The Best Of Arches National Park:
Welcome to the Best of Arches National Park where I give my take on the “best” of all things Arches National Park! I spent a total of two days in the park hiking everything I could and it was incredible below are some of the highlights. If you are looking for a complete overview of the park you should check out my post “Arches National Park Hiking Guide”.
Best Overall Hike In Arches National Park:
Devils Garden Trail
Distance: 7.9 miles
Type of Trail: Loop
Permit Required: None
It only makes sense to start with this one since hiking is what we do here. The best overall hike has to go to The Devil’s Garden Trail. The views are amazing, but even more than that, you get the chance to see nine unique arches. What else can you ask for from a hike in a park, literally called “Arches”?! While I will say that the hike is one of the longest in the park if you are in good shape and have the day, it is absolutely worth doing.
Best Hike To Avoid Crowds In Arches National Park:
Tower Arch Trail
Distance: ~3.4 miles
Type of Trail: There And back
Permit Required: None
Another important one for us hikers out there. The best hike to avoid crowds has to be the Tower Arch Trail. The catch with this hike is that you need to drive close to eight miles from the park on the unpaved Salt Valley Road to reach the trailhead. I have a feeling that’s what turns most people off to it.
But during this hike, you will get impressive views of the Klondike Bluffs and the Tower Arch itself at the end of the walk. However, this is a hike that requires your full attention. It can be easy to get off the trail so keep your eyes peeled for those rock cairns!
Best Touristy Hike of Arches National Park:
The Delicate Arch Trail
Distance: ~2.8 miles
Type Of Trail: There and back
Permits Required: None
If you want a hike to make a postcard out of, look no further than the Delicate Arch Trail. I mean, come on, the hike is literally the centerpiece of the Utah license plate! However, it is important to note that because this is such a popular attraction, if you want to avoid crowds it would be best to do this hike either early in the morning or later in the evening.
The Best Arch In Arches National Park:
The Partition Arch
Trail: Devils Garden
Distance From Trailhead: ~1.1miles one way if going direct from the trailhead
Here is another important one. As we said, the park’s name is “Arches” so which one is the best? For me, it has to be the Partition Arch. I loved it because it seemed like a window into a new world as I approached the arch. I literally sat and stared through this arch for over an hour. People around me seemed concerned. But I couldn’t help myself! It was breathtaking!
The Best Easy Hike In Arches National Park:
Park Avenue Trail
This one is for you for those of you who are getting dragged on this trip by a hiker friend! The best easy hike in Arches National park has to be the Park Avenue Trail. This trail is less than 2 miles round trip and has fantastic views of the Three Gossips, Babel Tower, and the Organ. You can shorten this hike with two cars by parking them on opposite ends of the trail, making it less than a mile walk for a one-way trip.
Although there are no arches on this hike, the views of these towering sandstone structures are more than worth the title of best easy hike in Arches National Park.
Best Viewpoint In Arches National Park:
Courthouse Towers Viewpoint
Although I am not one for driving around a park to visit viewpoints, there is one in this park that earns the title of the best of them. That is the Courthouse Towers Viewpoint.
Here you see many classic park structures, including the La Salle Mountains, Colorado River, Elephant Butte, Balanced Rock, Courthouse Towers, The Organ, Tower of Babel, and the Three Gossips. Whew, that’s a lot of views!
That's All!
That is all for our Best of Arches National Park I hope you enjoyed it! If you are looking to take a trip to the arches check out our “Arches National Park Hiking Guide” to help plan your trip. Don’t forget to check the Arches National Park website for the latest park updates.
