Arches National Park, want to guess what the main attraction is here? If you are anything like the 1.5 million people who visited the park last year, you go to Arches to see some of the most unique geological rock formations in the United States all crammed into 120 square miles.
There are over 2,000 natural sandstone arches within the park. How are you ever going to decide which ones to spend your precious vacationing time staring at in amazement? Lucky for you, you’ve stumbled upon our website and through all our research, we have compiled the must-see list of the best attractions to visit if you only have one day to spend in Arches National Park.
Start at the Back
Your able to see a lot of the most popular attractions just by driving through the park. This convenience comes at a price. The traffic at arches is a bit of a nightmare. Tourists are constantly stopping in the middle of the road to get a glimpse at each and every arch. Since there is not an actual campground within the park, there will be a huge line to enter. Do yourself a favor and get your vehicle in line at 7:00 am when the park opens and just drive straight to the back near Sand Dune and Broken Arch Trailhead.
Broken Arch and Sand Dune Trail
Start your day with an early morning hike to Broken Arch. Sand Dune trail is only a few short steps off that trail so squeeze that in if you have the time. Sand Dune Arch and Broken Arch may not be the most impressive sight when compared to its nearby neighbors, yet their uniqueness warrants a visit. Check out our trail guide here.
Delicate Arch
Now that you had an appetizer hike, its time for the main course. Arguably the most popular hike at Arches National Park, the hike to Delicate Arch is worth being drenched with sweat. On paper, the hike seems relatively easy but the environment proves to be the challenge. Mileage and elevation are average for your typical hiker, but throw in 100+ degree temperatures and nothing but knee-jarring slick rock and you got yourself a good challenge, my friend. All is forgiven when you see the arch though. For more details on the hike click here.
Double Arch
Bartender! Give me another arch and make it a double! At this point, I hope you remembered the cooler of cold beer you obviously brought into the park to celebrate surviving the hike to Delicate Arch. Your hiking is done for the day but there is still fun to be had. Your next stop is Double Arch. This massive structure is actually two arches created by water erosion, which is not your typical creation method. Walk right into the heart of this giant, look up and let your jaw hit the sand.
Bonus Points: Climb just a few feet up the rock wall inside Double Arch and turn around to view a section of the park called The Windows, they are awesome but are much more crowded than Double Arch so this is a more relaxed view.
Balanced Rock
It seems like every state has its own Balanced Rock. Colorado has a balancing act in the Garden of the Gods, Idaho has a state park dedicated to one, Arizona has several in the Chiricahua National Monument, and the list goes on. Take the opportunity to view these when you can, because the will lose their balance one day. Arches use to have two balancing rocks but one finally took a tumble in the 1970’s.
You don’t even need to leave the parking lot to view Balanced Rock. Pull into the parking lot just off the main road and let your imagination run wild with visions of Wile E Coyote patiently waiting to drop this massive rock on that pesky RoadRunner.
Park Avenue Overlook
Your last stop before exiting Arches should be Park Avenue Overlook. Like a natural version of Rome’s Coliseum, you feel humbled by the sheer size of the walls on your left and right. Feel free to hike down to ground level but there is no better view than right where you are. It’s the perfect spot to cap off the end of your day and leave a lasting impression of Arches National Park.
Chad can be summed up by his idea of a perfect day: Waking up early to watch the sunrise over the mountains, warm cup of coffee in hand then grabbing his camera and fly rod, hitting the trail to explore some uncharted territory followed by cold beers and campfire steaks. Chad is often joined on his adventures by his wife, Tori, and their dog, Kona.
