Moab · RedAwning

Arches National Park76,679 acres outside Moab, more than 2,000 cataloged sandstone arches, and Delicate Arch — the freestanding 65-foot landmark on the Utah license plate

76,679 acres of Entrada Sandstone five miles north of Moab — over 2,000 cataloged natural arches including Delicate Arch (the 65-foot freestanding arch on Utah's license plate), Landscape Arch (the 290-foot span in Devils Garden, the longest in North America), Double Arch, the Windows Section, and the slot-canyon labyrinth of the Fiery Furnace. Established as Arches National Monument by President Hoover in 1929 and redesignated a national park by Nixon in 1971.

Hours todayOpen 24 hrs – undefinedWednesday hours
TicketsFrom $35Private vehicle (1–7 days)
LocationMoab, UtahArches Entrance Rd, off US-191
Official sitenps.govPlan your visit

76,679Acres
2,000+Arches cataloged
1.49MAnnual visitors
1971Established

Arches was set aside as a national monument by President Herbert Hoover on April 12, 1929, to protect the largest concentration of natural sandstone arches in the world. The Carter administration expanded the boundaries in 1971 and Congress redesignated it a national park the same year — 76,679 acres of layered Entrada Sandstone five miles north of Moab, where 300 million years of intermittent salt-bed collapse and freeze-thaw weathering have left more than 2,000 cataloged arches standing, plus the spires of Park Avenue and the fins of the Fiery Furnace.

The park's most-photographed objective is Delicate Arch — a 3.0-mile round-trip from Wolfe Ranch climbing 480 feet of slickrock to the 65-foot freestanding arch on the Utah license plate. Devils Garden in the north of the park anchors the second tier: Landscape Arch (the 290-foot span that lost a 60-foot slab in 1991, longest natural arch in North America), Double O Arch, and the off-trail Dark Angel monolith on a 7.2-mile primitive loop. The Windows Section concentrates four large arches in a 1.0-mile loop, and Balanced Rock holds a 128-foot capstone-on-pedestal directly off the scenic drive.

Plan two full days minimum. From April 1 to October 31, vehicles need a timed-entry reservation to enter between 7 AM and 4 PM ($2 on recreation.gov, rolling 3-month booking plus a 7-day-out tranche) — outside that window the park is unrestricted. Summer afternoons hit 100°F with no shade on most trails, so start by 7 AM and carry a gallon of water per person. Spring (April–May) and fall (October) are the sweet spots; winter brings empty trails, occasional snow on the slickrock, and Delicate Arch glowing pink against fresh white powder.

Delicate Arch
A 3.0-mile round-trip from the Wolfe Ranch trailhead — 480 feet of gain across open slickrock, a final ledge traverse, and the 65-foot freestanding arch standing on the rim of a natural slickrock bowl. The Entrada glows orange the last 30 minutes before sunset; arrive early for a tripod spot. Allow 2–3 hours; no shade.
Devils Garden & Landscape Arch
A 1.6-mile out-and-back paved/gravel walk to Landscape Arch, the 290-foot span that's the longest natural arch in North America (it lost a 60-foot slab in September 1991 — listen for the rocks now). The 7.2-mile primitive loop continues past Partition, Navajo, Double O, and Dark Angel for a half-day in the fins.
The Windows Section
A 1.0-mile loop from one parking area visiting the North Window, South Window, and Turret Arch — three large arches in close formation, with framed views of the La Sal Mountains through the openings. Double Arch is a 0.5-mile spur from the same lot; the rare twin-arch formation was used in the opening of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
Fiery Furnace
A maze of narrow sandstone fins and slot canyons accessed only by ranger-led hike (3 hours, $16, book on recreation.gov 7 days out, May–September) or self-guided permit ($10 — orientation video required). Non-trivial route-finding through tight passages; closed in winter when ice makes the chimneys impassable.
Park Avenue
A 1.0-mile downhill walk between 300-foot sandstone fins on the park's signature first overlook — shuttle one car to the Courthouse Towers lot or hike out and back. Best in early morning side-light when the Three Gossips and Tower of Babel pillars throw long shadows across the canyon floor.
Balanced Rock
A 0.3-mile loop around a 128-foot capstone-on-pedestal formation directly off the scenic drive — 3,577-ton boulder of Entrada Sandstone resting on a softer Dewey Bridge mudstone neck that erodes a few millimeters a year. Always-open photo stop, especially good 30 minutes before sunset against the La Sals.
Timed-entry reservation system
Vehicles entering between 7 AM and 4 PM from April 1 to October 31 need a $2 timed-entry reservation booked on recreation.gov. Reservations release on a rolling 3-month window with a same-week 7-day-out tranche at 7 PM Mountain Time. Outside the window — early morning, late afternoon, off-season — no reservation needed.
Wolfe Ranch & Ute Petroglyphs
At the Delicate Arch trailhead: a one-room 1906 cabin built by Civil War veteran John Wesley Wolfe and his son, plus a Ute petroglyph panel visible from a short stub off the main trail showing horse-and-rider hunting scenes carved between 1650 and 1850 — direct evidence of the Ute presence after Spanish horses reached the region.

Open hours

Park is open 24/7 year-round. Timed-entry reservations are required to enter between 7 AM and 4 PM from April 1 through October 31 — book on recreation.gov ($2 fee). Outside that window, no reservation needed. Devils Garden Campground reservations open six months in advance.

MondayOpen 24 hrs
TuesdayOpen 24 hrs
WednesdayTodayOpen 24 hrs
ThursdayOpen 24 hrs
FridayOpen 24 hrs
SaturdayOpen 24 hrs
SundayOpen 24 hrs

Note · Timed entry hold ends at 4 PM — vehicles arriving after 4 PM and before 7 AM enter without reservation. Visitor center hours: 9:00 AM–4:00 PM (extended to 5:00 PM in summer); confirm at the gate.

Ticket pricing

Per-person admission. Buy in advance to skip the gate line.

Private vehicle (1–7 days)$35One vehicle and all passengers, 7 consecutive days
Per person (foot, bike)$20Individuals 16+, 7 consecutive days
Motorcycle$30Up to two riders, 7 consecutive days
Annual Arches pass$55Unlimited entry for 12 months
America the Beautiful — Annual$80All US national parks and federal recreation lands

Children 15 and under enter free. Timed-entry reservations cost $2 per vehicle and are required April 1–October 31 from 7 AM to 4 PM (book on recreation.gov, releasing on a rolling 3-month + 7-day-out window). Fiery Furnace ranger-guided hikes ($16) and self-guided permits ($10) book separately. Devils Garden Campground is $25/night, reservation only, six-month booking window.

Reserve timed entry

Where to stay