Advanced Hiking in Arches National Park: Lesser-Known Trails and Crowd-Free Itineraries

This is the only guide to hiking in Arches National Park that you need for your next adventure.

Hiking in Arches National Park seems straightforward, but there are a few trails that you should know more about before you go. Even if you’re a seasoned park visitor, you might find a trail or two you haven’t tried before.

I’ve hiked *almost* every trail in Arches and make it a point to try a new one practically each time I go. You can actually find some solitude on hikes in Arches National Park if you know where to go and when to visit.

➡️ Find more hiking and outdoor destinations to inspire your next trip. Including more National Park destinations like Great Sand Dunes National Park.

This Arches hiking guide is for people who want to go beyond the most popular trails, avoid crowds, and experience lesser-known routes like Ring Arch, Devil’s Garden Loop, and the Fiery Furnace.

➡️ See my day hike packing list to stay safe in Arches National Park.

Plan the best trip to Arches yet with my advanced guide to hiking in Arches National Park.

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All About Hiking in Arches National Park

If you’re driving from Colorado, stop at Colorado National Monument in Grand Junction before heading into Moab.

When is the best time to visit Arches National Park?

If you’re like me, you prefer to avoid the crowds and have a tranquil hiking experience full of reflection and spending time crafting photos without a line of people behind you.

Not surprisingly, most people visit Arches in summertime — June, July, and August. I’ve never visited the park in these months for the following reasons:

Uncomfortable temperatures. With average summer highs reaching 100º F (38º C) and many hikes offering little shade, dehydration is inevitable.
Limited parking. Depending on which hikes you want to do, parking can be very limited. The chances of finding a spot go down during peak season.
General crowds. More people in the park mean more people on the trail, and also a longer line to enter the park, use the restroom, etc.
Difficult to get timed entry and permits. During certain months of the year, you need a timed entry ticket to enter the park. If it’s particularly busy, you might not get entry until later in the day. A permit is required to do the Fiery Furnace hike, and permits sell out quickly even in the off months!

I’ve found the absolute best months to visit Arches National Park are February, March, October, and November.

February and March can still offer warm temperatures, depending on the year — it is the desert after all. I’ve been when it’s been 70º F in February. October and November are generally a bit chillier, but still very comfortable for hiking.

Quick Comparison Guide to Arches Hikes

Use the table to find your perfect hike and read more about it in my detailed sections.

Trail	Length	Crowd Level?
Windows Loop	0.7 mi	Busy
Double Arch	0.6 mi	Busy
Delicate Arch	3.2 mi	Busy
Sand Dune & Broken Arch	2.6 mi	Moderate
Ring Arch	2.9 mi	Low
Tower Arch	2.6 mi	Low
Devil’s Garden Loop	8+ mi	Moderate
Fiery Furnace	2.1+ mi	Low

Who This Guide Is For

First-time Arches visitors
People that want to avoid peak crowds
Are comfortable with route-finding and scrambling
Want solitude in Arches National Park

Arches National Park Itineraries

Pick an itinerary that fits your schedule and then learn more about each trail by reading the full post below.

Half Day in Arches for First-Time Visitors

Drive the Windows Road to see the Windows Arches and the Double Arch. Continue to the Delicate Arch Road and hike the Delicate Arch.
- Why I recommend this: You get a good taste of Arches National Park and get to see many arches in a limited amount of time with easy and moderate hikes.

Full Day in Arches for First-Time Visitors

You should be in decent physical shape to complete all these hikes in a day.

Drive to hike Delicate Arch early in the morning. There will be fewer people (although still a considerable crowd), and the sun will be less intense.
Then make your way to the end of the main road to the Devil’s Garden parking lot. Start hiking clockwise at the split around Landscape Arch, and stop to see Navajo and Partition Arches. Continue hiking to Double O Arch, then turn around there. Don’t complete the full Devil’s Garden Loop.
If you have time, drive by the Windows Arches and the Double Arch.
- Why I recommend this: You get a mix of popular trails and lesser-traveled hikes. Most people turn around at the Landscape Arch on the Devil’s Garden Loop.

Half Day for Seasoned Arches Hikers

If you’ve been to Arches National Park before and you’ve already completed the more popular trails, try this itinerary.

Get a permit to hike the Fiery Furnace. You will need to plan this in advance!
Hike to Ring Arch on the way out of the park if you have time.
OR drive out to Tower Arch if your schedule allows.
- Why I recommend this: Explore these less crowded trails and experience parts of Arches National Park most visitors don’t see.

Full Day for Seasoned Arches Hikers

Hike the full Devil’s Garden Loop. You get to see the most arches on a single trail and experience some solitude on the primitive part of the trail.
- Why I recommend this: Get the most bang for your buck. Most people don’t have time to complete the whole loop, but it’s very worth the effort.

north and south windows you can see when hiking in arches national park

Windows Arches

Double Arch

Easy Hikes in Arches National Park (Short and Accessible Trails)

I’d recommend creating an AllTrails account to save the hikes mentioned below, and for on-trail navigation if you subscribe to AllTrails Plus.

Windows Loop Trail and Double Arch Trail

Trail details for Windows: 0.7 miles | 127 feet elevation gain
Windows Loop Trail Map

Trail details for Double Arch: 0.6 miles | 95 feet elevation gain
Double Arch Trail Map

The Windows and Double Arch trails leave from the same parking lot, so you get two for one. I consider both of these trails more like walks since they are short and relatively flat.

If you want something quick and easy, these are great trails that get you close to several arches. Off the Windows Arch trail, you can also see Turret Arch.

These trails are very busy because of their accessibility. Keep that in mind.

The Delicate Arch

Moderate Hiking in Arches National Park (Delicate Arch and More)

Delicate Arch Trail

Trail details: 3.2 miles | 629 feet elevation gain
Delicate Arch Trail Map

The Delicate Arch is the most iconic arch in the park. It stands alone on a cliff edge, featuring an impressive view of the La Sal mountains behind it. If you get to see the La Sals with a dusting of snow on them, I think the view is even better.

The Delicate Arch Trail can get very crowded, so start early if you want a better trail experience. There are a couple places where the trail narrows significantly and can cause bottlenecks.

This hike is pretty much straight uphill, so prepare to sweat. There is no shade, so cover up or wear sunscreen. Bring electrolytes with you to replenish your body and remain hydrated.

Through Broken Arch

Broken Arch View

Sand Dune Arch to Broken Arch Loop

Trail details: 2.6 miles | 226 feet elevation gain
Sand Dune Arch to Broken Arch Loop Map

This lovely little hike is less busy than other moderate and easy hikes in the park. I enjoyed the private feeling around Sand Dune Arch. You can walk right under Broken Arch for an awe-inspiring photo op.

If you’re looking for something still easy without the crowds, this is a fantastic trail.

Ring Arch

Ring Arch Trail

Trail details: 2.9 miles | 170 feet elevation gain
Ring Arch Trail Map

I hiked this trail in November and saw not a single other person the entire time. How often does that happen in a National Park? Not often!

Ring Arch is usually not included on the Arches National Park trail map — likely because there is no designated parking lot.

Park on the side of the road right across from the Courthouse Wash Trail. Follow the AllTrails directions or use this location in Google Maps: 38°38’55.0″N 109°35’57.2″W

The trail winds through a flat, wide canyon and ends with a brief scramble to reach the base of the arch. Ring Arch is quite impressive, and I couldn’t believe we were the only people there.

Bring a hat, as there is no shade on this hike. Discover other items on my list of favorite gear that you can use for exploring Arches trails.

Tower Arch

Tower Arch Trail

Trail details: 2.6 miles | 626 feet elevation gain
Tower Arch Trail Map

Tower Arch is another off-the-beaten-path trail with few visitors. It’s not located on the main road in Arches; instead, you’ll have to drive down a well-maintained dirt road. Turn off the main road right after the Sand Dune Arch parking lot. If you drive past Skyline Arch, you’ve gone too far.

The turnoff is for the Salt Valley Road. Drive about 20 minutes down the dirt road to get to the Tower Arch trailhead. Use this Google Maps link to find Tower Arch. There is a single pit toilet at the trailhead.

Once you set off, the path ascends quickly through a brief scramble. At the top of the scramble section, the trail descends with a moderate grade. You’ll walk past the impressive “Marching Men” rock formation.

Then, ascend a tall sand dune, and the arch isn’t much farther. There is a smaller arch off to the right as you approach Tower Arch, so keep your eyes peeled. Walk under Tower Arch and look back at the valley for a breathtaking view.

We saw only a few groups of people while hiking, and we had the arch to ourselves for a time. If you have time for the drive, definitely make this hike in Arches National Park a priority.

Advanced Difficult Hiking in Arches National Park

Ok, now we get to the truly incredible hikes! These are my favorite hikes in Arches National Park because you see many arches along these trails, and it feels like an adventure treasure hunt.

primitive trail sign on the devil's garden hike in arches national park

Primitive Warning Sign

Tunnel Arch

Devil’s Garden Loop Trail

Trail details: 8 miles | 1,158 feet elevation gain
Devil’s Garden Loop Trail Map

See 7 arches on this trail! The best bang for your buck for Moab desert hiking.

If you have the time and ability, the entire Devil’s Garden Loop is so worth it. Otherwise, you can pick a direction and just go partway on the loop to see a few arches.

Shortly after the trailhead, there is a turnoff to see Tunnel Arch and Pine Tree Arch. The trail dead-ends at these arches, so you’ll have to get back on the main trail after viewing them.

Next, you’ll see a sign for Landscape Arch, but I’d recommend waiting to walk up to it until the end of the hike to reduce backtracking. Go right at the sign warning about a primitive trail.

You do need to be a fairly confident and prepared hiker for this trail. There is a bit of scrambling and ledges. Bring plenty of water and snacks, as resting with a view of an arch is irresistible.

Towering fins push up right along the trail during the next section. After that, the next major arch you’ll reach is Private Arch. Descend down to get your picture underneath.

Pine Tree Arch

Private Arch

Double O Arch

Double O Arch is one of my top arches because of its uniqueness. If you don’t want to hike the primitive part of the trail, you can reach Double O by going up the fins after Landscape Arch.

The map will tell you to follow the Dark Angel Trail next, but I honestly didn’t think it was worth adding about a mile to the overall hike. Dark Angel is a standalone tower (not an arch), but the Balancing Rock you can also see in the park is far more impressive. I don’t usually encourage not seeing something on a hike, but trust me, this one isn’t worth the time.

Navajo Arch and Partition Arch are both out-and-back sections off the main trail. Partition Arch gives you a bird’s eye view through the arch down to the valley floor.

Finally, after descending a fin, you get to Landscape Arch. This is the longest arch in North America! Take in the thin beauty of Landscape Arch, and make your way back to the trailhead.

Navajo Arch

Partition Arch

Landscape Arch

The Fiery Furnace

Trail details: 2.1 miles | 492 feet elevation gain
Fiery Furnace Map

Permits cost $10 per person in addition to any entry fees.

You do need a permit to hike this trail and will be fined if a park ranger catches you without one. Watch a mandatory safety video presentation at the visitor center and pick up your physical permit at the front desk. Everyone in the group must be in attendance.

You may arrive at the visitor center between 7:30 and 10:00 am or 2:00 and 5:30 pm to watch the video and secure your permit the day you plan to hike or the day before. You will not be issued your permit if you show up between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm.

Keep in mind that it does take around 30 minutes to drive to the Fiery Furnace trailhead from the visitor center.

Children under 5 are not permitted within the Fiery Furnace, and groups cannot have more than 6 people. Use the recreation.gov app (see my Resources Page for more info) or website to book your permits by searching “Fiery Furnace.” Select the self-guided or ranger-guided option.

Now, you’ve got your permit, watched the safety video, and have driven to the trailhead. Time to start exploring.

Skull Arch

It is critical to download the AllTrails map or have access to another map while you’re hiking. You can get lost in the Fiery Furnace or miss out on finding the arches.

There is no designated trail — it’s more like a corn maze with dead ends and one way out. Take your time wandering around, and you can stumble upon some neat formations and unnamed arches.

With the help of the map, you can navigate to Skull Arch and Surprise Arch. Both are out and back off the main channel. Easy to skip if you don’t know where to turn off.

Fiery Furnace is a magical place that inspires adventure. It’s totally worth the permit process, and there’s nothing else like it in the park.

Surprise Arch

Inside Fiery Furnace

Trail Safety

As always, please practice the Leave No Trace Principles when you’re hiking in Arches National Park. Leave it better than you found it.

Don’t forget plenty of food, water, and sun protection. Dehydration out in the desert is a real risk. You may not realize how much you are sweating in the dry heat.

Wear long sleeves and cover your skin. You’ll find merino sun hoodies perfect for exploring Arches on my post about moisture wicking hiking clothes.

Hiking in Arches National Park FAQs

What are the best hikes in Arches National Park?

The best hikes in Arches National Park depend on experience level. Easy hikes include Windows Loop and Double Arch, while advanced hikers will love Devil’s Garden Loop and the Fiery Furnace.