Arches National Park - Elemental Quests

Over the past 150 million years, primal forces have been sculpting the 2,000 natural stone arches at Arches National Park. The conditions have to be just right for eons in order for arches to form. First, the sand dunes of the Entrada Sandstone desert hardened like cement. Next, geologic forces warped and folded the soft sandstone layer into parallel lines. Then, tectonic forces uplifted this layer thousands of feet to the surface. Rain and ice ripped the rock apart, eroding rock walls into fins. Eventually, holes and windows appear, and finally you have an arch. The life cycle ends when arches become so skinny that they fall to the ground. Don’t worry, new arches will form and repeat the cycle. For now, enjoy the highest concentration of arches in one spot by hiking to get a better view.

Must Sees | Logistics

MUST SEES

Delicate Arch

Skip the viewpoint walks and go on a 3.2-mile hike right to the base of Delicate Arch. There’s something about its delicately chiseled appearance that makes people gravitate to it. Or is it the freestanding design and elevated location?

Double O Arch

The 4.1-mile roundtrip hike to Double O is intense in the summer with very little shade. While viewing the other six arches on the way, remember to drink plenty of water. You’ll be rewarded with views of two arches, one arch above another.

Landscape Arch

In Devils Garden, Landscape Arch spans 290 feet across, making it the fifth longest natural arch in the world. At the halfway point to Double O, this fragile ribbon of rock looks like it might crumble at any moment.

Tunnel Arch

About 0.3 miles from the Devils Garden trailhead, take the 0.2-mile spur trail southeast to Tunnel Arch. This arch looks like something Wile E. Coyote would paint on the side of wall.

Pine Tree Arch

About 0.3 miles from the Devils Garden trailhead, take the 0.3-mile spur trail northwest to Pine Tree Arch. This one has a tall doorway through a cliff wall. It is named for the pine trees in the surrounding area.

Double Arch

At the Windows Section, it’s just 0.3 miles to Double Arch. The interlocking rings form the tallest arch (112 feet) and second-longest arch (144 feet) in the park.

The Windows

Follow the one-mile loop around North Window, South Window, and Turret Arch. Individually, the North Window and South Window are shaped like eyes. Together, they look like a giant pair of glasses.

Pothole Arch

When a pothole on top of a rock merges with an alcove on a rock face, you get a pothole arch.

Balanced Rock

This is actually two rock formations in one. A hard capstone of Entrada Sandstone attached to a pedestal of rapidly eroding softer stone. The precariously balanced rock weighs about 3,577 tons (or 27 blue whales).

Wall Arch

In the middle of the night on August 4th, 2008, Wall Arch collapsed. This is a reminder that the rock formations in the park are constantly changing. Eventually, all the arches will collapse as new ones emerge.

LOGISTICS

Timed Entry

Timed entry tickets are required during peak seasons between 7 AM and 4 PM. If you visit during these dates and times, you’ll need the following:
1. Timed entry ticket
2. Pay park entrance fee.
3. Arrive during time slot.

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