Hiking the Broken Arch Trail in Arches National Park
Distance: 2.1 miles / 3.4 km
The Broken Arch Trail, sometimes called the Broken Arch Loop Trail, is one of Arches' least-hiked trails, next to other more popular adventures like the nearby Devil’s Garden Trail.
For this reason, I think the Broken Arch Trail makes for a great and relatively easy day hike when you’re looking for an alternative adventure to escape some of Arches’ busiest areas.
Broken Arch Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Broken Arch Trail is located within the Devil’s Garden Campground.
That being said, do not park at any campsite that is not reserved by your party, as the Devil’s Garden Campground is typically booked full throughout the spring, summer, and fall travel season.
This is all without saying that the Broken Arch Trail and the Sand Dune Arch Trail are commonly hiked as one 3.0-mile (4.8 km) adventure, as opposed to separately, meaning that the Broken Arch Trail can and is often hiked from either trailhead.
To learn more about this longer adventure, you can read about the Connector Trail at the end of this article or by clicking here.
Google Maps Directions: Broken Arch Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Arches
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Arches National Park.
Hiking the Broken Arch Trail
The Broken Arch Loop Trail can either begin by hiking from the North or South Trailhead.
Personally, I prefer to hike through Devil’s Garden Campground to the South Trailhead first and finish here at the North Broken Arch Trailhead, which is what’s shown below.
Devil’s Garden Campgound
To get to the South Broken Arch Trailhead, go left at the loop at the end of Devil’s Garden Campground Road, and the South Trailhead can be found between campsites 50 and 51.
South Broken Arch Trailhead
This is the South Broken Arch Trailhead near campsite 51.
The 'Fins'
After leaving the campground, the Broken Arch Trail passes through the 'fins,' a section that I believe is one of the most beautiful parts on the entire loop, at only 0.2 miles (0.3 km) into the hike.
Sand Dune-Broken Arch Connector Junction
Shortly after the 'fins', the Broken Arch Loop Trail meets with the 0.3-mile (0.5 km) Connector Trail—the trail that connects the Broken Arch and Sand Dune Arch Trails together.
This is where you can either go left to continue around the Broken Arch Trail, or right to begin the Connector Trail over to the Sand Dune Arch.
To learn more about the Connector Trail, click here to skip to the end.
Read My Separate Post: Sand Dune Arch Trail
Following the Sand Dune-Broken Arch Connector junction, the Broken Arch starts to become visible for the first time.
Broken Arch
After just 0.25 miles (0.4 km) from the previous split, the Broken Arch Trail arrives at the Broken Arch, which is just one of only a few trails in the entire park that pass directly through an arch!
Compared to other scrambles, like the Double O Arch on the Devil’s Garden Trail, this scramble up and through the Broken Arch is not nearly as difficult.
On the far side of the Broken Arch, the loop continues north toward the Tapestry Arch junction, located about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) up the trail.
On the east side of the Broken Arch Loop, the Utah Junipers and Piñon Pines are some of the only places to find shade from the hot summer sun.
Broken Arch Loop-Tapestry Arch Junction
Next, the Broken Arch Trail splits with the Tapestry Arch Trail, which is sometimes skipped by visitors hiking the loop, making the Tapestry Arch one of the least-crowded arches in the park.
Tapestry Arch Trail
The Tapestry Arch Trail is a 0.2 mile (0.3 km) one-way hike off the main Broken Arch Loop.
Tapestry Arch
At the end of the 0.2-mile (0.3 km) trail, the towering Tapestry Arch spans high above the desert floor below.
Furthermore, the Tapestry Arch can be scrambled up to, but it is definitely not the easier of the two arches to see on the full loop.
Broken Arch Loop-Tapestry Arch Junction
To continue back to the Broken Arch Trailhead, go right once back at the previous junction.
Broken Arch Trailhead (Devil’s Garden Campground)
Overall, the Broken Arch Trail is a great day hike in Arches National Park to see some of what most park visitors often skip over.
I especially recommend the loop if you are staying at the Devil’s Garden Campground, as it, along with the scramble up to the Skyline Arch, are two of the best things to do while camping in the area.
Broken Arch Connector Trail
This is the Broken Arch Connector Trail, located about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) from the South Trailhead, and it is commonly treated as one longer 3.0-mile (4.8 km) adventure with the Sand Dune Arch Trail.
In any case, you can learn more about the Sand Dune Arch Trail, as its own adventure, in my separate article.
Read My Separate Post: Sand Dune Arch Trail
Sand Dune Arch Trail
This is where Broken Arch Connector Trail ends after 0.3 miles (0.5 km).
All said, you can learn more about the Sand Dune Arch Trail by reading my separate article linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Sand Dune Arch Trail
