Ranger-led Field Trips

 
A group of adults and children sit on a long stretch of sandstone. The people are all silhouetted. A canyon wall and green vegetation are in the background.
Education staff lead a field trip in Courthouse Wash.

NPS

Learning at the Park

The Arches Education program is a great outdoor setting for place-based learning. The park's education team offers ranger-led field trips primarily designed for students in grades 2 to 8. Programs support Utah Science Standards and Next Generation Science Standards.

Due to limited capacity, field trip programs are limited to 50 participants or less and are only in specific areas of the park. This number includes both students and adult chaperones. All ranger-led education programs are free. Advanced reservations are required.

Chaperone Requirements

All ranger-led field trips have chaperone requirements based on the number of students.

  • Kindergarten through 2nd Grade: 1 adult for every 3 students
  • 3rd Grade through 5th Grade: 1 adult for every 5 students
  • 6th Grade and higher: 1 adult for every 10 students
 
A group of students and adults follow a park ranger up uneven rock steps in front of a large sandstone formation
Most trails involve navigating uneven, rocky surfaces.

NPS/Kat Connelly

Accessibility

Trails in Arches range in distance, surface type, and difficulty. Some trails may be easier to navigate with a group of students than others. Only a few trails have paved or hardpacked areas. Most have minor obstacles, steps, and uneven footing. Rain and snow may cause ruts or other obstacles on trails.

Field trips take place at the following locations:

  • Park Avenue Trail
  • Balanced Rock Trail
  • Courthouse Wash
  • Delicate Arch Trail
  • La Sal Mountain Viewpoint
  • Devils Garden and Balanced Rock picnic areas
  • Arches Visitor Center

Please check each field trip listing for accessibility information. Trail Access Details provides a full list of all trails at the park and their distances, surface, obstructions, and elevation change.

 

Reservation Requests

Reservations are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. In order for rangers to best meet your needs, please contact the education team at least three months in advance of your desired field trip date.

Note: Applications for fee waivers must be received three weeks prior to your anticipated arrival date at the park. This can be submitted through the form below or by submitting an application to e-mail us.

Please fill it out a field trip request form to start the process. Ranger-led field trip priority is given to schools within Grand and San Juan counties.

If you have questions before requesting a field trip, please email the education team.
 

Reservation Confirmation

After submitting a field trip request, you will receive an email back with a confirmation letter and pre-visit packet that includes directions, a fee waiver for free entrance into the park (if applicable), a list of field trip essentials, student expectations, and chaperone expectations.
 

Field Trip Request Form

NPS Form 10-1750 (Rev. 04/2021)
National Park Service

OMB Control No. 1024-0228
Expiration Date 11/30/2025

Disclaimer:

A park representative will follow-up to confirm group details once this request has been received and reviewed.


NPS Form 10-1750 (Rev. 04/2021)
National Park Service

OMB Control No. 1024-0228
Expiration Date 11/31/2025

Notices

Privacy Act Statement

Authority: Public Law 114-289 National Park Service Centennial Act and 54 U.S.C. 100701 Protection, interpretation, and research in System.

Purpose: To administer education programs for education audiences including but not limited to school groups, scouting groups, extracurricular groups, and home school groups.

Routine Uses: To effectively manage requests for education received by the NPS, the Education Reservation Request Form is used to collect basic education reservation information to facilitate operational aspects of scheduling groups for park education programs, including in-park education programs, ranger in classroom programs, and/or online distance learning programs.

Disclosure: Voluntary, however, failure to provide the requested information may impede the ability to grant your education reservation request.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

We are collecting this information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501) to provide park managers and educators the information needed to schedule and conduct education program activities. All applicable parts of the form must be completed in order for your request to be considered. You are not required to respond to this or any other Federal agency-sponsored information collection unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. OMB has approved this collection of information and assigned control number 1024-0288.

Estimated Burden Statement

Public reporting for this collection of information is estimated to average 5 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80525. Do not send your completed form to this address.

Last updated: October 7, 2026

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

PO Box 907
Moab, UT 84532

Phone:

435 719-2299

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