As an adult I thought my days of staring at something for hours in wonder were over. Delicate Arch proved me wrong, and then the night sky over Arches proved me wrong again. Our Sammy turned eight during our visit here. In the days of video games, fun zones, and every kind of instant gratification you can think of, it was truly special to have our boys as equally captivated by nature!
When planning your trip to Arches there are a few things to keep in mind. This National Park only has one entrance, giving you one way in and out. We definitely recommend getting there early (before 8:00 to be safe) to avoid long lines at the entrance or a possible late morning park closure due to parking lots being full. When we visited in late April the park closed for capacity everyday around 11:00. You can follow Arches National Park on Twitter to see when it reaches capacity each day so you know what to expect during your visit.
Delicate Arch
By far the most iconic and popular arch is Delicate Arch, make this your first and early morning stop of the day to avoid the heat and the crowds. During our visit this parking area was full by 8:00am. People tend to spend a lot of time enjoying this arch, so you’ll want to catch the first round of parking. We didn’t come off this trail until at least 10:00. There is an overlook, but it’s definitely worth the 1.5 mile (one-way) hike to the arch. This was the best hike in the park! Our boys loved the slick rock hill on the way up and (supervised) climbing in the area around the arch!
The best lighting for photography is evening and sunset, just be prepared to walk back as it’s getting dark. I’d love to go back and see the arch at sunset someday in the future!
Other Must-See Arches
Other arches we loved walking and climbing around were the Windows, Turret Arch, and Double Arch (co-located in the Windows Section). We also did the 1.9 mile hike to Landscape Arch. This is one of the world’s longest stone spans, and you’re only allowed to view from a distance. Slabs of rock have broken off this arch making it unsafe to be underneath it. Our boys definitely enjoyed the Windows and Double Arch area more because you’re able to climb around and under the arches. This is such a unique park to explore!
Stargazing
We spent an evening enjoying the night sky over Arches, and it was unforgettable! We arrived to Panorama Point as the sun was setting, and the views of the rock features within the park and the La Sal mountains in the distance were beautiful. We enjoyed some snacks and worked on Junior Ranger books as we waited for twilight to turn to dark sky. It was great to allow our eyes to adjust to with the sky and watch the stars emerge. Once it was dark there were SO many stars! We just laid on the benches built for night sky programs (which will hopefully come back as the pandemic closures ease), and stared up at the sky. Look closely and you might see shooting stars and satellites moving across the sky.
Outside the Park
Just outside of Arches is Moab, UT. This is an ideal location to stay for many activities in the area. Moab has a cute downtown area with restaurants and local shops, great for finding souvenirs. Be sure to check out the T-Shirt Shop to design your own souvenir shirt. The boys loved designing their own shirts and the price was very affordable!
The arches are not limited to the National Park. We did an awesome hike just outside the park to Corona Arch, and it turned out to be one of our favorites! This 2.4 mile hike included some chains to hold onto as you climb and a ladder, which the boys LOVED! Don’t be intimidated, this was totally do-able with kids, we even saw some dogs on the trail.
Best time to visit:
The best times to visit would definitely be Spring or Fall to avoid the Summer heat. If you go in the Summer, plan to get out on the trails early to avoid the extreme heat and pack plenty of water.
Where we stayed:
We enjoyed our stay at this Moab airbnb condo. The location was prefect for access to Arches, Canyonlands, and Moab. We loved being on the first floor, quick to the pool and easy for loading and unloading.
Other things to do:
Dead Horse Point State Park is right in Moab about 30min from downtown. Definitely on our list when we go back for the awesome views of the bends in the Colorado River.
Don’t miss Canyonlands National Park, Island in the Sky is about 40min to an hour from Moab.
Capitol Reef National Park is about 2.5 hours from Moab.
Goblin Valley State Park is on the same route as Capitol Reef, but only 1.5 hours. It has hoodoo rock formations and looks so fun!
OK Utah, you win, we have run out of words to describe you! We drove from the Grand Canyon to Moab, UT. If you ever take this route, ignore your GPS’ suggestions, and take the route through Monument Valley. Apparently, Apple and Google do not account for landscape as part of their algorithms!
