Moderate 4.8 (19562) Arches National Park. Thanks! But be aware, you may need poles or shoe spikes to navigate the trail, which can get icy. All the important info for your hike including the Delicate Arch hike time, mileage, gain, difficulty, map, and location. The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Delicate Arch Either way, a sunset at Delicate Arch is a nice escape from the heat. You can still squeeze in a quick peek at the arch from either the Upper Viewpoint (which requires a 0.5-mile hike) or the Lower Viewpoint (which is located a mere 100 yards of strolling across a paved pathway from the parking lot). If you get to the trail shown in the photo below (with Kara), you went too far. #1 The Only Way to Get to Delicate Arch is by Hiking, #4 Dont Miss the View from the Twisted Doughnut, #5 Theres More than Just the Iconic Shot, #6 Expect Scorching Hot Conditions in the Summer, skip ahead to see a photo from Twisted Doughnut Arch, Devils Garden Trail: The Best Hike in Arches National Park. The Delicate Arch hike is one of the most popular trails in Arches National Park, and it does get crowded. It is massive in size and has become an iconic symbol of Utah, hence why it is on their state license plate. The walk to Delicate Arch is 3.2 miles roundtrip and takes about 1 hours to complete, of course, this is without the time spent admiring the arch. l Deuter, 2. Meg aka Fox is a 30-something who's born to explore. Turn right on Delicate Arch Road and drive another 1.2 miles to the parking area on your left (north). Once youve turned right toward Wolfe Ranch, the trailhead will be on your left a little more than a mile down the road. Can you see Delicate Arch without hiking? Here are a few reasons: **A lot of information about the Delicate Arch hike warns about the fully-exposed sun you will experience on the trail. The higher you climb, the better the view gets over the park. As you plan your next trip to Arches National Park, consider ways to support its basecamp communities and keep the park Forever Mighty. Keep vehicles and bikes on designated roads. You cant go wrong with this photo inspiration. If you reach the turnoff for the Salt Valley Overlook and/or Fiery Furnace, youve gone too far along Park Loop Road. Delicate Arch Trail | Arches National Park | Hikespeak.com As an expert in photography and beating the crowds in the worlds most saught-after landscapes, youre in the right place. We are on a mission to explore all the United States has to offer. This viewpoint is the best alternative if you wont be able to hike to the arch during your visit. Zion National Park is Utahs first national park and one of the most-visited U.S. national parks in general. Challenges in hiking are always a matter of perspective, though! 18 Capitol Reef National Park Boondocking (Updated 2022) 21 Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Boondocking (Updated 2022) Drive the 18-Mile Scenic Road If you're most limited on time in Arches, the easiest way to see a bulk of the park is to take their Scenic Drive. Although we got a little lost chasing the colors of the rising sun towards the end, you really cant get lost here. An easier way to see Delicate Arch is by heading to the Delicate Arch Viewpoint Trailhead near the junction of Delicate Arch Road and Cache Valley Road (4WD). You're in the right place! We hiked at a reasonable pace but spent some time taking in the view of the arch and capturing it from a variety of angles. On many days, midday temperatures can creep up over the 100 mark. Continue on the Delicate Arch Road until you see a parking lot on the left side of the road. DELICATE ARCH - 143 Photos & 15 Reviews - Yelp It's considered a moderate hike for seasoned hikers and difficult for newbies, as many people are woefully unprepared for it. This arch, called Twisted Doughnut Arch, is one of the most unique spots to take a photo of Delicate Arch. First view of Delicate Arch (photo taken in the afternoon in November). Required fields are marked *. Safest and Cheapest Countries to Visit in 2023 You Must See This List! This is where you will walk up a steep section of slickrock. Although hiking to Delicate Arch is not an overly long hike, it is a steady uphill trek exposed to the sun. Are you planning a visit to Arches National Park? Once past the slickrock, the trail levels out. ), The Ultimate Utah National Parks Road Trip Itinerary. Twisted Doughnut Arch (photo taken in the afternoon in November), The view from the opening (photo taken in the afternoon in November). On the other hand, the lower is an easy, and flat, 300-foot stroll from the parking lot. Its here, that visitors can view Delicate Arch right from their vehicle. Or, get here early to avoid the heat (and the crowds). At Lower Delicate Arch Viewpoint, you can walk a level 100 yards (91 m) to see the arch from one mile away. Day Hiking Packs: Deuter is one of the top brands for hiking packs and just happens to be our favorite. Next, youll hit a paved section. To start, the trail climbs over rolling hills before a steep ascent on a slickrock slope with no shade. Then hit me up on socials and tell me about your journey. Delicate Arch Viewpoints. Arriving for sunset can be the . This can vary based both on your hiking speed and how long you spend at the arch. Wearing the right clothes, depending on the season, is important for your hike. A short, roughly 10-minute detour near Wolfe Ranch will take you to see striking petroglyphs carved by the local Native people, potentially as early as the 1600s. From there, youre only a few seconds of climbing away from reaching the Twisted Doughnut Arch and one of the coolest views of Delicate Archdont skip it! Among the countless things to do in Arches National Park, Delicate Arch is probably what called you here. No trip to Utah is complete without seeing our state's most iconic landmark! You cannot hike to Delicate Arch on this trail; the hike to Delicate Arch begins at Wolfe Ranch. Sunset is the most popular and most beautiful time of day to hike Delicate Arch in Arches National Park. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Do this by following the park rules to protect this natural setting. The Windows Rd. How to Enjoy Utah's Delicate Arch Hike (+ Other Ways to Visit!) In addition, the last 0.3 miles takes place along a ledge that shrinks down to only three feet wide, with a sheer vertical wall on the right and a steep and dangerous drop-off to the left. What can you not miss in Arches National Park? Delicate Arch is the most recognizable and famous arch in Arches National Park, which draws visitors from all over the world. The arch, which features an opening 46 feet high and 32 feet wide, is the largest free-standing arch in the park, and as the name implies it seems to defy gravity in its size and design. However, if the weather conditions are not ideal or you are not in the mood for a longer, more difficult hike, there is another way to view Delicate Arch in Arches National Park. I mentioned this above, but it bears repeating: there is little to no shade along the Delicate Arch Trail, and summer temperatures can reach 110 degrees! Learn how to spend one perfect day at Island in the Sky and how to hike the Syncline Loop and Gooseberry Trail. You don't have to deal with any of that during the dark of the morning! The term "delicate" first appeared in a January 1934 article about the Arches National Monument Scientific Expedition, which described it as "the most delicately chiseled arch in the entire area. Delicate Arch just past sunrise (in December), Delicate Arch in the late afternoon in November. There is a lot of room to spread out, but if you want a photo under the arch, you will have to wait in line for a little bit (it was about a five minute wait when we were here). It took us about 2.5 hours to complete the hike to Delicate Arch. Theyre located between 0.25 and 0.50 miles down the road. If you have questions or want to share your experience, let us know in the comment section below. Lower Delicate Arch Viewpoint Roundtrip Distance: 200 ft (61 m) Time: 5-15 min Elevation Change: 0 ft (0 m) Difficulty: Easy Hike Description: This short, flat trail is the easiest way to see the most famous arch in the park, perched at the top of a distant rock wall. This is a very popular time to visit the arch, so you will probably be sharing the trail with many other hikers. A lot of people recommend visiting Delicate Arch for sunset if youre on a photography mission. The only time we would not recommend hiking to Delicate Arch is during midday. We and our partners share information on your use of this website to help improve your experience. Upon wrapping around the ledge, Delicate Arch will suddenly appear for the first and only time along the hike. The trail is open year-round, and in the winter you can take advantage of the near solitude. There is an arch here, called the Twisted Doughnut, that offers a very unique view of Delicate Arch (keep reading to see photos, or skip ahead to see a photo from Twisted Doughnut Arch). It is a generous size parking lot but can fill up in the later morning. Delicate Arch is the most recognizable and famous arch in Arches National Park, which draws visitors from all over the world. Delicate Arch Trail: 19627 Reviews, Map - Utah | AllTrails Dont step on any black, pointy soil (this is alive and protects the desert from erosion). After 1.2 miles, you turn left into the parking lot of Wolfe Ranch. You can download it here. Suggest edits to improve what we show. Even in the winter the sun and dry air can really take it out of you. Also, with a 629-foot elevation gain, even young healthy hikers may find it moderately challenging. Insider Tip: Take a moment and look up! There are three easy ways to see Delicate Arch at Arches National Park without hiking to it. My day job is writing for the outdoor industry and Im on a mission to deliver you the expert know-how you need to go on the Delicate Arch hike. While Delicate Arch does get crowded at sunset, its for good reason: its one of the best sunset spots in the park! Graffiti carving, scratching, chalking, or any type of markingis illegal and unsightly. Delicate Arch was more crowded when we were here in the afternoon in November, but it really wasnt too bad. After years of photographing the American Southwest, 9 am through 3 pm (5 in the dummer) is simply the worst time for photography especially on a cloudless day. 1. l Hydro Flask, 3. As much as I love my KEEN Whisper Sandals for hiking in general, I wouldnt recommend hiking sandals on the Delicate Arch trail due to sections of loose sand and gravel on the trail. For the main Delicate Arch Trail, this is where you will want to park. Get Directions, From the same parking area, you can take a short walk to the upper Delicate Arch viewpoint. Its one of those must-see features of Arches National Park. We did not feel like this trail was overly hard and would rather consider it a moderate hike. Early. Technically, there are both the lower and upper viewpoints, however, the upper is a 1.0-mile roundtrip journey. ). The hike to Landscape Arch is akin to the trip to Delicate Arch. Eventually, youll see a ramp upwards with steps leading the way. Insider Tip: Respect the land. Want more ideas to round-out your trip to Utah? Sunrise and sunset are both popular times to visit Delicate Arch. Youll have far fewer people, and less scorching heat. This gives the whole scene an elegant glow without the glare. Delicate Arch is the most famous arch in the park and a must-see for many visitors. On top of that, you will be exposed to the sun the entire Delicate Arch trail, which makes it especially challenging in the summertime. ), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. You'll start at the same trailhead (Wolfe Ranch parking lot), where both viewpoints and the hiking trail start off. So no, we didnt discover it, although I never read anything about Twisted Doughnut Arch before our visit to Arches. Allow between two and three hours to complete the hike without being rushed. Quick Answer: Is Hike To Delicate Arch Scary - BikeHike Can you see Arches and Canyonlands in one day? On a busy day, people are lined up for the standard views. For a more optimal web experience, please view our site on Microsoft's recommended browser, Edge. Delicate Arch dusted with snow during winter. The first part of the Delicate Arch hike is on a flat gravel pathway that has a short section of a moderate incline. You should plan to summit the trail around 1 hour before sunset so you can appreciate the unique Delicate Arch landscape before it gets dark. Delicate Arch Hike in Arches National Park: What to Expect The Ultimate Guide To The Delicate Arch Hike Climbing, scrambling, walking or standing upon or rappelling off any arch is prohibited. To promote visitor safety and the opportunity to view natural features undisturbed, climbing, scrambling, walking or standing upon, or rappelling off any arch is prohibited in the park. The trail can be challenging in places, requiring you to squeeze through narrow areas and scramble over rocks, but it is beautiful. An economical option if you plan on visiting multiple national parks for multiple days. But when you are looking for some suggestions to get your perfect, more unique picture of Delicate Arch, check out these ideas: We already mentioned that seeing Delicate Arch from different perspectives is a must. Dogs are not allowed on this trail. From this angle, visitors will see the western side of the Arch extrados, only the outer curve. Do not leave Arches National Park without seeing Delicate Arch. Take the trail on the right to reach the lower viewpoint. It may not look like it in photos, but Delicate Arch is massive. The last short section of trail has a drop-off on one side, so be careful here. The point is, take your time to explore and wander around. Just after sunrise is another great time to visit, but youll thank yourself for seeing a sunrise in this fantastic landscape. Just peaceful nature, the way it was intended. To protect the tiny organisms that live here, do not swim, bathe or drink the water in these pools. Each angle provides visitors with an interesting perspective, just dont forget to bring a good pair of binoculars. Please watch your step, stay on the trail, and do your part to help protect the park. Especially from April through October. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. While it may seem unassuming, many areas of dirt play a critical role in providing water to the ecosystem. Hiking to Delicate Rock is a very popular thing to do so most likely you will share the trail with other hikers. Its also one of the most spectacular hikes you can take in any national park. BREAKING FREE WITHOUT BREAKING THE BUDGET, Home 3 Easy Ways To See Delicate Arch Without Hiking to It Arches NP. Delicate Arch Hike During Sunrise (Beat The Crowds!) 11 Cheapest Countries to Live on Less Than $1250 Per Month in 2023, Time constraints (e.g. Hiking the Delicate Arch trail was one of the highlights of our national parks road trip, and while it is only a 3-mile hike, it is doable for . Delicate Arch is super stunning standing underneath it. Its just off the trail and a great photo opportunity. The hotter and longer the hike, the more liquids your body will need. Leave the Rocks as You See Them. The best way to view Delicate Arch is with a budget-savvy set of travel size 1242 binoculars, 10x magnification binoculars probably wont cut it from the distance of the viewing sites. If you have a wide-angle lens, pack that in your bag, too. The shadows and lighting often make a Delicate Arch sunset a high priority on any Moab bucket list. Pack out your trash! Directions and Transportation Of the three easy ways to view Delicate Arch without walking to it, this viewpoint will give visitors the best perspective. Dont forget to look back and admire the view. Seeour Disclosure Policyfor more information. Theres a parking lot on each side of the road, you cant miss it. Personally, we spent about 3 hours on the trail in total, including plenty of time to stop and take photos at different viewpoints, and especially to relax and enjoy the view of Delicate Arch at the end of the trail. Arches National Park is home to a beautiful ecosystem. There are three easy ways to see Delicate Arch at Arches National Park without hiking to it. Pass. There are plenty of places to detour for a few hundred feet in order to seek out a different view, and though the trail is fairly short at a mile and a half each way, the views vary dramatically throughout the hike. This includes many photo stops along the way. Now you are hiking among giant domes of sandstone rock. Hiking to Delicate Arch on the 3 miles out and back trail starting at Wolfe Ranch is the only way to see Delicate Arch up close, and we would highly recommend this bucket list hike. So everyone wants that super iconic view of Delicate Arch. While heading into the park, simply turn right on the first road past Balanced Rock. We made it into Arches National Park early and decided to go and see the Delicate Arch first. Walkers should plan on spending about 2 to complete the hike. Rather than just taking a few photos from the first viewpoint, take some extra time to view Delicate Arch from numerous other viewpoints. However, its very manageable. Youll start at the same trailhead (Wolfe Ranch parking lot), where both viewpoints and the hiking trail start off. Note: We have visited Delicate Arch on multiple occasions. 19 Stunning Southwest Road Trip Itinerary Ideas (+ Tips!) The Budget Savvy Travelers contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Associates Affiliate Program. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 35 min to complete. There were 4 other people around. Delicate Arch Hike 12 Things To KNOW For The Trail (2023) Delicate Arch Hike in Arches National Park: What You Need to Know (2023) There will be a well-marked spur trail (0.1 miles) leading to Wolfe Ranch homestead. This hike is not super long, but bringing a snack is always a good idea. Shortly before you reach the end of the Delicate Arch trail, as youre walking along a fairly narrow strip of sandstone with a steep wall to one side, youll be able to look up at that wall and see an arch above you.