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Arches National Park Delicate Arch
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Arches National Park
Long Trails
 
Hiking the Devils Garden Primitive Loop
NPS Photo by Neal Herbert
Hiking the Devils Garden Primitive Loop
 
Please note that popular trailheads like Delicate Arch/Wolfe Ranch and Devils Garden may fill for hours at a time, especially on weekends and holidays. For suggestions on traveling in the park and how to avoid the crowds, visit the Traffic & Travel Tips page.
 
Delicate Arch
Starting Point: Wolfe Ranch parking area
Length: 3 miles (4.8 km) round trip
Time: 2 to 3 hours
Elevation change: 480 feet (146 meters)
Take at least 1 quart (1 liter) of water per person! There is no shade. Open slickrock with some exposure to heights. The first half-mile is a wide, well-defined trail. Upon reaching the slickrock, follow the rock cairns. The trail climbs gradually and levels out toward the top of this rock face. Just before you get to Delicate Arch, the trail goes along a rock ledge for about 200 yards.

Devils Garden Primitive Loop
Starting Point: Devils Garden Trailhead parking area
Length: 7.2 mi/11.5 km round-trip, including all points of interest
Time: 3 to 5 hours
Longest of the maintained trails in the park, the Devils Garden Trail leads to eight awe-inspiring arches. Expect narrow ledges with rocky surface hiking and scrambling on slickrock. Not recommended when rock is wet or snowy. Trail guide available at trailhead.

Double O Arch
Starting Point: Devils Garden Trailhead parking area
Length: 4 miles (6.4 km) round trip
Time: 2 to 3 hours
Beyond Landscape Arch, the trail becomes more challenging as it climbs over sandstone slabs; footing is rocky; there are narrow ledges with exposure to heights. Spur trails lead to Partition and Navajo Arches. Dark Angel is one-half mile (0.8 km) farther. Trail guide available at trailhead.

Fiery Furnace
The Fiery Furnace is a labyrinth of narrow sandstone canyons and fins. There are no marked trails and the area has suffered resource damage due to increased visitation. Hikers who want to explore the Fiery Furnace are encouraged to sign up for a ranger-guided hike. In order to visit the Furnace without a ranger, one must obtain a permit at the visitor center (fee charged) and watch a minimum impact video. Children under five are not permitted.

Arches Newspaper
Newspaper
The park newspaper and many other brochures may be downloaded.
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What about my pet?
What about my pet?
Activities with pets are very limited at Arches.
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Pinyon Pine

Did You Know?
Pinyon pines do not produce pine nuts every year. These delicious nuts can only be harvested every three to seven years. This irregular schedule prevents animals from adapting to an abundance of pine nuts and guarantees that at least some nuts will become new pine trees instead of a quick meal.

Last Updated: December 17, 2011 at 08:43 MST