15 Best Things to Do in Arches National Park
Whether under a blanket of snow or a sky full of stars, Arches National Park is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful National Parks in the country!
I emphasize this because Moab and the surrounding area is one of the best year-round roadtrip destinations, with relatively mild but stunning winters and summers that are best enjoyed on a blanket beneath the core of the Milky Way Galaxy!
That being said, Arches and other parks across the country have changed over the years to manage the amount of visitors entering the park on a daily basis. For this reason, I highly recommend reading the section below if you’re planning your visit during the busy summer travel season.
What is the Arches Advanced Vehicle Reservation System?
In 2022, Arches National Park implemented a vehicle timed-entry program in order to reduce the number of private vehicles within the park, as available parking space is the single-most limiting factor when it comes to the number of people that can visit Arches.
Arches Timed-Entry Season: April - October 31, 2024,
7 a.m. - 4 p.m. daily
If you happen to be visiting Arches National Park during the timed-entry season, you either have the option to book an advanced vehicle reservation a few months prior to your visit, or secure one of the day-prior reservations on Recreation.gov using the link below.
Alternatively, Arches National Park can be visited without a timed-entry permit by simply entering the park before 7 a.m. or after 4 p.m. Just be aware that entering the park prior to 7 a.m. is a popular option, meaning that you don’t want to get stuck in traffic outside the entrance gate because you didn’t wake up early enough!
Book Here: Arches Vehicle Reservations
Arches vs. Canyonlands
Arches National Park
Arches National Park is, by and large, the busier of Moab’s two National Parks.
This is because the vast majority of the best things to do within Arches are all concentrated off the 18.4-mile (29.6 km) Arches National Park Road, the one and only paved road in the park.
Therefore, most visitors in Arches are essentially visiting the same places/ trails off this scenic drive, with the exception of a few backcountry destinations.
However, in 2022, Arches National Park implemented an advanced vehicle reservation system to combat these crowds, which is continuing to make its way into parks across the United States.
With that in mind, Arches requires some advanced planning now more than ever, most notably by securing a vehicle reservation during the busy summer season.
To learn more, I encourage you to read about the timed-entry program, including the details about how to visit without a reservation, in the section above.
Canyonlands National Park
Compared to Arches, Canyonlands National Park is far less visited, which largely comes down to one thing: accessibility.
By this, I mean that Canyonlands National Park is divided into 4 districts, with the most accessible and popular being the Island in the Sky.
However, there’s also The Needles, the Maze, and the Rivers District, which are, by far, more remote and spread out compared to how I just described Arches.
For this reason, Canyonlands takes much more time to get the sense that you’ve truly seen the best of it. With that in mind, I highly recommend exploring beyond the Island in the Sky, as some of the best things to do in Canyonlands National Park, such as The Needles District, can be enjoyed with a fraction of the crowds that can be found in areas closer to Moab.
Read My Separate Post: Canyonlands National Park
Hiking Checklist - Arches
Obviously, for camping, you will need general backpacking gear. For this reason, I wrote a separate post about what backpacking gear is worth the money, from my experience, and what the best alternatives are to save you money.
Read My Separate Post: Best Ultralight Backpacking Gear
In addition, here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Arches National Park.
15 Best Things to Do in Arches National Park
The following list is written in no particular order of best or worst. However, it’s important to come prepared for the time of year you’ll be visiting.
What I mean is that the temperatures in the summer regularly soar above 100 ºF (38 ºC), and the sandstone in the winter/ spring can be particularly dangerous and slippery when there’s snow and ice.
Therefore, it is highly recommended that you plan your adventures appropriately for the conditions, while considering the guided options when the summer heat makes hiking the most dangerous.
On a different note, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
1. Delicate Arch Trail
Distance: 3.4 miles / 5.5 km
For good reason, the Delicate Arch is, without a doubt, the most popular natural arch in the world!
That being said, I highly recommend checking out my separate post in order to learn more about the best times of the day to hike, the best strategies to mitigate the crowds and summer heat, and my recommendations for enjoying the Milky Way at different times of the year.
Read My Separate Post: Delicate Arch Trail
My Print - Delicate Arch
2. Arches Backcountry Tour
Of the millions of park visitors that come to Arches on an annual basis, few ever venture beyond the hikes off Arches National Park Road.
This is largely because of the inherent need to have a high-clearance 4x4 vehicle.
However, there are a few local companies out of Moab that make visiting the best of the Arches backcountry hassle-free with these half-day guided excursions!
3. Sand Dune Arch Trail
Distance: 0.3 miles / 0.5 km
The Sand Dune Arch is one of my favorite places in Arches National Park to hang out, eat some food, and simply enjoy a little downtime within the park.
I say this because when it’s hot during the mid-summer months, the Sand Dune Arch feels like a little oasis to sit in the shade, while waiting for an opportunity between different groups to take some nice photos beneath the arch.
Read My Separate Post: Sand Dune Arch Trail
4. Broken Arch Trail
Distance: 2.1 miles / 3.4 km
The Broken Arch Trail is listed immediately after the Sand Dune Arch because the two are like sister hikes and are often hiked as one to make one longer adventure.
To learn more, I highly encourage you to check out either post, so that you can plan which trailhead and what direction seems like the best fit for your group!
Read My Separate Post: Broken Arch Trail
5. Double Arch Trail
Distance: 0.6 miles / 1.0 km
The Double Arch is one of the most unique formations in all of Moab, but that doesn’t go without saying that it is also one of the most popular trails in all of Arches National Park.
Nevertheless, the Double Arch is truly a must-see, which I recommend hiking either early in the day to avoid the majority of crowds or late in the evening for the best photos, as golden hour lights up the beautiful red rock!
Read My Separate Post: Double Arch Trail
6. Devils Garden Trail
Distance: 7.9 miles / 12.7 km
Among a sea of arches, towering sandstone walls, and unique rock formations, the Devils Garden Trail is often regarded as one of the best day hikes in Arches National Park!
That being said, there are at least ten different spur trails off the larger Devils Garden Loop, making Devils Garden the best, most diverse, but also challenging trail within the park to see all that there is to see!
Considering this, the full Devils Garden Primitive Loop can be quite the confusing hike, even after reading my separate article linked below, which is why booking a guided tour can be the best and safest option to enjoy one of Arches most beautiful adventures!
Read My Separate Post: Devils Garden Trail
7. The Windows Loop Trail
Distance: 1.2 miles / 1.9 km
Featuring not one, but three separate towering arches, The Windows Loop Trail is an Arches National Park favorite among both locals and visitors alike.
In my experience, most visitors don’t often hike the full Windows Loop, known as The Window Primitive Loop, making the return hike back to the trailhead one of the nicest casual walks in an otherwise very busy area of the park!
Read My Separate Post: The Windows Loop Trail
8. Arches Airplane Tour
With Moab growing busier than ever and timed-entry permits becoming the new normal, visiting Arches National Park is surely a different experience than it was in years past.
That being said, taking an aerial tour over Arches, or even both parks, can be a great way to enjoy Moab in a way that most never take the opportunity to see!
9. Skyline Arch Trail
Distance: 0.4 miles / 0.6 km
The Skyline Arch Trail is an Arches hidden gem, and not for the reasons that you may think.
By this, I mean that the massive 77-ft. (23.5 m) wide arch, visible from the trailhead, may look like an intimidating place to visit, but what most visitors don’t know is that there is a secret access point in a less-than-likely location.
To learn more, I encourage you to check out all the details in my separate post!
Ready My Separate Post: Skyline Arch Trail
10. Panorama Point
Panorama Point is the go-to spot in Arches National Park to see the La Sal Mountains east of the park.
Standing at 12,721 ft. (3,877 m), Mt. Peale is the highest peak in the range, and the trail to the summit can make for a great day hike come summer and fall when the Aspens begin to change!
At any rate, Panorama Point is best enjoyed in the late evening, especially for photographers, as this is when the light is best on the landscape, as opposed to the sun rising over the mountain range during the morning hours.
Google Maps Directions: Panorama Point
11. Park Avenue Trail
Distance (Roundtrip): 1.8 miles / 2.9 km
Surrounded by towering sandstone cliffs, the Park Avenue Trail in Arches National Park feels like a hidden gem among countless other trails that often attract more attention.
Being the case, the Park Avenue Trail is one of Arches’ least-visited day hikes, and if you plan the hike like I describe it in my separate post, the trail can make for a fun and easy, one-way adventure, utilizing both trailheads!
Read My Separate Post: Park Avenue Trail
12. Ring Arch Trail
Distance: 3.0 miles / 4.8 km
The Ring Arch Trail, among a number of others, is one of Arches’ best-kept secrets, as the hike follows what the National Park Service calls a 'social trail,' meaning that the hike is not designated or maintained by the agency.
To learn more about this off-chute adventure that most visitors never go out of the way to see, I highly encourage you to read about the full adventure in my separate article linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Ring Arch Trail
13. Arches Photography Tour
As I’m sure it’s obvious, photography is a long-time passion of mine.
That being said, I know firsthand how astrophotography, in particular, can be one of the most challenging forms of landscape photography to master.
Being the case, I highly recommend booking through one of the experts out of Moab, because they not only will help you capture the best photos, but they also know when, where, and how the Milky Way rises across the park during different times of the year!
14. Delicate Arch Viewpoint Trail
Distance: 0.8 miles / 1.3 km
Compared to the world-renowned Delicate Arch Trail, the Delicate Arch Viewpoint Trail is a lot less known, as so few visitors explore this trail, located just down the road.
For this reason, the Upper Delicate Arch Viewpoint makes for one of the best places to enjoy a much less-crowded view of the Delicate Arch, at a fraction of the effort that it takes to hike the main trail!
Read My Separate Post: Delicate Arch Viewpoint Trail
15. Arches Private Tour Guide
With so much to see and do in Arches National Park, sometimes planning a trip can be best experienced through one of the local operators out of Moab.
This is a perfect option if you feel that hiking isn’t your strong suit or you’d rather take the advice of one of the experts in Moab.
Either way, an Arches National Park private tour can be one of the best ways to experience the park, especially to try and beat the crowds!
Why am I Recommending these Viator Tours?
One of my favorite things about booking through Viator is the reserve-now-and-pay-later option. As long as you’re booking more than three days in advance, you have the option to book ahead and cancel in the future if you change your mind.
Additionally, I’ve included these tours because exploring hard-to-get-to areas, like the backcountry, might not be the way you want to go. Therefore, the tour options I’ve listed are a safe and amazing way to experience Moab and the greater area, and they offer the opportunity to discover nearby adventures that you may not have heard of otherwise!
20 Best Things to Do Near Moab
Since Moab is so far east in Utah, recommending the best things to do in the area entirely depends on what direction you’re driving to or from.
Therefore, the list below is fairly broad, but I wanted to include a list of adventures within a few hours in any direction of Moab, which is why these recommendations come from Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico!
1. Dead Horse Point State Park (Sunset)
Dead Horse Point feels like a hidden gem in Moab compared to the nearby National Parks that draw most of the attention.
By this, I mean that Dead Horse Point is not a part of either National Park, but it’s managed entirely separate under the Utah Division of State Parks.
Being the case, there is a separate small entrance fee to visit Dead Horse Point. However, if you’re looking for something a little different to do in the Moab area, Dead Horse Point makes for an amazing spot to watch the sunset, and you might even recognize the area from one of many movies that were filmed at this exact location!
Google Maps Directions: Dead Horse Point
2. Moab Canyoneering
Desert canyoneering is easily one of the best things to do in Moab, as there are a ton of options to choose from, with both half-day and full-day tours, as well as options that are great for singles, couples, and families with kids!
In any case, the first three options are all the best half-day tours, while the last three are all the best full-day adventures!
3. Moab Brewery
Moab Brewery is my favorite spot to grab a burger and beer after enjoying a long day in either Arches or Canyonlands!
I say this even after trying some of the other breweries in town, because, in my opinion, none are as good as Moab Brewery, located just south of downtown.
Yelp: Moab Brewery
4. Ice Lake & Columbine Lake Trail
Distance (Ice Lake): 8.8 miles / 14.1 km
Distance (Columbine Lake): 8.3 miles / 13.4 km
Compared to some of my other Utah recommendations below, the Ice Lake and Columbine Lake Trails in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado are actually a closer drive to Moab than a number of the other Southwest adventures on this list.
For this reason, I couldn’t recommend going out of the way to either of these stunning alpine lakes any more if you’ll be driving anywhere east of Moab!
Read My Separate Post: Ice Lake Trail / Columbine Lake Trail
My Print - Columbine Lake
5. Moab 4x4 Adventures
Being that there are so many beautiful canyons, arches, and endless miles of open desert, off-roading in Moab is truly a locals’ pastime!
Therefore, I couldn’t recommend one of these off-roading tours any more, as they can be one of the best ways to see Moab without the same crowds that the parks inevitably draw.
6. Jailhouse Café
There’s absolutely no question that the historic Jailhouse Café is the best place in Moab to sit down for breakfast!
This beautiful little café has a long history in Moab, as it was once the original county courthouse and jail that dates back to the late 1800s.
Subsequently, the courthouse served numerous different purposes, including a post office and a store, among others, but since 1992, the building was purchased and renovated into the quaint little Jailhouse Café that locals and visitors love today!
Yelp: Jailhouse Café
7. Moab Helicopter Tour
With the La Sal Mountains to the east and both Arches and Canyonlands on either side of Moab, having the opportunity to see this stunning desert landscape from above is easily one of the best things to do across the Southwest—especially if you can book an early morning or late evening flight when the softer light really makes colors come out!
8. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
If you’re driving east toward the San Juan Mountains because of my Columbine Lake recommendation, don’t skip over a visit to one of America’s most stunning and least-visited National Parks in the country!
That being said, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park feel like a hidden gem compared to both Arches and Canyonlands, making it one of my favorite places to hike in an otherwise very popular part of the country.
Read My Separate Post: Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
9. Antelope Canyon Tour
Antelope Canyon and everything that Page, Arizona, has to offer is only a four-and-a-half-hour drive away from Moab!
That being said, one of the biggest questions regarding both Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon is, which tour is better?
Personally, I’ve been fortunate enough to enjoy both tours. So, if you’d like to read about my honest side-by-side comparison about both canyons, I highly recommend checking out my separate article linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Upper vs. Lower Antelope Canyon
Lower Antelope Canyon
My Print - Upper Antelope Canyon
Upper Antelope Canyon
10. Horseshoe Bend
Distance: 1.0 miles / 1.6 km
You can’t talk about Page without mentioning Horseshoe Bend!
This is because Horseshoe Bend is easily one of the best things to do in Page, AZ, and it’s truly a must-see if you’re already making the trip to see Antelope Canyon.
Personally, I love visiting Horseshoe Bend at sunset, but the soft morning light at sunrise is equally a favorite among both hikers and photographers.
Google Maps Directions: Horseshoe Bend Trailhead
11. Shop Local National Park Gear
About as local as you can get, a few of my good friends out of St. George, Utah, design their own National Park gear from parks around the country.
My camera strap, made by my friends at WildTree, has been my longest-standing camera strap that I’ve owned, and I encourage you to check them out over any of the overpriced souvenirs in Moab.
Shop: WildTree
12. Antica Forma
Antica Forma is the best pizza and Italian restaurant in Moab, and just like the Moab Brewery mentioned above, Antica Forma is a great filling choice after spending a long day in either Arches or Canyonlands National Park!
Yelp: Antica Forma
13. Goblin Valley State Park
Located between Moab and Capitol Reef National Park, Goblin Valley State Park is one of the most beautiful places to visit for the day, and know that my old photo surely doesn’t show how beautiful this place really is!
Nevertheless, the Goblin’s Lair is easily my favorite part of Goblin Valley, but there are so many unique rock formations to explore, located only a few minutes from the main parking lot.
Google Maps Directions: Goblin Valley State Park
14. Cassidy Arch Trail
Distance: 3.1 miles / 5.0 km
Like Goblin Valley mentioned above, the Cassidy Arch Trail is a must-do if you’ll be anywhere near Hanksville, Utah.
Furthermore, the Cassidy Arch is a fairly easy out-and-back day hike, and it makes for a really fun sunrise adventure—like the photo below—when I was visiting during one of the hotter times of the year.
AllTrails: Cassidy Arch Trail
15. Singha Thai Cuisine
Personally, I love finding dine-in restaurants that are different from the traditional American options that can be found in small towns across the West, and Singha Thai is the perfect choice for a great, healthy meal on the road!
Yelp: Singha Thai Cuisine
16. Peek-a-Boo & Spooky Slot Canyons
Distance: 6.0 miles / 9.7 km
The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful places to explore in southern Utah. However, don’t underestimate how much of an adventure Hole-in-the-Rock Road is on its own!
What I mean by this is that most adventures out of Escalante, like Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Slot Canyons, begin down the long, remote Hole-in-the-Rock Road.
Personally, I’ve driven this remote stretch many times, both in a 2WD and 4WD, which may be necessary, depending on the time of year you’re visiting—such as during the summer monsoonal rains that can wash out sections of the road.
Therefore, it’s important to be prepared for the current conditions, which is why I recommend calling the Escalante Interagency Visitor Center prior to making a visit.
In any case, Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Gulch are some of the best day hikes outside of Escalante, but if you’d like more of a guarantee on this epic and remote adventure, I recommend booking with one of the local guides out of Kanab!
AllTrails: Peek-a-Boo & Spooky Slot Canyons
17. Four Corners
Four Corners Monument is not often a convenient stop when driving across the Southwest, but if you happen to be making your way between Petrified Forest, Moab, Mesa Verde National Park or even Albuquerque, then I highly recommend making the trip out of the way to Four Corners!
This quick stop may be just to 'say you did it,' but even still, I think that Four Corners makes for a nice place to get out of the car, stretch your legs, and simply break up a long day on the road.
Google Maps Directions: Four Corners Monument
18. Bryce Canyon National Park
There’s truly too much to write about this amazing National Park in just a couple of sentences, but if you’re heading west from Moab to do all of the parks across southern Utah, don’t skip spending a day or two hiking though the hoodoos in Bryce Canyon.
Read My Separate Post: Bryce Canyon National Park
My Print - Bryce Canyon National Park
19. Fiesta Mexicana
If you’re looking for some good Mexican food, consider Fiesta Mexicana, located right in the heart of downtown Moab!
Their menu is one of the biggest I’ve ever seen, to the point where it can feel overwhelming! However, everything I’ve tried over the years is always a winner, and everyone in your group will surely be happy with the amount of amazing options that they offer!
Yelp: Fiesta Mexicana
20. Dinosaur National Monument
Dinosaur National Monument easily makes my top 20 list, but in terms of being near Moab, Dinosaur is the odd one out.
By this, I mean that most of the best things on this list are in the general Utah, Arizona, and Colorado area, making Dinosaur National Monument the most out-of-the-way adventure on this list.
However, I absolutely recommend going out of your way to see Dinosaur if you’re coming from or heading to northern Utah/ southern Idaho, but if not, keep Dinosaur on your list for a future trip!
Google Maps Directions: Dinosaur National Monument
