Two Days in Arches National Park

Our visit to Arches National Park is the perfect example of a typical trip that we take while balancing full-time jobs. After 8-weeks in Asia, our vacation balances took a serious hit which has brought us here to this quick weekend trip to Utah.A late night flight from Boston to Salt Lake City and a four hour drive from Salt Lake City to Moab, left us with only two full days to spend in Arches. Needless to say, we maximized our time. Below is our two day itinerary that hit the majority of the highlights that the park has to offer.

Day 1

Our flight landed in Salt Lake City after midnight. We woke up early and after minimal sleep, started the drive to Moab. We entered Arches by noon and the jaw dropping scenery immediately made us forget that we were sleep deprived and had already spent four hours in the car.

The stunning landscape made us pull over for photos as we took in a view of the Three Gossips, Sheep Rock, and the Tower of Babel.My brother Robert, organized this weekend away and we were lucky to have him as our trip planner and guide. He has visited the park several times and he knows all the tricks for seeing the popular sights and avoiding the crowds. Our first hike was certainly off the beaten path as we didn’t encounter anyone on the trail and we lost the trail a few times. We parked near the Petrified Dunes Viewpoint and set out in search of the arch tunnel. The scenery was stunning as we hiked behind the Great Wall and into the desert.Robert put on his guide hat and explained that while the soil may appear to be barren, it is actually living and it took many years for the soil to create biological crusts. These crusts which he called “crypto” provide valuable resources to the plants. The living organism can be destroyed with a single step, so it is important to watch where you walk in the desert! One step can drastic environmental repercussions.After an hour hike we found the tunnel arch and had a great time climbing up and exploring it. The hike was about 4-5 miles round trip.After going off the beaten path we finished up the day by seeing some popular sites close the to the road. First up was Balanced Rock, located just off the road you can’t miss it!Then we drove over to the Windows and saw North Window, South Window, Turret Arch, and Double Arch.It was at this point when we started to lose steam, so we headed into Moab and had dinner at the Moab Brewery. Good food and beer at great prices, even with Utah’s strict alcohol laws. Once our bellies were full the sleep deprivation started to kick in. We went to bed earlier than expected in the tiny house that we rented on Airbnb.

Day 2

Since it was a Saturday and our only full day in the park, we got an early start so we could beat the crowds and use every minute exploring the beauty of Arches National Park.

We drove past the road to our first hike, but we turned around at Skyline Arch and of course stopped for a photo. To reach the trailhead for Tower Arch, we had to drive down a long dirt road through the salt valley. This road is impassable after heavy rains, but we got lucky and had no rain on this trip (unlikely for our travel record). After stopping to watch a few prairie dogs, we reached the trailhead of Tower Arch (around 10am) and we were the second car there. Tower Arch is about a 3-mile out and back trip. There is an option for a shorter hike to the arch, but it requires taking a four-wheel drive road.The views on this hike were incredible and we had the whole area all to ourselves.When we reached the breathtaking tower arch, there was a group of people that had hiked in from the shorter four-wheel drive trailhead. Thankfully, they were leaving and we were left alone with this majestic arch.We relaxed in the sun for awhile, before starting the hike back to the car. We passed a lot of hikers on our way back and to no surprise the trailhead parking was full when we returned.

Our second stop for the day was at Devil’s Garden. This area is extremely popular and parking was a challenge. There are several arches in Devil’s Garden and many are easily accessible for any hiking level. We didn’t opt for the 7-mile loop, but we did hike out to see Tunnel Arch, Pine Tree Arch, and Landscape Arch. Once we reached Landscape Arch, we decided to return to the car. The total hike was 2-miles.We made a quick stop at Sand Dune Arch, an easily accessible arch that is close to the road. It is popular for families and small children and the trailhead information labeled it as an “easy stroll”. It is located in-between sheer sandstone walls that are called fins. This arch ended up being one of my favorites as the colors were amazing inside the fin.Our final hike of the day was to Delicate Arch, but first we refueled by eating some rice and bean burritos in the parking lot. Thanks to Robert, we had an awesome planed camping meal, washed down with some cold beer.

The hike to Delicate Arch is not an easy one. It is a steady uphill 2-mile hike and you are exposed to the sun the entire time. It is not impossible to do, as many people do it every day, but appropriate hiking clothes and water are a must. Even though it is a popular hike, it is definitely not overrated. As soon as I turned the final corner and caught my first glance of Delicate Arch in person I couldn’t help but to immediately yell “Wow”.There were a ton of people there (including a bride and groom in full wedding day attire), but it didn’t take away from the beauty of the golden arch in the setting sun. I would highly recommend this hike to anyone visiting Arches. If the long hike isn’t for you, you can opt to check out Lower or Upper Delicate Arch viewpoint.

In the blink of an eye our two days at Arches National Park came to an end. We started our Sunday morning at Eklecticafe in Moab for a hearty and delicious breakfast. Then we made a quick stop at the Visitors Center of Arches to check out the information on display, watch the informational movie, and of course stop by the gift shop. After the four hour drive back to Salt Lake City, we had time for a quick stop at the Utah State House. Then it was off to the airport for a long flight back to Boston.

Tips for Visiting Arches National Park

Arches National Park is truly a remarkable area. It is home to over 2,000 arches. I thought we saw a lot of arches during our visit, but we barely scratched the surface.

Tip #1: Plan a trip here! Stone arches may only last a few thousand years, Wall Arch fell in 2008, so take our advice and visit Arches National Park. It will be a trip you won’t forget.

Tip #2: Arrive early to the park each day, especially during weekends and high travel season. You may end up waiting in a traffic jam for more than an hour to even get in the park. Wake up early to get in before the crowds and enjoy the views before the heat of the day.

Tip #3: Pack food and drinks in a cooler. There is no food for sale in the park, so if you plan in advance you can eat your meals without having to leave and come back in. This will save you time, money, and help you maximize your time in the park!

Tip #4: Drink water! Staying hydrated in the desert sounds obvious, but it is an important tip to remember. There are some water fountains available at popular trailheads, but be sure to plan in case there is no water available.

On our next visit… The guided hikes of the Fiery Furnace had not started for the season during our trip. If we visit Arches again in the future, this guided hike will be top on our list!

We hope you enjoyed this Two Days in Arches National Park Itinerary. Have you been to Arches? Feel free to leave us comments with your tips for visiting National Parks.