Things to Do at Arches National Park

Arches National Park is located in southeast Utah and features over 2,000 natural sandstone arches! If you love the outdoors, you’ll find a ton of things to do at Arches National Park like hiking, biking, photography and more!

We live only a few hours away from Arches and have visited during all four seasons. As a result, we’ve created this Arches National Park travel guide to help you plan your vacation: activities, what to pack and where to stay.

Arches is one of the nine US National Parks requiring reservations. You must have a timed entry reservation to enter the park from April 1 to October 31. You can enter Arches National Park before 7am and after 4pm without an advance reservation.

Another tip for visiting Arches is to plan for the temperatures and weather for the time you’ll be at the park. Use our Arches National Park Packing List to make sure you have the right clothing and gear for visiting any time of year. Grab your free printable packing checklist by clicking the image below!

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Things to Do at Arches National Park

There are so many fun ways to explore Arches: hiking trails, scenic drive, rock climbing, off road driving and photography to name a few.

There are fun way to get the family excited before, during and after the trip with National Park activities:

• Arches National Park Coloring Page
• Arches National Park Facts
• National Park Activity Pack (FREE PRINTABLE)
• National Park Activity Books for Kids

All ages will enjoy collecting stamps in their National Park Passport book! Passport booklets and stamp sets are “usually” available at the park visitor centers, but we recommend you get the passport book before the trip, just in case!! We’ve seen sad kiddos when a visitor center is out of passport books. Rangers can stamp a piece of paper, but it’s not just the same experience!

Arches National Park Visitor Center

The Arches National Park Visitor Center is the first place you want to stop to get up-to-date information and conditions. It’s open every day of the year with a few seasonal closures.

Arches Ranger-led programs are a good way to get to know more about this unique National Park. Find out what activities are available during your stay in April: Patio Talk, Guided Walk, Evening Program, Fiery Furnace Hikes, and other Special Events like stargazing.

If you’re visiting Arches National Park with kids, be sure to grab the Junior Ranger booklet so they can earn their Junior Ranger Badge!

Arches Scenic Drive

Driving the Arches National Park scenic drive you can see “most” of the points of interest in the park. It’s a paved road that’s a total 43 miles, including the two short spur roads. Plan about 2 to 3 hours for the full drive, but add more time if you’ll be taking photos or hiking at any of the stops.

The few Arches National Park photo spots that can’t be seen from pullouts or parking lots are Delicate Arch, Landscape Arch, Turret Arch, and Double Arch. There is a Lower Delicate Arch Viewpoint to see the arch from a distance, and this is definitely a must-see if you can’t do the full Delicate Arch hike to see it up close.

Check out the Arches GuideAlong App to hear fun behind-the scenes stories and local tips that play automatically as you drive, based on your GPS location. We highly recommend this audio tour app!!

Guided Tours at Arches National Park

Booking a guided Arches National Park tours can significantly enhance your experience to learn more about the area and its history.

Some of the tours available in April include hiking, scenic drive, rock climbing, off road driving, and photography to name a few.

• Immersive Arches National Park All Day Hiking Experience
• Half-Day Private Guided Tour at Arches National Park
• Sunset and Night Photography Tour in Arches
• Day Photography in Arches, Canyonlands, & Moab
• Private Half-Day Canyoneering Tour Near Arches
• 4×4 Adventure in Arches National Park 

Photography at Arches National Park

The park is filled with endless Arches National Park photography opportunities. You’ve probably seen many iconic Arches National Park photos of Delicate Arch, Landscape Arch, Balanced Rock, Turret Arch and more!

Sunrise photo spots at Arches National Park: La Sal Overlook, Courthouse Towers, Turret Arch, and Delicate Arch.

Sunset photo spots at Arches National Park: Delicate Arch, Balanced Rock, Turret Arch, and Skyline Arch.

The morning is the best time to take Arches National Park pictures without people climbing on the rocks at Balanced Rock, Turret Arch, North Window, or Double Arch!

CHECK OUT our 3 day Arches & Canyonlands Itinerary and Photography Guide so you know all the best places and times to take pictures here!

Stargazing at Arches

Did you know that Arches National Park is internationally recognized as one of the best places to see the stars at night?

Due to its remote location and clear skies, you get to see, and photograph, some of the most incredible views of the night sky… and even the Milky Way! 

Good stargazing spots:

• Balanced Rock
• The Windows
• Garden of Eden Viewpoint
• Panorama Point

If you’ll be doing astrophotography, be sure to use a headlamp with a red light. The red light minimizes the disruption of night vision and allows you and other photographers around you to see their surroundings while preserving the sensitivity of their eyes to low-light conditions.

Hiking at Arches National Park

One of the best ways to appreciate the park is to explore the Arches National Park hiking trails. There are easy trails for families and casual hikers and strenuous trails for those who aren’t afraid of a challenge.

It’s hard to define the best hikes in Arches National Park, but here our picks for the easy and moderate trails. 

The easy trails we recommend are Balanced Rock, The Windows, and Double Arch. Kids, and adults, will love the Sand Dune Arch trail through a mini slot canyon and a nice shaded area to play in the sand.

The moderate trails we recommend are Delicate Arch, Devil’s Garden Trail or Park Avenue. And for the more difficult primitive trails you can do Fiery Furnace or Tower Arch.

When hiking it is especially important that you take the proper gear and plenty of water as well as dress in moisture-wicking layers.

• What to Bring on a Day Hike
• Hiking Gear and Tips for Kids
• Winter Clothing for Hiking
• Photography Gear for Hiking
• Best Cameras for Hiking

Camping in Arches National Park

If you’re interested in Arches National Park camping there’s only one small campground in the park. You will need to reserve a spot at Devil’s Garden Campground from March 1- October 31.

There are quite a few RV Parks near Arches National Park for camping in case you can’t get a spot in the park.

There are other camping options in Moab if you can’t get a reservation in Arches. Check out nearby Island in the Sky campgrounds or you can find BLM areas for camping around Moab.

Lodging Near Arches National Park

If camping isn’t your thing, there are a variety of options so you can find the best place to stay for your travel style and budget.

• Arches National Park Lodging
• Hotels near Arches National Park
• Cabins Near Arches National Park
• Glamping Near Arches National Park

BUY AT AMAZON: Arches and Canyonlands Guides and Maps

Arches National Park Travel Planner

We’ve created some done-for-you itineraries for visiting Arches depending on the time you have to spend at the park. Click the graphic below to get a free travel bundle that includes printable daily itineraries. Or click the links below to see detailed itineraries of the best things to do at Arches!

• 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