Arches National Park

Delicate Arch

Located just outside of Moab, Utah, Arches National Park is one of my favorite parks in the entire system. About a six-hour drive from Denver, it makes for an ideal spring or fall getaway when the weather is mild and the crowds are lighter. Although our first visit was actually in winter, we were rewarded with the rare and beautiful sight of snow dusting the red rock formations, making the landscape feel even more surreal.

Delicate Arch (shown above) is the park’s most famous landmark, as it is featured on Utah’s automobile license plate. Beyond its iconic status, the area offers excellent hiking and sweeping desert views. It is also famously known as the filming location for the opening scenes of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, adding a touch of movie magic to an already unforgettable place.

Visiting Arches National Park

Staying in Moab makes visiting Arches National Park easy and immersive. Just minutes from the park entrance, Moab serves as a comfortable basecamp with a full range of hotels, local shops, gear outfitters, and restaurants. Southwestern art galleries line Main Street, reflecting the red rock landscape that surrounds the town. After a day on the trails, it’s easy to refuel, rest, and prepare for another early start beneath the desert sky.

Beyond Arches, Moab offers access to Canyonlands National Park, Dead Horse Point State Park, and scenic drives along the Colorado River. Jeep tours, mountain biking on the Slickrock Trail, rafting trips, and stargazing in the dark desert skies round out the experience. Whether you’re hiking to Delicate Arch at sunrise or exploring quieter areas of the park, Moab blends adventure with small-town character in the heart of Utah’s red rock country.

When planning your visit, be aware that Arches often requires timed entry reservations during peak season, so advance planning is essential. On the trails, avoid hiking on wet sandstone, which is fragile and easily damaged, and respect delicate petroglyph panels by viewing them from a distance. Protecting these cultural and natural resources ensures the landscape remains intact for future visits. Before you go, be sure to visit the park’s official website for the most up-to-date information on reservations, shuttles, and seasonal access: https://www.nps.gov/arch/planyourvisit/index.htm

Tower of Babel

Three Gossips

Ute Rock Art

The wannabe archaeologist in me is always fascinated by seeing historical art like this. According to the National Park Service, this artwork was created sometime between 1650 and 1850 CE. When I see it, I can’t help but wonder what stories were being told and why this scene was so important to their culture.

Although this art is exposed to the elements, it is against the law to touch, remove, damage, alter, or deface it in any way. Please don’t be the person who destroys this priceless history. Instead, take a photo, write a story, and pass it down to future generations so they can one day see it for themselves.

Learn more about the Native American art in Arches National Park: https://www.nps.gov/arch/learn/historyculture/native-americans.htm

Hiking Delicate Arch 

Delicate Arch Hike

        In late winter, I hiked the 3-mile round-trip trail to Delicate Arch, gaining about 480 feet along the way. The air was cold but clear, the sandstone glowing against a wide Utah sky. With fewer crowds and quiet trails, the final climb felt personal—just me, the rock, and the desert silence.

Details:
Trailhead: Wolfe Ranch Parking Area
Distance: 3 miles
Elevation Gain: 480 ft

Balanced Rock - one of the rock formations featured in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.