Best Hikes in Arches National Park: 5 Easy Trails You Can’t Miss

November 22, 2021

Arches National Park is home to some of the best hiking and sunrise spots in Moab, Utah. So much so that Arches ended up being one of my favorite parks on my roadtrip through the Southwest.

Not only are all the natural rock formations stunning, but a lot of the trails in the park are pretty easy and enjoyable.

I spent 1 day in Arches NP photographing its beauty and exploring the trails. I found most of the hikes to be short and sweet, and think that even just 1 day here is enough time to really enjoy what the park has to offer.

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Here are 5 of the best easy hikes in Arches National Park:

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Sunrise view of Balanced Rock - one of the best hikes in Arches National Park. — Shop this photo – Free People Sea Glass Midi | Hat

Balanced Rock in Arches National Park

I started my day in Arches NP at Balanced Rock Loop Trail. And I’ll be honest – my original plan was to catch the sunrise at Delicate Arch, but as I was driving through the park and saw the sun start to come up, I switched gears and pulled over here to get my camera out. (Gotta love spontaneity – cheers to solo traveling!)

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Balanced Rock is a beautiful spot in itself, and the sunrise here was absolutely breathtaking.

The trail is only 0.3 miles and is completely flat, and takes less than 10 minutes to walk the loop.

Read more about this hike on AllTrails

Double Arch Trail in Arches National Park

Double Arch Trail is another popular hike in Arches NP. It’s a short 1/2 mile loop that leads to another one of the park’s most well-known rock formations.

Read more about this hike on AllTrails

View of Delicate Arch from a distance - known for being the best hike in Arches National Park.

What is the most popular hike in Arches National Park? – Delicate Arch

Delicate Arch is the most popular hike in Arches National Park. While I didn’t make it for the sunrise hike myself, it’s worth mentioning on this list. (You probably have already seen this one pictured on Utah’s state license plate!)

The main trail to Delicate Arch is more of a moderate hike. But if you’re looking for a quicker and easier hike to view this amazing rock formation, I recommend trying this trail instead:

Upper Delicate Arch Viewpoint Trail

This is actually a lesser known trail that takes you to a different viewpoint away from the main trail to Delicate Arch.

Upper Delicate Arch Viewpoint is a short hike (only about 1/2 mile roundtrip) and has a bit of an incline, but it leads you to a much less crowded view of the arch.

You can find the trailhead located at the end of Delicate Arch Road. This is where the road turns into a dead end and you’ll find a parking lot and restroom.

I ultimately opted to hike this trail instead of the main trail since I was short on time. But also note that this viewpoint is farther away – you’ll see Delicate Arch in the distance. The main trail takes you directly to the arch.

Read more about this hike on AllTrails

Sand Dune Arch pictured here is also known as one of the best hikes in Arches National Park.

Sand Dune Arch in Arches National Park

Sand Dune Arch Trail is another one of the more popular hikes in Arches NP. The hike is super quick and easy – only 0.3 miles and takes less than 10 minutes roundtrip.

This arch is one of the more unique in the park because it feels like you’re in a cave. And the sand was so soft I ended up hiking this one barefoot.

Read more about this hike on AllTrails

Skyline Arch in Arches National Park

Skyline Arch is another quick and easy hike in Arches National Park. The trail is less than 1/2 mile and is completely flat.

Read more about this hike on AllTrails

These are the best easy hikes in Arches that still show you all the beauty the park has to offer. If you only have 1 day in the park, these trails allow you to make the most of your time there.

I loved the few days I spent in Moab, Utah – not only is this part of the southwest beautiful, but there are also plenty of trail options that are suitable for families and that hikers of all ages can enjoy. I chose to explore Canyonlands National Park after visiting Arches since it’s so close by in Moab.