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Plan a Road Trip > Explore America > National Parks > Arches National Park |
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PO Box 907, Moab, UT 84532
Phone: 435-719-2299 or 435-259-5279
Fax: 435-259-8341
Open All Year
Overview. A crimson and gold panorama of graceful arches, spires, and fins set against an azure desert sky rewards visitors to Arches National Park. These massive rock formations, some fanciful, some bizarre, some breathtakingly beautiful, were carved by hundreds of thousands of years of water, ice, and exfoliation into the Entrada sandstone that formed over thick salt beds over 150 million years ago. As the salt dissolved, it warped and cracked the sandstone into vertical ridges that eroded into fins. Repeated freezing and thawing chipped away at the fins, resulting in windows and arches. The process continues today, as rockfalls destroy older formations and new ones emerge from eroding fins. Set aside as a national monument in 1929 and designated a national park in 1971, Arches protects over 76,000 acres of desert landscape and over 2,000 arches, one of the greatest concentrations on earth.
Ancestral Puebloan and Fremont peoples hunted here and later settlers attempted ranching, which significantly affected the delicate desert ecosystem. Petroglyphs of men on horseback, the handiwork of more modern Utes, are visible near the trail to Delicate Arch, just past the Wolfe Ranch, which is all that remains of the small homestead of John Wesley Wolfe.
What to see and do. Before setting out on the 48-mile round trip scenic drive through the park, stop by the visitor center near the park entrance to acquaint yourself with the geology and history of the park. A short audiovisual presentation is shown every half-hour, and a self-guided tour booklet will introduce you to the geology of the area. The Canyonlands Natural History Association operates a bookstore in the visitor center. Make reservations and purchase tickets for the popular, ranger-led tour through the Fiery Furnace, and obtain backcountry use permits here. There is no food concession in the park, but drinking water is available at the visitor center and at Devils Garden. Balanced Rock and Devils Garden also provide picnicking facilities.
The scenic drive though the park winds over twenty miles each way, and extends as far as the Devils Garden Trailhead. You can see plenty of awe-inspiring scenery from your car window, but to experience the park to its fullest, and to see some of its most famous formations, you must get out and take one of the many short trails that lead from overlooks and pullouts along the route. For instance, you can take in all of Balanced Rock, a 55-foot-high boulder perched on a slender 73-foot pedestal, from the nearby parking area, but a mere 0.2-mile stroll will take you to its very base. The trail to Balance Rock is full accessible. Farther along, sights such as the Windows, Double Arch, and the Fiery Furnace, a maze of close-fitted fins that glow a fiery vermilion as the sun sets, can be seen from your car, but again, you'll probably want to get a closer look on foot. Some features, such as famous Delicate Arch and Landscape Arch, with its seemingly impossible 306-foot span, require moderate hikes to view at close range. There is a full accessible 100-yard trail that leads to a good viewpoint, albeit distant, of Delicate Arch. If you decide to hike for any amount of time, remember to take plenty of water and protect yourself from the sun. The formations are at their most beautiful when morning or evening shadows play about them, causing dazzling color changes. The midday sun washes out the colors and is often too hot for any extended activities.
The popular Devils Garden Campground fills to capacity every night between March and October; often all sites are claimed by mid-morning. Park authorities suggest an early check-in. Two tent-only sites are available for groups of eleven or more. Reservations for group sites are recommended and can be made by contacting the Canyonlands National Park Central Reservation Office, 435-259-4351. Mail inquiries to 2282 S. West Resources Blvd., Moab, UT 84532 or fax to 435-259-4285. The Devils Garden Trail, which leads to seven named arches including Landscape and Double O, begins near the campground. Except in winter, rangers present informative campfire programs at Devils Garden Campground.
Backcountry hiking is allowed, although there are no developed trails. Cross-country hikers must take care not to tread on the fragile cryptobiotic crust they will find along their route. It is an essential part of the desert ecosystem, and is easily destroyed. Overnight trips require a park permit. Experienced rock climbers can test their mettle on some of the formations in the park, but you should consult a ranger before you begin. Most named features are off-limits to climbers. Bikes are permitted on park roads, but are not allowed on any trails. There are no specific bike trails at Arches.
Klondike Bluffs, accessible by an unpaved, fair-weather road, is a lesser visited area in the northwestern quadrant of the park. From Klondike Bluffs, a four-wheel-drive-only road stretches south past Eye of the Whale Arch to Balanced Rock and the main park road.
The park is open at all times, year-round. The visitor center is open from 8 AM to 4:30 PM daily with extended hours from April to October. The visitor center is closed on Christmas. Lodging and restaurants are available nearby in Moab.
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Archeological Sites |
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Bird Watching |
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Climbing |
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Geological Sites |
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Guided Tours |
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Hiking/Nature Trails |
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Historic Sites |
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Picnic Sites |
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Programs/Talks |
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Self-guided Tours |
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Visitor Center |
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Wildflower Viewing |
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Wildlife Viewing |
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