Spending a day in Arches National Park can be an awe-inspiring experience. Although it is one of the busiest parks, there are so must-do stops. If you only have one day, be sure to arrive early to take advantage of the best the park offers and avoid the crowds. The gate opens at 8 am, but you can arrive earlier and enter the park or better yet, camp. We know arches National Park for having the most spectacular natural scenery on earth. It contains the world’s largest concentration of natural sandstone arches with over 2,000 arches within the park’s 76,518 acres. Arches are located approximately a mile from the town of Moab, Utah. Arches are magical. Everywhere you look, the scenery is amazing.
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Arches national park is one of the Utah 5 parks that can be combined with the Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, and Canyonlands as part of the southwestern Grand Circle Tour. We purchased America the Beautiful pass for this trip, using it to gain entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park, Great Sand Dunes National Park, and Mesa Verde National Park. The pass costs $80 for one year.
Table of Contents
1. Courthouse Towers Viewpoint
At the Courthouse Towers Viewpoint, our first stop of the day, you can see these four formations: Three Gossips, Sheep Rock, the Organ, and Tower of Babel. There is a parking lot at this viewpoint where you can stop and see the tower. The Tower of Babel is almost 300 feet (91m) tall. It is the remnant of a tall, thin Entrada Sandstone fin that has mostly eroded away. The National Park Service has over 2,000 arches made of this type of rock formation.
2. Balanced Rock
Before beginning any trails, you should have sturdy walking or hiking shoes. A quality trekking stick would be advisable on the trails with loose gravel.
It is impressive! A cool rock formation surrounded by desert makes this place a must do, especially for those with limited time or who do not hike a great deal. You can view this formation from different angles while hiking the trail that “goes around” the formation. Even though it isn’t an arch, it is a popular stop near the front of the park. Early in the morning we spotted jack rabbits in the underbrush. I can only imagine how stunning would be during a full moon.
Interpretive signs explain that the cap-rock is Entrada Sandstone, sitting on a softer Carmel formation. As a result, it is weathering more rapidly than the top. It will eventually crumble. There was another rock, “chip off the old block,” that crumbled in 1976. An interesting fact is that balanced rock stands 128 feet high and weighs 3,500 tons.
3. The Windows Area-Lots to See!
Windows Section is on a well-marked spur of the park road in the heart of Arches National Park. There are picnic shelters and parking, as well as restroom facilities. North and South Windows are part of the Windows Section of Arches. Turret Arch, Double Arch, Parade of Elephants, Garden of Eden, Pothole Arch, and Balanced Rock are also in the Windows Section. A major reason that the Windows section of Arches National Park attracts so many visitors is that there are several beautiful arches that can be seen with relatively little effort.
At one time or another, we were all kids, and some of us are still that way at heart. This is a great family trail. A fun way to keep kids entertained is to climb and scramble over rocks. The North and South Windows are next to each other. You can also reach Turret Arch along the same trail.
Double Arch
This arch is usually very crowded, so go early in the morning for the best pictures. The view is worth the climb. You will enter Double Arch off the lower parking lot for Windows. From there, it is an easy walk to the bottom of the arch. It is also a nice spot to explore if you like the shade. The rocks are slippery, so good hiking shoes are a must and it’s nice to have a companion to lend a hand. These two arches required unique geological conditions to form, making the double arch even more amazing. I have to say that I found this to be my favorite arch. As we clambered up the trail, I found this to be my favorite arch among all those we visited in the park.
Upper Delicate Arch Viewpoint
A significant distance separates us from the Delicate Arch from this vantage point. When you cannot complete the 1.5 mile Delicate Arch trail because of time or physical incapacity, this viewpoint is a superb alternative. Nevertheless. There is direct access to the Delicate Arch trail from the Wolfe Ranch trailhead. As we are planning to hike Delicate Arch tomorrow morning, we opted to go to the viewpoint today. A pair of binoculars of high quality will allow you to see the arch. You can reach the best lookout point by hiking only a short distance up the trail. It is fascinating to note that there is a lot of blue color in the soils here caused by iron. Over time, the iron leaches out, causing the blue tinge.
4. Delicate Arch Trail
To avoid crowds, get to the park early. Most visitors are drawn to this arch. Many people just love taking pictures at this arch. Hiking the trail is moderately difficult, covering up to 3-miles round trip. If you walk at a leisurely pace, it will take about 4 hours to complete this hike. Several places near the top of the trail, the steps are carved into the rock. This is something to consider if you are planning to hike the trail. This trail goes entirely uphill with no shade or water, and if you have young children, there are drop-off spots along the trail’s edge without railings. For the best photos, I recommend getting there at sunset. Delicate Arch was awe-inspiring! We highly recommend hiking the trail to the delicate arch. You won’t regret it.
Be Wise When Hiking
Travel Tip: Before taking any hike in Arches, be sure to have lots of water and some snack food. Be sure to have a refillable water bottle to quench your thirst in the heat.
The visitor center and Devils Garden have a bottle refill station. Between the altitude (around 7,000 ft above sea level) and the dryness, you need water, even in the shade. In the summer, the hot dry air can take its toll if you don’t hydrate. Last, the weather and temperature make all the difference to the enjoyment of this hike. Today the temps are nearing 107 degrees. I would advise to start before 8 am to take advantage of the cooler temperatures.
There is usually no parking space left in the trailhead lot by 9 am. After locating parking, we walked the short distance to see the ranch. This is not the environment in which I can imagine farming.Reading the interpretive information, we learned how with his oldest son, Fred, John Wesley Wolfe settled here in 1888.
Additionally, the information provided detailed important insight into how the family settled the area. The water and grassland along Salt Wash attracted Wolfe to this tract of land, which covers over 100 acres. Plenty of room to run a few cattle, too. As a family, they constructed a one-room cabin, a corral, and a small dam across Salt Wash. They lived alone on the remote ranch for more than a decade.
As early as 1906, Wolf’s daughter Flora Stanley moved to the ranch with her husband and children. Stanley was shocked at the primitive conditions of the cabin and convinced her father to build a new one with a wood floor. Wolfe’s daughter- and son-in-law moved into the renovated structures in 1906. By 1908, the Stanleys had moved to Moab. Having sold their ranch in 1910 to Tommy Larson, the Wolfe family returned to Ohio. John Wolfe died at the age of 84 in Etna, Ohio, in 1913.
6. Devil’s Garden
You will find the Devil’s Garden at the end of the 16-mile loop road, a place of amazing landscapes and challenging hiking, but very rewarding. The Devil’s garden is a sight to behold, with imagery no less impressive than the arches scattered around the park.
The park has several restrooms and a water refill station. There are no other facilities, except at the visitor’s center, so pack a picnic lunch and plenty of water. Take a stroll on the Devils Garden Trail, especially to Navajo, Partition, and Landscape Arches. The walk to Partition and Navajo requires more effort and is challenging. However, it is an amazing 8-mile journey.
In Arches National Park, there are no accommodations or food. Devil’s Garden, however, offers 52 camping spaces with flush toilets and water. You have to reserve these many months in advance. Devil’s Garden is open year-round.
Note: they require special permits or ranger guides to explore Fiery Furnace. You can inquire and make reservations through the NP Visitor Center or recreation.gov website.
7. Fiery Furnace Self-Guided Hike
Stunning! This is an amazing array of rock fins with a lot of options for exploration for all ages. To do this, we had to check in at the visitor’s center early. Before receiving the self-guided tour permit ($), you must watch a short film.
It gave us peace of mind to purchase and download a trail guide before heading out. Upon arriving at the parking lot, we hung a right just inside the gate. Some arrows are extremely difficult to find; it felt like we were walking around a maze most of the time. As you went around the many nooks and crannies, you discovered something unexpected around every corner. There were parts that were scary, but they also provided a sense of achievement as you made your way through. We scurried through the tighter section, feeling like we were on a scavenger hunt. Using the guide led us to a few ‘hidden’ arches.
An epic journey. It may not be suitable for everyone, especially those who have back problems because of the uneven ground, sand, or twisting and bending.
Fiery Furnace Viewpoint
Even if you are not planning or able to hike Fiery Furnace, there is a great viewpoint along the Arches Scenic Drive. This viewpoint offers a stunning view of the land formations. Interpretive boards provide information about the trail and geology. It is interesting how the spires and shaped fins have deep red ‘reds’ in their sandstone walls.
8. Visitor Center Park Headquarters
The Visitor Center is at the park entrance and is well worth a look-see. There is information on the geological history of the park, and insight into the wildlife that lives here. There are trail maps available for the hiking trails-click here.
The Most Beautiful Place to Stay-Red Cliffs Lodge
This beautiful lodge is along with isolate Hwy 128. The drive is extremely scenic as it curves along the Colorado River. Carved out along the deep slot canyon, the red rocks rising as the road winds from I-70. Rocky Mountain National Park is a towards Moab, UT.
It is important to note that from Grand Junction to Red Cliffs Lodge there are no gas stations (there is nowhere to fill up). If you do not want the anxiety-worry of running out of gas, have a full gas tank. We were running low on gas and thought we would run out before we found the lodge. A 2-gallon gas can (full) is available at Red Cliffs for $20.00 (you can keep it if you like). For $20.00, Red Cliffs sells a 2-gallon gas can (full). We bought one just to have a little bit of insurance in case our rental did not get to the gas station in Moab. A little peace of mind. The drive along the byway is stunning with views of the slot canyon cliffs along the Colorado river. This video link showcases the Utah Rt 128 Scenic Byway to Moab – Utah.
This wonderful lodging sits on the banks of the Colorado River, near Moab, and is between massive towering red cliffs. All of its rooms have private patios with spectacular views. Day trips to Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef National Parks are easy from here.
The King Suite Riverside Room
It was a pleasure staying in one of the River King Suites, which overlooked the Colorado River and offered a stunning view of the ever-changing sunlit cliffs bordering the river. There was a kitchenette in our king suite riverside room, plus a table for four, a large sofa, a comfortable bed facing the river, and a nice clean bathroom. It also had a patio, which was quite private. It is always nice to find fluffy, comfortable bathrobes available. The kitchen area comes equipped with a microwave, a toaster, a coffeemaker, plates, and cutlery. It’s worth spending a little extra on the room for the staff is world class in terms of service. Other amenities include a gym and a pool, as well as lounge chairs with magnificent views of the red cliffs. The resort also books back country horseback riding and float trips on the Colorado River.
Castle Creek Winery
If you stay here, walk the grounds. The Castle Creek Winery does a wine tasting and you can purchase the wines. You can’t beat the $1 tasting fee. We chose the Outlaw Red to take home. The wine ranged from $14-$15 a bottle. There is also a small gift shop that sells wine bottle accessories, crackers, cheeses, t-shirts, and other souvenirs.
Moab Museum of Film and Western Heritage
The lodge also hosts the Moab Museum of Film and Western Heritage (free). The museum covers the history of filming in this magnificent location. It’s downstairs from the main lobby. There is a clever 25-minute video that well explains the history of movie-making in the Moab area. Includes lots of memorabilia and images of films that used this location as a backdrop.
The Lodge is on the premises of the George White Ranch; the man credited with creating Utah’s Film Commission. He brought the movie business to the valley. John Ford was shooting his first film here not long afterward. First came Wagon Master, soon followed by Rio Bravo, then Comancheros. Many other films used the locations as well. Using the incredible scenery of Arches and Canyon-lands, including Back to the Future II & III, and Thelma and Louise. They continued to film movies continue in this area so John Wayne fans will especially love the displays found here.
Dining Options-The Cowboy Grille
The Cowboy Grille restaurant has a view of the Colorado River & towering red rock cliffs. The staff is outstanding (like the Lodge itself) and the food very, very good. You can choose to eat outside overlooking the Colorado River or inside in the air conditioning. Reservations for dinner are an absolute must during the busy season.
The Ceviche Southwest appetizer is very fresh and tasty. For dinner, I had the perfectly prepared Elk Medallions with Cabernet demi-glaze, so delicious. Hubby had the pork chop with apples. He did not realize there were going to be two sizeable portions on the plate. They served them with green apples and a sweet sauce on them. So amazing.
Dinner is fantastic!
After dinner, we took the trail along the river. The sun on the rocks constantly changes their appearance as the sunsets. We saw a gopher snake crossing our path, not sure what it was, so we gave it some distance. Would have liked to have stayed at Red Cliffs for more than one day. Alas, we moved on to Mesa Verde NP the next morning. We would definitely come back to stay at Red Cliffs and dine here again!
Exploring the best landmarks in this iconic national park creates a memory for a lifetime. We did not get to spend enough time here. Astonishing rock formations. Everyone should visit at least once. These must-see stops in the amazing Arches National Park are truly incredible.
What did you find most exciting about Moab? I think it has so much to offer to the traveler. Let us know with a comment below.
