Let the adventures in Arches National Park begin with Delicate Arch. Delicate Arch has always been high on my list of must-see desert escapes because it is an iconic and unique natural structure. At 52-feet tall, the arch towers over visitors and has become a symbol of Utah.
Getting to Arches National Park
We drove 8 hours from Phoenix, up through Monument Valley, with our husky pup who was determined to ride in the front seat with us. Road trips like this are our favorite, mainly because we get to shut off from the world for a good chunk of time. No cell phones, laptops, no distractions. Thankfully we got a ton of music recommendations which helped really kick off the vacation mood!
We made our way into town that evening around 11pm and packed our backpacks for the next day’s first hike, Delicate Arch. This trail is one I know well from my solo trip last year, but this year Tim was joining along and we had a special meet up planned!
Instagram has totally proven to be a great platform to meet people who also love being outdoors. About a month before our trip I had begun talking to Mallory, a very inspiring girl who spends a ton of time in the mountains on her hiking adventures as well. Turns out she lives not too far from Moab and we decided to meet up and hike to Delicate Arch together!
The trail is only 3 miles round trip and since we wanted to make it before sunrise, we all met at the trailhead around 4:30am.
With our headlamps and flashlights ready, we headed out. The trail is fairly flat to start and then the incline starts over the slick rock. Delicate Arch is a highly popular trail but with an early start you’ll be sure to miss the masses.
As a side note, this is a very popular spot for photographers as well as hikers, so please be mindful of those around you that are taking photos of the arch during the peak sunrise and sunset hours. Take turns! 🙂
We couldn’t ask for a nicer way to start off our week-long trip to Moab. Special thanks to Miss Mallory for driving out to meet us for a hike. Hoping our paths cross again on another southwest trail!
Please do your part to protect beautiful places like Arches National Park by following all park regulations. Never carve into the rocks, pack out all your trash with you, and keep in mind drones and pets are not allowed on this trail.
Adventures in Arches National Park
Delicate Arch
Length: 3-miles roundtrip
Difficulty: Moderate
- Get there early! This is one of the most popular and busy trails in the park.
- Recommend bringing at least 2 quarts of water per person
- Entry fee required to get into the Park ( $25/vehicle – Good for 7 Days )
- Visit the National Park website for up to date alerts and park hours.
Images Credit: Timothy Cheston & Ashley Ann
