Can you die without walking? Journey to American National Parks (10) A work of art created by nature. A must-visit Arches National Park before you can no longer see it

Written by Sayaka Kato

Arches National Park is a place where rock arches, formed naturally by erosion caused by years of rain, snow, and wind, stand like works of art .

It is said that there are over 2,000 arches in the park, which covers an area roughly half the size of Tokyo's 23 wards, and some say it is the place with the largest concentration of naturally occurring arches on Earth! This popular national park continues to fascinate many people. Perfect arches tower up everywhere, making you wonder if it's a man-made theme park. Erosion of the arches, which were formed over a long period of time, continues to this day, and opportunities to see such scenery may become even fewer in the future. If you want to see them, the sooner the better

Delicate Arch is a beautifully arched rock formation that stands alone in the park

Delicate Arch is a symbol of Utah and is featured on the state's car plate (photo below). You can walk up to see it up close

This time, we will introduce the Delicate Arch Hiking Trail, one of the most popular hiking trails in Arches National Park

table of contents

Arches National Park, a symbol of Utah. What is the Delicate Arch hiking trail?
Getting to Arches National Park
Delicate Arch Trail Hiking Information

Arches National Park, a symbol of Utah. What is the Delicate Arch hiking trail?

This trail is one of the most popular hiking trails in Arches National Park. Many people come to see the elegant and majestic arch up close. It's a well-balanced hiking trail with moderate slopes and flat areas. It's also one of the most popular trails because it's not too difficult

Getting to Arches National Park

It's about a 10-minute drive from the nearest city, Moab (we recommend staying here)

From Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)

It's about a 4-hour drive. If you depart from SLC, there are routes that take you to Arches National Park , Canyonlands National Park , Dead Horse Point State Park , Monument Valley,

From McCarran International Airport (LAS) (Las Vegas)

It's about a 7-hour drive. If you depart from Los Angeles, you can also go to Arches National Park via Zion National Park , Bryce Canyon National Park , and Capitol Reef National Park

Accommodation

The nearby Moab will be your base for your trip. There are many Airbnbs, motels, resort hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, and gift shops in and around Moab, so you can easily find everything you need.

Nearby, Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park , making it a great place to enjoy America's great outdoors, starting from the city of Moab. If you have the time, it's best to stay in Moab for two or three nights and explore the surrounding national parks. Outdoor enthusiasts can also book mountain bike tours, four-wheel drive tours, river rafting, and other tours in the Colorado River area.

The city of Moab gets crowded during peak seasons such as summer vacation, so if you can't stay in Moab, there are other areas where you can stay, such as Grand Junction, Colorado, about an hour and a half away, and Monticello and Blanding further south

Admission fee (as of March 2020*)

There is no need to proceed in advance to enter the park. You only need to pay the entrance fee at the entrance.

Regular car (private car) $30.00 (up to 15 passengers)
Bike $25.00
Non-car bicycles and hiking people are $15.00 per person

Opening hours

The entrance is open 24 hours a day, all year round, and there is a visitor center just inside the entrance

Visitor Center Hours of Operation (Special opening hours may apply on public holidays)

November to March: 8am to 4pm
March, April, October: 8am - 5pm
Other times: 8am to 6pm

What is the information center at the park? Can I replenish my food and equipment?

You can get maps and other information at the visitor center, but they don't sell food or drinks, so make sure you prepare in the town of Moab . There is a place to refill your water at the entrance to the visitor center.

At the visitor center, you can buy merchandise with the Arches logo that you can only purchase there, watch Arches movies, and there is also a bookstore where you can learn about the history of Arches. If you try to stop by the visitor center on your way back, it is often too late and you will miss closing time, so we recommend stopping by before you start sightseeing in the park

weather

The Grand Circle has a desert climate that is very hot in the summer and quite cold in the winter due to the high altitude. It is dry all year round, but be careful as the summer is particularly dry and the sun is intense. In the past, temperatures have been recorded as high as 46 degrees in July

The recommended hiking seasons are April to June and September to November. The park is crowded during the peak season, June to August, when summer vacation begins. April, October, and November are the best seasons, with fewer people. (In summer, temperatures easily exceed 40°C, so be sure to take precautions against heatstroke.) The off-season is December to March. In January and February, which are the height of winter, there is snowfall and temperatures can be quite low

The national park itself is open all year round, so it is possible to visit, but the weather can change quickly, so be sure to keep up to date with the latest information. For information on entry restrictions, weather, and conditions, please visit the Arches National Park website .

Good things to carry on hiking

Drinks (in summer, bring more; about 4 liters should be fine.)
Cold weather wear that can adjust the temperature
Trekking shoes
hat
sunglasses
Sunscreen
Snacks and more for eating while hiking
If you have a regular medicine, first aid such as medicine or band-aid
rain gear

Delicate Arch Trail Hiking Information

Distance: Approx. 5 km round trip Elevation difference: Approx. 186 m
Travel time: Round trip: Approximately 2.5 to 3 hours

Delicate Arch is famous for its sunset-colored appearance, but its beautiful towering form captivates many visitors at any time. However, temperatures in this area easily exceed 40 degrees Celsius during the summer. If you are planning a summer hike, we recommend going early in the morning or in the evening when the temperature is slightly cooler

At sunset, the view of the sky and arch, which changes color from moment to moment, is nothing short of a work of art that only nature could create, and a truly beautiful world unfolds before your eyes. However, once the sun sets, it becomes pitch black and the journey back can be somewhat dangerous. Please get information from the visitor center, take into account the sunset time and the required time, and plan to return before it gets dark

If you wait until sunset before descending, you will not be able to see the path, so a flashlight is a must-have item (we do not recommend hiking during the winter when it is snowing or the temperature is low, as the ground is slippery and very dangerous)

Getting around Arches National Park is very simple. First, get a free map at the visitor center and drive towards the Delicate Arch trailhead. If you go directly from the visitor center (1 on the map) to the Delicate Arch trailhead (3 on the map), you'll arrive in about 30 minutes north

There are viewpoints along the driveway (2 and 4 on the map), and we have some recommended spots, so we will introduce some points that you can visit as an option in addition to hiking

Balanced Rock

Although this is not an arch-shaped rock, it is one of the most famous rock formations in the park

The rock on top looks so scary, as if it might fall at any moment

There is a short 0.5km trail that loops around the rock, so you can walk around it as if you were taking a stroll. If you have time, please try walking it. It takes about 30 minutes. The closer you get, the more you will be amazed at the size of the rock

Windows Section and Double Arch

Turn right past Balance Rock and drive about 4km until you reach a loop-shaped parking lot. On the right side of the parking lot is the Windows section (see photo below). There are two large arches, North Window and South Window, and on the other side is another arch called Turret Arch. This is a collection of many arches, making it an area packed with things to see

From the parking lot entrance, there is a 1.2 km trail to the left where you can see the double arch (photo below). This double arch is also very impressive and has been used as a filming location for movies and other productions

The Double Arch and Windows sections are in roughly the same area, so be sure to stop by after Balanced Rock or on your way back from hiking Delicate Arch

Just conquering this area alone is a bit of a hike, so if you're worried about your stamina, it might be a good idea to schedule this hike on a different day than Delicate Arch! If you're physically fit, you can do it all in one day

To Delicate Arch Trailhead

It takes about 30 minutes by car from the visitor center to the hiking trailhead. There are no shops, so be sure to bring plenty of water and snacks

There is a parking lot and a portable toilet. You will easily find it as there are many cars parked there

There is a well-established trail and many people are walking along it, so the trail itself is easy to follow and follow. There are also familiar cairns along the way to guide you. At first, the trail is mostly flat!

After walking for about 10 minutes, you will see a gently sloping hill in front of you. It's surprisingly tough if you hurry here! The altitude and the dryness of the desert will drain your energy more than you'd think, so don't rush!

From here onwards, the trail will be a gentle uphill climb, but if you are a strong runner, it will be no problem at all

Many of the people walking were elderly, and many were supported by their families as they walked, took a break, and then walked again. It was a very heartwarming sight

There are plenty of signs in places where you might get lost, so just follow them

The scenery is magnificent and magnificent, as is unique to the Grand Circle, and if the weather is good, the blue sky and red soil will look even more beautiful

Delicate Arch doesn't appear until the very end, so as you walk along you feel like you're saving the fun for last, constantly feeling excited, wondering if you'll see it yet

Towards the end, there are some narrow sections of the path and some sections where there are sheer cliffs on the other side, so be sure to watch your step. The latter half of the trail is a route that follows along a rocky mountain

Finally, as you come into view of the open space, the gorgeous and imposing Delicate Arch appears. It is about 14 meters high, equivalent to a four-story building

There is also space to relax around the area, so after taking photos you can eat your lunch, lie down, or spend your time as you like in front of the gorgeous view

Once you've had your fill of Delicate Arch, head back the way you came. It should take about an hour to get back to the trailhead

Delicate Arch is famous for its sunsets, but it's also a popular spot during peak seasons other than winter, so the area around the arch can get very crowded with tourists. So if you want to visit at a less crowded time, we recommend visiting at sunrise

After the hike, on the way back by car, the rocks dyed in the sunset looked very mystical

A brief moment of sunset

The sky is a vibrant color that you don't normally see. The beautiful sunset sky changes every moment, bringing your heart to a peaceful end as the day comes to a close

Erosion of the arches, which were formed over a long period of time, continues to this day, and some have already collapsed, while others are currently in the process of collapsing. For this reason, the national park is encouraging anyone interested to visit the park as soon as possible. It may still be difficult to visit for a while, but please come and see these natural works of art, which you will never be able to see in Japan, someday

Notes regarding the spread of COVID-19

As of July 2020, various countries are currently imposing entry restrictions due to strengthened quarantine measures, as well as restrictions on entry to national parks and domestic travel. These conditions are subject to change without notice, so when traveling, be sure to obtain local information from each country's embassy or consulate, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Overseas Safety Website (Infectious Disease Risk Information), national park websites, and other sources, and check information on transit points, countries you plan to travel to, and the areas around the places you plan to visit before making reasonable plans and taking action

Kato Sayaka

Leave your hiking and travel plans for Arches National Park to us. Influenced by my father, I've always loved outdoor activities, and while living in Japan, I started hiking and touring national parks, which fascinated me with the natural beauty of the United States and Canada, which ultimately led me to my dream of visiting the United States. I currently run ANAMI TOURS, which offers local optional tours created together with customers, such as completely private hiking tours with Japanese guides. I'll introduce you to special options that I know only because I live in the area. If you're interested, please visit the website below

ANAMI TOURS Official Website