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Arches National Park Quick Facts

a broad, narrow arch
Landscape Arch, North America's longest.

NPS/Neal Herbert

  • Park Designations:
    Arches National Monument—established April 12, 1929
    Arches National Park—established November 12, 1971
  • Acreage: 76,519 acres or 119 square miles
  • Visitation: 1,539,028 (2017) View more visitation statistics.
  • Highest Elevation: Elephant Butte 5,653 feet
  • Lowest Elevation: Visitor Center 4,085 feet
  • Average annual precipitation: 8-10 inches Read more about weather.
  • Number of documented arches: Over 2,000 (Some may have fallen and new arches may be forming.)
  • Longest arch: Landscape Arch has a light opening 306 feet (93.3 meters) across.
  • Tallest arch: Double Arch South has a vertical light opening of 112 feet (34.1 meters).
  • Rock colors: Red sandstones in the park contain iron oxide. Greenish rocks also contain iron, but in a reduced (non-oxidized) state. Depending on the conditions under which a rock was formed, iron can color rocks red, black, orange, purple, or greenish grey.
  • 483 species of plants
    Rare species: Canyonlands Biscuitroot
  • 186 species of birds
    Threatened species: Bald Eagle, Mexican Spotted Owl
  • 52 species of mammals
  • 6 species of fish
    Endangered species: Bonytail Chub, Colorado Pikeminnow, Humpback Chub, Razorback Sucker
  • 6 species of amphibians
  • 21 species of reptiles

Arches National Park

Last updated: December 19, 2018