Utah has a beauty all its own. Every time I’ve been lucky enough to explore this gorgeous state I’m left in awe by it’s natural beauty. Arches National Park was no different. Here’s some tips and tricks I picked up along the way. Hopefully they help planning your trip a little easier.
Moab, Utah is the closest city to Arches National Park. There are multiple hotels and RV parks in town to rent and enjoy your stay. There’s also lots of restaurants and places to eat in town.
First, plan according to the season you are visiting Utah. Summer months get hot and in the winter you’ll more than likely be greeted with snow. Believe it or not, I visited Arches on The 4th of July! Kid you not! July brings the heat and this year was no different. With many sites to see and trails to hike, I began about 6 am. I know, it sounds crazy, but at this time of year it’s the only way to beat the heat and truly enjoy the hike. There are several arches around the park to hike too. The hike to the Delicate Arch pictured was about 2 miles, give or take. A little less than 4 miles out and back. Depending on the time of day and season the trails are highly congested and the earlier you set out the better. Trust me, heading back down nearly two hours later and seeing the folks just starting the trail with a temperature of more than 90 degrees, I was happy I started early in the morning. It also helps with parking. There are lots of spaces up and around the trail head. Early in the morning it was easy to find a parking, later parking was congested and harder to find. As you drive around the park to different areas of the park some places are more popular than others and are more congested. Some trailheads are easy to drive up to and begin hiking.
Make sure you pack your water, even the early morning heat can weigh on you and you’ll need to hydrate. I took my camel pack and I had more than enough water for the day. You’ll be happy you have it when you reach the trail end and have some time to rest and enjoy the scenery. I always have at least a granola bar in my pack.
Packing a lunch in a cooler is a really good idea. There are several sites to stop, park and hike through the park. Depending on how long you spend exploring it’s nice to have a lunch break before heading up more trails and driving through the rest of the park.
The beautiful of Arches National Park will certainly not disappoint and is a must see in the Southwest!
