The natural arches of Arches National Park are one of nature’s wonders. There are over 2,000 in a relatively small area. Most of these are in the back country, but there are still plenty to see.
If you want to maximize your time in the park and focus on best arches at Arches National Park, this guide is for you.
I’m James Ian and I’m a national park expert. Here are my ten favorite arches in Arches National Park.
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Table of Contents
The 10 Best Arches in Arches National Park
1. Delicate Arch
This is by far the most famous arch in Arches National Park – and indeed the most famous arch in Utah. In fact, it’s on the state’s license plates!
Unlike most of the arches in the park, which are still connected to larger rock formations, Delicate Arch is free standing. The opening in the arch is 46 feet high and 32 feet wide, making it the largest free-standing arch in the park.
It’s a 3-mile round trip, moderate hike to get to the arch, which stand on the edge of a bowl.
If that sounds too daunting, you can get a more distant (one mile away) view of the arch from Delicate Arch Viewpoints. The Lower Delicate Arch Viewpoint is an easy 100 yards from the parking area, while the Upper Viewpoint has a slightly better view but is a 0.5-mile walk with some stairs.
My Thoughts
I found the last section of the hike a little intimidating, as it’s along a ledge with a steep drop-off on one side. I’m afraid if heights, but stuck to the wall and was fine in the end.
When you arrive, you turn a corner and BAM the arch is right there. You arrive at the top of the rim of a natural bowl, so there’s a great view from there. I sat down and didn’t move, but braver people than me walked around and even down to the arch.
The arch is sensational at sunset – and this is when it’s busiest. I stayed for the sunset and it was totally worth it. Take a flashlight or headlamp for the walk back.
If you’ve hiked to the arch, the viewpoints – which only have a distant view of the arch – are disappointing. You could easily skip this, though it does give a sense of where the arch is located in relation to the surrounding environment, which I found interesting.
2. North Window and South Window Arches
These are two of the most popular arches in Arches National Park.
They’re in The Windows area of the national park, where there’s a parking loop that has an upper and lower parking area. The trail to the arches starts at the upper parking area. (There’s a short connecting trail to the lower parking area, where the trailhead to Double Arch is, so can park in either area).
North Window is visible from the parking lot, but it’s worth hiking to the arches if you can. It’s an easy one-mile trail with some stairs (a 99-foot elevation change).
You first come to North Window and then go a little further to get to South Window. You can climb to the bottom of the arch and look through to the scenery beyond. Opposite the Windows is Turret Arch.
You can return on the same trail or continue around the back of the Windows on a primitive trail if you’re feeling adventurous.
My Thoughts
I enjoyed exploring this area. The trail is a lollipop, with a loop that connects the Windows and nearby Turret Arch. My favorite part was climbing to the bottom of North Window and looking through the arch.
3. Double Arch
This is also one of the most famous arches in Utah because it’s not one but two connected arches. It’s the tallest (112 feet) and second-longest (144 feet) arch in the park.
To reach the arch, it’s an easy 0.6-mile round trip walk from The Windows lower parking area.
My Thoughts
The trail is shadeless and hot, but not difficult. It’s worth it if you can, as seeing the 2 connected arches up close is very impressive.
It’s a short but very steep climb up to the bottom of the arches. I didn’t manage this, though some people did.
4. Landscape Arch
This is the biggest arch in Arches National Park and is the longest arch in North America and the third longest natural arch in the world.
The opening is an impressive 306 feet wide. Making it even more dramatic is the fact that it’s only 6 feet in diameter at its narrowest section! Large segments of the arch came crashing down in the 1990s so, yes, it is very possible that it will fall in our lifetime!
The arch is in the Devil’s Garden section of the park. That trail is divided into three sections, and Landscape Arch is at the end of the first, easy section.
➡️ Read my complete Devil’s Garden Trail Guide for more details.
My Thoughts
I thought seeing this arch was cool, but it’s up high and not as clear as some of the others. So, while it’s impressive because it’s so long and thin, it wasn’t as dramatic as I was expecting. It’s pretty easy to access and worth it, though.
5. Partition Arch
When you’re standing at the bottom of Landscape Arch, look up to the top of the ridge, slightly to the right of Landscape Arch. You’ll see a smaller arch and may even see people inside the arch. That’s Partition Arch.
To reach it, you need to continue on the middle section of the Devils Garden Trail from Landscape Arch towards Double O Arch. You need to walk up a sandstone fin, then climb up to the top of the ridge. A spur trail goes to the double arch.
When you’re there, you can look through the arch at Fin Canyon and beyond.
➡️ Read my complete Devil’s Garden Trail Guide for more details.
My Thoughts
I like this arch. The fact that you can look through the arch at a panoramic vista spread out below you makes it different from the other arches.
6. Double O Arch
The arch is at the end of the middle section of the Devils Garden Trail. You need to walk across the top of a rock fin to get there, which is not great if you’re afraid of height, but if you can manage that, it’s totally worth it.
When you first arrive, you’ll see a large arch on your left. At 71 feet across, this is actually the second largest arch in the national park, after Landscape Arch.
As you approach closer, you’ll see a smaller arch (21 feet) below the large arch. It’s a bit of a scramble, but you can climb up and through the smaller arch. If you continue up the rock a short ways then turn around and look back, you have an amazing view of the two arches, with sandstone fins beyond them.
➡️ Read my complete Devil’s Garden Trail Guide for more details.
My Thoughts
For me, this is the best arch in Arches National Park. The fact that you can so easily see the entire fin that the arches are formed from, that there are two of them, and that you have a great view of more fins and beyond is really cool.
It’s a hike to get there and not great if you’re afraid of heights, but if you can manage it, I highly recommend it.
7. Sand Dune Arch
This is one of the best arches in Moab for kids. It’s not very big, but it’s location is awesome.
From the parking lot, it’s a short walk on a narrow sandy trail to a rocky outcrop (0.2 miles each way). Turn to the outcrop and there’s a narrow passageway between two fins.
After you’ve squeezed through this narrow passageway, you’ll emerge in a hidden area completely surrounded by towering rocks. In front of you is another fin that you can walk up a little way. You don’t see any arches.
Then, turn to your right and go around a small corner and bam! There is the tiny – but super cute – Sand Dune Arch.
How does Sand Dune Arch get its name? Well, there’s a small sand dune under the arch. You can walk through the arch and climb the sand dune.
This is a great place to cool off on a hot day and fun for the kids. Though try to go in the early morning or late afternoon as it can get crowded.
My Thoughts
This arch isn’t on the list because it’s the biggest or the best – but it is one of the most fun. The location is amazing – you’ll feel like an adventurer discovering a hidden open air cave.
8. Broken Arch
This arch is a misnomer – it’s not actually broken. But if you look at it carefully, there’s a large crack in the middle of the top part of the arch that makes it look broken. One day it will be, I’m sure.
The arch is reached on a soft sandy trail either from Sand Dune Arch or from the Devils Garden Campground. Start at the toilet block near campsite #40 and end between campsites # 51 and #52 (or vice versa).
Broken Arch can easily be combined with the nearby Tapestry Arch.
You can walk through the arch (recommended – in fact, the trail goes through the arch), so you can see it from both directions. You should never walk on the TOP of any arch, but it’s OK to walk through the bottom.
My Thoughts
The trail is 2.3 miles/ 1.8 miles round trip, which isn’t super long, but the soft sand makes this a bit more challenging. I like that the trail actually goes through the arch, so you can easily see it from both sides.
9. Tapestry Arch
Tapestry Arch is a large arch in a long fin with another fin behind it, so there isn’t much if a view through it. However, what makes this special is that you can see 3 other arches forming next to it in the same sandstone fin. It makes it easy to see how the arches are formed – and what they look like before they become full arches.
You can climb up from the end of the trail to the base of the arch and stand inside the arch itself.
My Thoughts
If you hike here after hiking the full Devils Garden Trail in the morning as I did, the soft sandy trail to get there seems like punishment. But when you get there, you’ll be glad.
I really enjoyed seeing the 3 other proto-arches nearby. I really got a sense of what the arch-making process is like.
10. Skyline Arch
This is another easy-to-access arch. Unlike most of the arches on this list, it’s up high, so you can’t climb to the bottom of it (hence the name, I guess). Fun fact: Half of this arch was blocked until 1940, when the blocked half fell away, leaving the full arch and a bunch of boulders at the bottom.
To reach the boulders at the bottom – and the closest view of the arch – it’s a 0.2-mile walk (each way) on a flat but sandy trail.
My Thoughts
This isn’t the most dramatic arch, but seeing the giant boulders at the base of the cliff is pretty cool. They used to block the arch, so you can really get a sense of how big it is and how the arches are formed.
Map of Arches in Arches National Park
FAQS about the Best Arches National Park Arches
How many arches are in Arches National Park?
There are over 2,000 natural arches inside Arches National Park.
Where are the arches in Arches National Park?
There are arches throughout the park, but most of them are in the backcountry. The arches in this article are the best ones you can easily see when visiting.
Travel Insurance for Arches National Park
No matter what you’ve put on your best arches in Utah list and which ones you see, you should definitely get travel insurance. This can protect you not only against medical and emergency repatriation, but can also cover things like trip cancellation, loss and/ or theft of property, etc.
➡️ A great insurance option is Travelex. It has coverage for all you’ll need. You can choose the best travel insurance plan for your trip here or get a quote right now:
Enjoy the arches of Arches National Park!
Additional Planning Resources for Arches National Park
⭐ Planning a Trip to Arches National Park: 7 Mistakes to Avoid
⭐ How Many Days in Arches National Park Do You Need?
⭐ Best Hikes in Arches National Park
⭐ Guide To The Arches National Park Reservations System
⭐ Tips For Visiting Arches National Park
⭐ In-Depth Guide To The Devil’s Garden Hike
⭐ Arches Scenic Drive: Complete Guide to All the Stops
⭐ How To Get To Arches National Park
⭐ What Is The Closest Airport To Arches National Park?
⭐ All the Airports near Arches National Park
⭐ When is the Best Time to Visit Arches National Park?
⭐ Visiting Arches National Park: What To Expect Throughout the Year
⭐ Fun Facts About Arches National Park
⭐ Arches Itinerary
⭐ The Best Airbnb Moab
⭐ The Best Books About Arches National Park
What do you think the best arches to see in Arches National Park are? I’d love to hear about them. Join my private Facebook group National Parks Collectors and comment and let me know (you can also pick up extra planning tips, share your photos and stories with other national park lovers and more).
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About the Author
James Ian is a national park, camping and hiking expert.
He has dedicated his life to travel, visiting more than 80 countries, all 7 continents and most of the national parks in the United States. With over 35 years experience in the travel industry, James has worked on cruise ships, at resorts and hotels, and as a travel planner who’s helped hundreds of people plan successful trips to US national parks.
Based on his experience visiting our national parks multiple times, in-depth research and expertise as a travel planner, James has published detailed itineraries for many of the major national parks in the US. These itineraries, as well as in-depth park guides, and other resources will help you have your own incredible trip to US national parks without stress and hassle.
As a national park expert, James has contributed to many publications, including USA Today, Time Business News, Savoteur, Best Trip, and Wired.
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