Arches Webcam

Introduction

Arches National Park has a rich history dating back millions of years. Approximately 300 million years ago, inland seas covered the region. These seas repeatedly refilled and evaporated, leaving behind thick salt beds. Over time, erosion sculpted the landscape, creating arches, spires, and balanced rocks. The park lies above an underground salt bed, which plays a crucial role in the formation of these features. Arches was initially established as a national monument on April 12, 1929, and later redesignated as a national park on November 12, 1971. Arches covers 76,519 acres (308 sq km). The highest point is Elephant Butte at 5,653 feet (1,723 m), while the lowest elevation is at the Visitor Center at 4,085 feet (1,245 m).  Arches’ popularity has grown significantly, with over 1.8 million visitors in 2021. A 19-mile road offering breathtaking views of arches, pinnacles, and monoliths.

Wildlife in the park include mule deer, mountain lions, and desert bighorn sheep roam the landscape. Smaller mammals include kangaroo rats, woodrats, and rock squirrels.

For more information on the park visit the wikipedia page.

Important Notice:  Reservations are required to enter the Arches National Park between April and October.  Reservations can be made at recreation.gov

Auto Many of the most viewed arches are accessible from the paved scenic drive.  Delicate Arch, Devils Garden, North Window and Double Arch can be driven to and hiked in a 4 to 5 hour window.  In addition, Balanced Rock  can be viewed from the road.

Top Hikes

Day hikes and backpacking are extremely popular in the park.  Below are our favorite day hikes.  For more information please go to the NPS Website.

Devils Garden Trail  This is one of my top three hikes in the national park system.  It is a 7.8-mile (12.5 km) loop that takes approximately 3-4 hours to complete. The trail is considered moderately difficult, with several short, steep climbs and some rock scrambling. The trail leads to eight arches, including the longest arch in North America, Landscape Arch. Other arches include Double O Arch, Navajo Arch, Partition Arch, Pine Tree Arch, Tunnel Arch, and Wall Arch. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime.  The trailhead is located at the end of Devils Garden Road. The parking lot is enormous, but it can fill up quickly on busy days, so it’s best to arrive early.

Broken Arch Trail and Loop Trail This trail is a popular hiking trail and is 1.2 miles (1.9 km) long and takes approximately 30-60 minutes to complete. The trail is rated as easy and is suitable for all skill levels. The trail leads to the Broken Arch, which is a natural sandstone arch that is not actually broken, but has a crack running through it. The arch is located high above a pygmy forest of piñon and juniper trees. The trailhead for Broken Arch Trail is located at the Sand Dune Arch parking lot. If you’re looking for a longer hike, you can take the Broken Arch Loop Trail, which is 2.3 miles (3.7 km) long and takes approximately 1 hour to complete. The loop trail passes beneath Broken Arch and continues to the campground, then returns via a section with moderate scrambling. Please note that this trail is not accessible to wheelchairs.

Courthouse Towers   The Park Avenue Trail descends 1 mile (1.6 km) into the canyon and provides a closer view of the Courthouse Towers. The trail is flat and paved, making it accessible to most visitors. The area is known for its scenic beauty and incredible lighting, making it a favorite for hikers and photographers alike. The formations are carved by the harsh desert elements, and the Ring Arch spans 64 feet (19.5 m) and is 39 feet (12 m) high.

Delicate Arch This is one of the most popular hiking trails in the Arches National Park.  This is the arch on the Utah license plate.  The trail is 0.5 miles (.8 km) long and takes approximately 30-45 minutes to complete. The trail is moderately strenuous and climbs to the upper viewpoint of Delicate Arch, which sits across a canyon one mile away. You cannot hike to Delicate Arch on this trail; the hike to Delicate Arch begins at Wolfe Ranch. The trail is not accessible to wheelchairs and dogs are not allowed on this trail.  Delicate Arch is the most famous arch in the park and a must-see for many visitors. It is a 52 foot tall (16 m) freestanding natural. The light opening beneath Delicate Arch is 46 feet high (14 m) and 32 feet (10 m) wide, making it the largest free-standing arch in the park.

From Wolf Ranch the trailhead parking lot can fill up quickly on busy days, so it’s best to arrive early. The trail to Delicate Arch is 3 miles (5 km) roundtrip and climbs 480 feet (480 m). Along this steadily uphill trail, you’ll also pass the Wolfe Ranch cabin and a wall of Ute Indian petroglyphs. The trail is moderately strenuous and takes approximately 2-3 hours to complete. It is recommended to avoid hiking during midday summer heat and to carry at least 2 quarts/liters of water per person.

Double Arch Trail The trail is 0.6 miles (1 km) long and takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. The trail is considered easy and is suitable for all skill levels. The trail leads to the base of two giant arch spans that are joined at one end. The Double Arch is one of the most impressive formations in the park and is a must-see for many visitors. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime.

The Windows Trail The trail is approximately 1.2 miles (2 km) long and takes around 40-50 minutes to complete. The trail is considered easy and is suitable for hikers of all skill levels. The trail leads to three different arches: North Window, South Window, and Turret Arch. The first 100 yards of the trail is flat, hard-packed, and considered “barrier-free”. The rest of the trail includes stone steps, and uneven surfaces.

The Windows Section is considered by some to be the beating heart of Arches National Park. The area contains a large concentration of arches and is one of the most scenic locations in the park. Other named features in this area include Garden of Eden, Elephant Butte, and Parade of Elephants.

Back Packing Getting off the main path and back packing is a lot more difficult in Arches National Park, most due to the lack of water.  There are only two areas, Courthouse Wash and Devil's Garden.  A permit is required and is only available at Backcountry Permit Office.  If you need more information on permits and backpacking areas got to the National Park website.  

Other Activities

Bicycling  You can ride your bike or e-bike on all paved and unpaved roads in the Arches National Park in Utah, United States. However, you may not ride your bike on trails or anywhere off a road. The Salt Valley and Willow Springs dirt roads are less traveled than the paved roads, but they are more suited to mountain bikes due to washboards, deep sand, and other obstacles.  See the NPS Website for more information.

If you’re interested in renting a bike, Moab Cyclery and Rim Mountain Bike Tours are two popular bike rental services in Moab, UT.  Dual Sport Utah is another option for motorcycle rentals and tours in Moab, UT.

Accommodations

There is only one campground in Arches National Park.  Reservations can be made at Recreation.com

Devils Garden Campground This is one of my favorite campgrounds in the National Park system.   During the peak times the campground can be reserved six months in advance.  Reservations are available via recreation.gov.   It is situated among natural sandstone arches and fins and is only 18 miles north of the park’s entrance and 23 miles from Moab, Utah. The campground is open year-round and has 51 campsites that can accommodate tents, trailers, and RVs up to 40 feet long. Reservations are accepted from March 1 to October 31 and are first-come, first-served from November 1 to February 28. The campground is located at an elevation of approximately 5,200 ft (1,585 m).  The campground is surrounded by stunning natural beauty and offers easy access to many of the park’s popular hiking trails, including the Devils Garden Trailhead. The trailhead is the starting point for several hikes, including the Landscape Arch Trail, the Double O Arch Trail, and the Primitive Trail. The campground is also a great place to stargaze, as it is far from the city lights and offers a clear view of the night sky.

Hotels  The closest hotels are in Moab, just a five minute drive from Arches.

Grocery/Restaurants There are no restaurants or grocery stores in Arches.  The closest ones are in Moab, 5 minutes outside the park.