Arches National Park
Arches National Park
Good news for 2026: Arches eliminated its timed-entry reservation system in February. As of this year, no advance permit is required to enter the park during regular operating hours. The previous system (2022-2025) required booked timed-entry slots from 7am to 4pm during peak season; that is now gone. You can arrive without a reservation. This changes the logistics considerably from what older travel guides describe.
The park is 5 miles north of Moab in eastern Utah and holds over 2,000 cataloged natural sandstone arches, the largest concentration anywhere. The entry fee is $35 per vehicle, valid for 7 days. Peak season is April through October.
What to See
Delicate Arch is on the Utah license plate and is the most famous arch in the state. The 3-mile round trip hike gains about 480 feet of elevation through slickrock terrain. Allow 2-3 hours. The arch is best photographed at sunset when the sandstone glows red-orange; plan to arrive at the trailhead at least 2 hours before sunset and be aware that sunset hikes mean descending in fading light. Bring a headlamp regardless.
Landscape Arch on the Devils Garden Trail is one of the longest natural arches in North America at about 88 metres span. The Devils Garden Trail (7.2 miles return) passes 7 major arches including Landscape; the first 1.6 miles to Landscape Arch is flat and easy. Beyond Landscape Arch, the trail becomes more strenuous with some scrambling.
Fiery Furnace is a labyrinth of narrow sandstone fins that requires a ranger-guided tour (reservation required at recreation.gov, $16 per adult). The 2-3 hour experience accesses areas otherwise restricted and is worth booking; the geology is explained in context and the narrow corridors are genuinely striking.
Balanced Rock, a 55-foot boulder on a narrow pedestal, is visible from the road and accessible on a 0.3-mile loop trail. The Windows Section (nearby) has two large arches accessible on a 1-mile loop. Both are the right choice if you want the iconic formations without a long hike.
The Summer Heat Problem
June through August in the Moab desert consistently exceeds 38 degrees Celsius. Hiking during midday is genuinely dangerous: limited shade, reflective rock surfaces, and no wind. If you visit in summer, hike before 9am or after 5pm. Carry at least 2 litres of water per person per hour of hiking. This is not excessive caution; heat exhaustion in Arches is a consistent problem for underprepared visitors.
The best months are March-May and September-November: mild temperatures, good light, and since the reservation system is gone in 2026, manageable crowds without requiring a specific booking.
Moab as a Base
Moab is 5 miles south of the park entrance and has the full range of accommodation from basic motels to mid-range properties. The town also provides access to Canyonlands National Park (45 minutes south), Dead Horse Point State Park (30 minutes), and the Colorado River for rafting.
Moab Brewery does solid pub food after a hike. Sorted Climbing and Fitness on the main street has showers ($5) for people camping who want a wash before dinner.
The town gets very crowded in April-May and October. Moab accommodation books out on weekends; plan ahead or accept whatever is left.
Practical Notes
Arches is designated an International Dark Sky Park. Stargazing after the day crowds leave is exceptional: the Milky Way is visible to the naked eye on clear nights. Devils Garden Campground inside the park books out months ahead; otherwise camp on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land south of the park for free.
Stay on designated trails. The dark biological soil crust covering the desert floor between rocks takes 50-250 years to form and is destroyed by a single footstep off-trail.