral homelands to national park

The landscape is part of the ancestral and traditional homelands of several Tribal Nations, including Hopi, Navajo, Paiute, Ute, and Zuni communities. Their connections extend beyond the park's modern designation.

Arches became a national monument on April 12, 1929. National park status followed on November 12, 1971. Its sandstone formations continue to change as weathering and erosion reshape the rock.

Life adapted to the desert

Lizards, birds, and small mammals are often easier to notice than larger animals. Mule deer and coyotes may be active around dawn and dusk, while many rodents, bats, and other species avoid daytime heat. Season and temperature affect these patterns. Watch without feeding, handling, or pursuing wildlife.

Contact Arches National Park

Call +1 435-719-2299 for recorded visitor information or to leave a voicemail. The official contact page provides a general information email option.

Mailing address: Arches National Park, PO Box 907, Moab, UT 84532-0907. For arrival, use the main park entrance on US 191.