One Day at Arches National Park

Arches National Park has over 2,000 natural stone arches, hundreds of soaring pinnacles, massive rock fins, and giant balanced rocks.

We had one day to see the park with our young son and opted for short hikes to keep it easy and fun for everyone.

Entering the Park

We entered after 4 p.m., so we didn’t need a timed admission. This is required and done online from April through the end of October from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Going this late in the day allowed for more wildlife viewing and cooler conditions.

The line to get into the park was about 15 minutes.

*My son posing outside of the Arches National Park Visitors Center*

ARCHES VISITOR CENTER

The Arches Visitor Center is generally open every day except December 25. Hours vary by season. You can learn about the park from exhibits and a bookstore. Rangers are on duty to answer your questions. Restrooms and drinking water are available.

*Drive up towards the central part of the national park.*

START OF THE DRIVE

Next, we drove up the steep road into the park’s main area, admiring the tall sandstone formations above us.

Our first photo stop was at the Courthouse Towers Viewpoint. Here, you can hike among these huge stonewalls that remind people of a courthouse. The round-trip hike on a natural surface is 1.8 miles and has 322 feet of elevation gain.

Next, we stopped at the Broken Arch overlook. An informational sign shows how the arch once looked before it broke off the sandstone formations.

BALANCED ROCK

Our first hike was the loop at Balanced Rock, which rises to a staggering 128 feet. Balanced Rock defies gravity, but this won’t always be the case. Eventually, the 3,600-ton boulder will collapse as the erosional process shapes the landscape. In the winter of 1975-76, Balanced Rock’s smaller sibling, “Chip-Off-the-Old-Block,” collapsed.

The Hike

This is a loop trail, which is partly paved. It is 0.3 miles with 35 feet of elevation gain. After parking, we started our loop hike at Balanced Rock by first heading right from the trailhead. As we progressed along the loop, we moved closer to Balanced Rock for a better view.

*Rock formations you can see as you hike around Balanced Rock.*

In the distance, you can see more sandstone structures and the distant La Sal Mountains.

Nearby, a rock structure looked like a raised hand to us.

Then I heard movement and saw a brown-skinned lizard moving about the rock.

Final Thoughts

This was an easy walk with unique views of Balanced Rock. It was well worth the stop.

WINDOWS VIEWPOINT AND TRAIL

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.

Start of the Hike

We parked in the large lot and headed towards the Windows, which were visible in the distance. The round-trip hike with stairs is 1 mile and gains 99 feet of elevation. Starting the walk, it was wide and sandy.

*Stairs leading to the Windows and Turret Arch*

North Window

At 0.1 miles, we reached the start of the loop and chose the left trail, which leads to the North Window. Stairs begin in this section.

Along the trail, on a rock face, you can see the start of another arch.

*Up by the arch. The main blog photo shows the view of going up to the arch.*

We climbed down onto the rocky surface below, taking in the views.

After viewing the North Window, we continued on. At 0.3 miles, I turned left onto the trail leading to the South Window Viewpoint, where fewer people were present.

Next, we headed back to the loop trail and went left towards the Turret Arch. At 0.5 miles, we reached the closest point to Turret Arch, then retraced our steps back to the trailhead.

Final Thoughts

If you want to see quite a few arches on a fairly simple trail system in one area, then this is worth the stop.

Double Arch

Know that the Double Arch trail, across the road and in the parking area, is 0.6 miles out and back with 30 feet of elevation gain.

SAND DUNE ARCH

This arch is found in a sandy area in a hidden, steep-walled canyon. It was my son’s favorite stop in the national park. He enjoyed playing in the sand the most; it is worth stopping if you have kids.

Start of the Hike

This is a 0.4-mile out-and-back hike on a natural surface trail. We headed towards the rock pinnacles.

*Going to the right for the Sand Dune Arch.*

At 0.1 miles, we reached a junction and turned right toward Sand Dune Arch. If you go left instead, you will be on the Connector Trail.

*Hiking through the slot to Sand Dune Arch.*

The trail narrows as it passes through a slot in the canyon. Emerging from the narrow canyon, we entered a red sandy area.

*Andrew standing below the Sand Dune Arch.*

Sand Dune Arch Area

At the 0.2-mile mark, look far to your right to spot Sand Dune Arch.

My son took some time to play around in the sand. Then we went up to take photos under the arch.

*Walking around the area. Realize that you probably will not be alone here.*

We walked a little further past the arch until we reached the end of the maintained path.

Return Trip

As we came out of the canyon area, we found mule deer all about. The best part about seeing the arches at the end of the day is seeing wildlife. They were also close by and right off the path. We had to point them out to some people since they blend in well with the grass.

Final Thoughts

If you want a short hike to a hidden arch and your kid wants to play in the sand, this is an awesome stop.

People hiking down to the Delicate Arch, which is famous one in the national park, but harder to get to.

MORE HIKES AND A WARNING

The park has many more hikes, but these are the easiest ones to explore with the kids. You could spend multiple days hiking here. Check the website if you want to do longer ones. Make sure to note that some hikes are in remote areas and can only be reached by all-terrain vehicles. Also, bring plenty of water in the middle of the day, it can get up into the 100s, and in winter, it can get really cold. Also, be careful walking on the rocky and sandy terrain.

DETAILS

Admission: $30 Per Vehicle; Annual Pass $55; America the Beautiful Pass (Includes Senior Passes) FREE-$80

Open Times

Arches National Park is generally open 24 hours a day, year-round. In March (when the timed-entry pilot program is not in effect), when parking lots fill to capacity, they may have to temporarily delay additional park entries. Visitors who encounter a closed gate may return in a few hours or consider visiting other nearby destinations.

From April 1 through October 31, 2025, visitors entering the park in a vehicle between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. must have already purchased a Timed Entry Ticket from Recreation.gov before arriving. One ticket is needed per vehicle, except for people with camping, backcountry, Fiery Furnace, or special use permits; nor those with concessions contracts, commercial use authorizations, or academic fee waivers; nor for Tribal visits.

Traffic

Between March and October, wait times at the park entrance may exceed 30-45 minutes.
For more information on traffic conditions in the area around Moab and Arches National Park, visit the Utah Department of Transportation Traffic Site.

Weather

Spring and fall bring pleasant weather. These are the busiest seasons in the park, thanks to the mild conditions. Summers can be hot, with daytime temperatures over 100 degrees. Winters can be cold, with occasional snow or ice.

Directions

The entrance to Arches National Park is north of Moab, Utah.

From Moab, drive north on US 191 for five miles or
From Interstate 70 (Crescent Junction), drive south on US 191 for 22 miles.

Address: Arches National Park Visitor Center, Moab, UT 84532

*our son really enjoyed the heated pool. You can see Canyonlands National Park in the distance.*

Our Hotel: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Moab, an IHG Hotel

The hotel is close to Arches National Park and is also outside of Moab. If you want to be close to restaurants and shops, then you might stay in Moab. We wanted a quieter vacation. We recommend this hotel, with a heated pool, breakfast, and close to attractions.

Address: 1515 N Hwy 191, Moab, UT 84532

Dinner: Dewey’s Restaurant and Bar

We ordered out from Dewey’s Restaurant and Bar which has burgers and bar food. We were late leaving the national park, and the restaurants in town were already full, so this was a great option for us.

Address: 57 S Main St, Moab, UT 84532