Arches National Park Parks and Outdoors Travel Guide

Arches National Park Parks and Outdoors Travel Guide

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Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, Utah
Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, Utah (Jeremy Woodhouse/Photodisc/Getty)
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Arches National Park Parks and Outdoors Travel Tips

By Kim Lipker

  • In Arches National Park, the forces of nature have—over an immense span of time—created a wondrous landscape. Slickrock caps of Navajo sandstone cover layers of sediment from ancient oceans, shores, and deserts. Folds and warps in the layers indicate movement of long-buried salt deposits in an incomprehensibly slow geological drama that seems to have culminated—fortunately for us—in the present day.
  • Front-country camping within Arches National Park is limited to Devils Garden Campground, the only developed site in the park. There are 52 sites in the campground. Thirty of the sites can be reserved in advance. The remaining sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis beginning each day at 7:30 a.m. at the visitor center.
  • Backcountry camping is allowed by permit, which is obtained only at the visitor center. In Arches, there are no designated backcountry campsites. No fires are allowed, and you must carry in your own water and practice low-impact camping techniques.
  • The primary scenic drive in Arches is an 18-mile tour beginning at the visitor center and ending near the Devils Garden Campground. Major points of interest along this stretch are the Courthouse Towers, Tower of Babel, Balanced Rock, Garden of Eden, the Windows Section, Fiery Furnace, and Skyline Arch. Give yourself about three hours for this drive. It is a great introduction to the scenery of Arches.
  • For wildlife viewing, your best bet is to wait until nightfall. Most of the smaller mammals here, such as packrats and jackrabbits, wait until the hot Utah sun (and most of the tourists) have left for the day to emerge from their burrows to feed. Far more rare are the bobcats and mountain lions that inhabit the park, stalking mule deer and keeping very much to themselves.

Arches National Park

In the southwestern United States there is a world of stone and sky, where between the eye and the horizon lays a colorful panorama of buttes, canyons, and plateaus. Life can be challenging in this desert environment, yet many animals have adapted to the extreme temperature and topography. Rare perennial streams and seeps support explosions of vegetation and echo with the songs of water-loving wildlife. Read More

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  • We will be driving past Arches National Park this December and would love to stop and spend the day. Are there hikes that are practical to do in the winter? Can a normal car with studded tires & chains drive through the park in December?
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Hotels

Castle Valley Inn

HC64 Box 2602
Moab, UT 84532 Map

Distance: 10.6 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
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Adobe Abode

778 Kane Creek Blvd.
Moab, UT 84532 Map

Distance: 4.1 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
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5.0

White Rim Road Campsites

Canyonlands National Park, 2282 SW Resource Blvd.
Moab, UT 84532 Map

Distance: 14.2 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
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Attractions

The Windows Section

expert favorite attraction
Arches National Park
PO Box 907
Moab, Utah 84532-0907

Distance: 5.8 mi. (from destination center)

Description: Head out here for a close look at two groups of massive arches. A gentle climb on a one-mile loop... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
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Sheri Griffith Expeditions

expert favorite attraction
Moab
P.O. 1324
Moab, Utah 84532

Distance: 7.5 mi. (from destination center)

Description: Adventurous rafting expeditions head down raging waters and tranquil sections of the Colorado and... Read More
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Needles area

expert favorite attraction
Utah Highway 211, Canyonlands National Park
Moab, Utah 84532

Distance: 11.1 mi. (from destination center)

Description: The Needles district forms the southeast corner of Canyonlands and was named for the red and white... Read More
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Airports

Major Airports near Arches National Park

Distance (mi.)
Salt Lake City International Airport 195.3 map
Colorado Springs Municipal Airport 264.6 map
Denver International Airport 277.7 map

Other Smaller Airports near Arches National Park

Distance (mi.)
Moab Canyonlands Field 12.8 map
Grand Junction Walker Field 68.4 map
Montrose County Airport 93.9 map

Flight Deals to Arches National Park

Originating From
Denver (DEN) to Salt Lake City (SLC) $106
Las Vegas (LAS) to Salt Lake City (SLC) $140
San Diego (SAN) to Salt Lake City (SLC) $157
Kansas City (MKC) to Salt Lake City (SLC) $168
Oakland (OAK) to Salt Lake City (SLC) $177

Feature Articles

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Arches National Park Parks and Outdoors Travel Guides

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