Arches National Park Spring Hikes

Arches National Park in the spring is an incredible destination in southeast Utah for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. Exploring the various Arches National Park spring hikes is one of the best ways to enjoy the spectacular landscapes at the park.

This Arches National Park travel guide will detail the best spring hiking trails, what to pack, where to stay and more!

There are a variety of Arches National Park hiking trails from easy strolls to more strenuous hikes. If you’re looking for an adventure this spring, consider taking a hike at Arches National Park!

Be sure to reference our Arches National Park packing list so you know what to pack for your spring trip.

We’ve made it easy for you to plan your Arches National Park activities and hikes with these done-for-you itineraries:

• Arches National Park in One Day
• Two Days in Arches National Park
• Three Days in Arches National Park
• Arches National Park and Canyonlands in One Day

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A Photo Tour of Arches National Park

Take a visual tour through Arches National Park to see the stunning landscapes you’ll see when you visit!

Visiting Arches National Park in the Spring

When you visit Arches National Park in the spring, the temperatures are “just right” for hiking:

• Arches in March: Highs 64° | Lows 35° F
• Arches in April: Highs 71° | Lows 42° F 
• Arches in May: Highs 82° | Lows 51° F

But Arches is a small park and it’s a popular destination for spring break in Utah so be prepared for crowds!

And you’ll need an Arches Timed Entry ticket in April and May to enter the park from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily

Tips for Spring Hiking at Arches National Park

One of the best Arches National Park spring activities is hiking. It’s important to be prepared with the right clothing and gear for spring hikes at Arches!

Spring Clothing for Hiking

Arches National Park in early spring will still have cold mornings so layers are key.

• Clothing: Loose-fitting, light-colored, and wicking clothing is recommended for hiking at Arches.
• Sunhat: Sun protection is a must at Arches in the spring.
• Fleece jackets: A jacket is perfect for that morning layer when the temperatures are cool.
• Darn Tough hiking socks: Do not wear cotton socks. Darn Tough Socks are comfortable, breathe well, and prevent blisters!
• Waterproof hiking shoes: Spring rain is common so be sure your hiking shoes are waterproof. Be sure the shoes are sturdy with good tread and traction.

Spring Hiking Gear

Here’s the spring hiking gear we recommend for exploring Arches:

• Water: Carry and drink at least two liters of water. Use refillable water bottles or hydration packs. You can get water at the Visitor Center and Devil’s Garden Trailhead. We carry Propel powder packets to add to our water to help replace electrolytes.
• Sunscreen: Apply sunscreen to all exposed skin! Due to the dry heat at Arches, you’ll also want lip balm and lotion!
• First aid kit: No matter whether your hike is long or short, always pack a hiking first aid kit. Make sure your first aid kit has the essentials like plasters, bandages, anti-bacterial wipes, etc. 
• Headlamps: If you’ll be hiking in the morning or late afternoon, carry a headlamp so you’re prepared in case you need to hike in the dark.
• Snacks: Pack salty and easy to digest snack to replace electrolytes.
  • Healthy granola bar recipes
  • Healthy protein snack recipes
  • Gluten free snack recipes
  • Vegan snack bar recipes

Arches National Park Spring Hikes

Here are the best hikes in Arches National Park we recommend for spring hiking to see the incredible landscapes at this park!

Park Avenue Spring Hike

• Trailhead & Parking Area: Park Avenue Trailhead
• Distance: 2 mile roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 187 feet
• Difficulty Level: Easy

The Park Avenue Trail follows the bottom of a canyon below some of the park’s gigantic and well-known monoliths. In the spring you might see flowers along this hike.

The Park Avenue hike is a one-way trail if you have two cars or a shuttle vehicle. The trail is a little over one mile taking you from the Park Avenue trailhead to the Courthouse Towers parking lot. This is where you would leave your second vehicle or have someone that doesn’t want to hike pick you up.

If that’s not an option, just head back the way you came through the towering sandstone for a nice 2 mile round-trip adventure.

The latter part of the hiking trail has good views of the famous Arches landmarks: The Organ, Tower of Babel and the Three Gossips.

Balanced Rock Spring Hike

• Trailhead & Parking Area: Balanced Rock Trailhead
• Distance: 0.3 mile roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 45 feet
• Difficulty Level: Easy

In the spring, the backdrop at Balanced Rock is the snow-covered La Sal Mountains. It’s definitely worth the time to walk along the Balanced Rock trail because this stone structure looks different as you walk around it. It’s an easy, short loop hike that takes you close to and around the Balanced Rock.

The Windows Section Spring Hikes

• Trailhead & Parking Area: The Windows Trailhead
• Distance: 1 mile roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 187 feet
• Difficulty Level: Easy

The Windows Section of Arches National Park is a cool area with a lot to see. The Windows Trail loop is under 2 miles. You’ll see these two features along the loop hike: North and South Windows and Turret Arch.

From the viewpoint of South Window, there’s a primitive loop trail to see the back side of North and South Window. This trail ends at the parking lot about 50 yards north of the main trailhead.

Double Arch Spring Hike

• Trailhead & Parking Area: Double Arch Trailhead
• Distance: 0.5 mile roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 32 feet
• Difficulty Level: Easy

On the other side of the Windows parking area is the Double Arch trail. It’s easy and super short. You can see it from the parking lot, but you’ll definitely want to get up close to this one.

Double Arch features two giant arches right next to each other! You can scramble up the rocks here, but remember that climbing up is easier than climbing back down.

Delicate Arch Spring Hike

• Trailhead & Parking Area: Wolfe Ranch
• Distance: 3 miles roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 610 feet
• Difficulty Level: Moderate

You’ll enjoy moderate temperatures hiking to Delicate Arch in the spring. It’s three miles round-trip with stairs and steep sections on slickrock.

But it will also be a crowded trail, especially at sunset when it’s the best time to photograph this arch. Since Delicate Arch trail is one of the best hikes in Arches National Park, you might consider doing this hike in the morning.

Don’t be afraid to walk around and see and photograph Delicate Arch from different angles.

Lower Delicate Arch Viewpoint Spring Hike

If you want to see Delicate Arch, but can’t do the hike that takes you right to the arch, check out the Lower Delicate Arch Viewpoint. The viewpoint is about 100 yards from the lower viewpoint parking lot where you can see the arch about a mile away.

You can access the Upper Viewpoint Trail from this same location. It’s a short .5 mile hike with a few stairs to climb that will get you a little closer to the arch.

You can’t get all the way to Delicate Arch from here. But it does provide a slightly less obstructed view from what you see at the Lower Viewpoint.

Sand Dune Arch and Broken Arch Spring Hikes

• Trailhead & Parking Area: Sand Dune Arch
• Distance: 2 miles roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 226 feet
• Difficulty Level: Easy

The Sand Dune Arch trail is a spur off the Broken Arch trail. It’s a fun and unique hike because the arch is located in an ‘almost’ slot canyon.

If you’re visiting Arches National Park with kids, Sand Dune Arch sits in the shade for most of the day so it’s a great hike to take a break and let the kids play in the cool sand!

The Broken Arch trail continues past the Sand Dune Trail. This trail often gets bypassed, but it’s an easy, flat hike and you won’t encounter many people on it.

After reaching Broken Arch, you can climb up a slickrock section to continue through the arch. It’s a nice view looking back through the from there.

You can also hike to Tapestry Arch and the Devil’s Garden campground from here.

Skyline Arch Spring Hike

• Trailhead & Parking Area: Skyline Arch
• Distance: 0.4 mile roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 28 feet
• Difficulty Level: Easy

Skyline Arch sits high atop rocks in the Devils Garden area and can be seen from the Arches National Park scenic drive. Most people stop at the pullout, take a picture, then drive on.

We recommend the short hike to get a good view of the arch! You can also drive to the Devil’s Campground amphitheater and take the paved path to see Skyline Arch from the other side.

Landscape Arch Spring Hike

• Trailhead & Parking Area: Devil’s Garden Trailhead
• Distance: 1.9 miles roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 40 feet
• Difficulty Level: Easy

Landscape Arch is the longest arch in North America at 306 feet! It’s a popular point of interest along the Devil’s Garden Trail. Many people will hike to the arch and back.

We recommend you also take the two short and easy spur trails near the beginning of the hike to visit Tunnel Arch and Pine Tree Arch.

Devil’s Garden Spring Hike

• Trailhead & Parking Area: Devil’s Garden Trailhead
• Distance: varies
• Elevation Gain: varies
• Difficulty Level: Moderate to Strenuous

Along the full Devil’s Garden Trail you’ll see arches, spires, and fins (narrow rock walls). Spring is a nice time of year to enjoy the moderate temperatures along this hike. Be sure to start early since it’s a popular location and the parking lot fills fast!

There are a variety of points of interest on this hike. Here are the hiking distances to reach each destination:

BUY AT AMAZON: Arches and Canyonlands Guides and Maps

Spring Hiking Ideas

• Spring Hiking Ideas in the US
• Canyonlands Hikes
• Dead Horse Point State Park Hiking Trails
• Moab Utah Hiking Trails

Places to Stay at Arches National Park in the Spring

• Arches National Park Camping
• Hotels near Arches National Park
• Glamping Near Arches National Park
• RV Parks Near Arches National Park