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Delicate Arch On Your Bucket List? Might Have To Skip It This Year

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By NPT Staff - March 6th, 2015
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This might not be your year to see Delicate Arch/Kurt Repanshek

Delicate Arch at Arches National Park is one of the icons of the National Park System. It's showcased on Utah's license plates, and a must-see for visitors to the park. But construction this year at the arch's parking area could force you to put off your up-close-and-personal experience with Delicate Arch until another year, say park officials.

Simply put, there just might not be enough space for you to park at the trailhead.

Parking lots will be full most of the day, a notice on the park's website says. "You can still see the arch from the Delicate Arch Viewpoint," it adds, or, "You might consider coming back another day, or hiking somewhere else in the park."

If you want to hike to Delicate Arch remember:

  • Sunrise is just as beautiful as sunset, and always less busy. You might find several hundred people at Delicate Arch for sunset, but just a handful for sunrise. Try to enter the park before 8 am. Get an early start, and beat the crowds. Sunrise and Sunset Times
  • If parking at the trailhead is full, there may be parking available at the viewpoint parking lot. You may hike from the viewpoint, but you will have to hike 1 mile along the road to the trailhead. The total roundtrip hike distance increases to 5 miles (8 km). 

As for other hikes you might consider, here at the Traveler we heartily recommend the trails at The Windows section of the park, as well as the longer, more demanding Primitive Trail via Landscape and Double O Arch. Park Avenue is another option, one that's relatively short and sweet at just 2 miles roundtrip.

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