Hike to Delicate Arch: The Must Do Trail in Arches
Delicate Arch is the most recognizable and famous arch in Arches National Park, which draws visitors from all over the world. Even though there are different options to see this impressive geological feature, there is only one hike to Delicate Arch, which brings you up close to this can’t miss feature.
Before you plan your trip to Arches National Park to see this impressive sandstone formation, read all about how to hike the trail, the best tips to have the best experience possible, and more.
Our Other Resources for Arches National Park
- Trails to Hike in Arches National Park
- How to See Arches National Park in One Day
- How to Save Money with the America the Beautiful Pass
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Top 5 Hiking Essentials
1. Day Hiking Packs: Deuter is one of the top brands for hiking packs and just happens to be our favorite. We currently use the Deuter Speed Lite 22 SL. l Deuter
2. Insulated Water Bottle: We found out very quickly that having a good insulated water bottle makes a world of difference on our hiking trips. l Hydro Flask
3. Durable Hiking Footwear: Hiking on different terrain requires sturdy hiking boots you can trust. We totally count on the Newton Ridge Plus Waterproof Hiking Boot. l Columbia
4. Comfortable Hiking Socks: Trust us, a quality hiking sock with a good cushion can make a huge difference in how your feet will feel after any hike. l Darn Tough
5. Photography Gear: Peak Design with its many smart photography accessories makes capturing our adventurous hiking moments so much easier. l Peak Design
- Entrance fee: Vehicle: $30, Per Person (without a vehicle): $25, Motorcycle: $15. Your entry ticket is valid for 7 consecutive days, including the date you purchased it.
- Best time to visit: Spring and Fall (April to May and September to October).
- Where to stay: If you are looking to stay within the park’s boundaries, Devil’s Garden Campground is your option. If you are looking to stay outside the park, you will find good accommodations in Moab, Utah.
- How to get there: The closest airports to Arches National Park are Salt Lake City International Airport and Grand Junction Regional Airport.
- How to get around: The best way to get around in the park is by driving your own vehicle along the Arches Scenic Drive.
- Permits: Fiery Furnace
- Timed Entry Ticket: Yes, from April 3 to October 3, 2022
How Do You Get to Delicate Arch?
Delicate Arch, one of the most geological structures in the world, is located in Arches National Park, north of Moab, Utah.
Navigating yourself through Arches National Park is very easy. There is one main road in the park, the Arches Scenic Drive, and a few side roads to reach certain trailheads.
To get to the Delicate Arch Trailhead, coming from the entrance, you will drive on the Arches Scenic Drive for around 11 miles, until you reach Delicate Arch Road. Here you will turn right. After 1.2 miles, you turn left into the parking lot of Wolfe Ranch. It is a generous size parking lot but can fill up in the later morning.
You will find the trailhead just off to the right side of the parking lot when you pull in.
Trail Statistics Hiking to Delicate Arch
Difficulty: Difficult
Length: 3 miles
Type of Hike: Out and Back
Elevation Change: 480 feet
Trailhead: Delicate Arch Road – Wolfe Ranch Parking Lot
How Do You Hike to Delicate Arch?
The first part of the Delicate Arch hike is on a flat gravel pathway that has a short section of a moderate incline.
Shortly after starting your hike to Delicate Arch, you will reach Wolfe Ranch Cabin, a remnant of the 19th century. Depending on how excited you are to get to Delicate Arch Utah, take a quick stop at the Cabin on your way to the arch or on your return trip to your car. Check out the sign to learn more about the early inhabitants of this basic one-room cabin.
Just a few feet behind the Wolfe Ranch, after crossing the bridge over Salt Wash, you will pass another fascinating feature on the Delicate Arch trail, The Rock Art Panel. These petroglyphs on the rocks to your left showcase native Americans riding horses surrounded by bighorn sheep. Please protect this ancient rock panel by not touching it.
Once you have reached the end of the gravel pathway, the real “difficult” part of the Delicate Arch trail begins. At this point, you will have a steady uphill climb on the slick rock in front of you. This section seemed longer than it looks, so don’t underestimate it. It might be a little tricky to find the trail since it almost disappears, but you can follow the frequent cairns (rock piles) to find your way.
Once you have made it to the top, the Delicate Arch trail will start to flatten back out. This was our favorite part of the trail because you are walking through a narrow wash and among large sandstone boulders.
You will know you are getting close to seeing Delicate Arch in Arches National Park when you have to walk along a narrow ledge with a semi-steep drop-off to the left. Be careful on this section of the trail, especially when the surface is slippery or icy.
If you look over to the right, you will see a small opening high in the sandstone. This is the Twisted Doughnut Arch. When you scramble up the sandstone walls to stand underneath this arch, you will get rewarded with a spectacular view of Delicate Arch from a different angle. We choose to check out this viewpoint on our way back.
Just walk a little bit further and off to the right you will see the famous Delicate Arch Utah. The massive arch is standing atop a sandstone bowl. It is absolutely worth it to climb up the sandstone walls surrounding Delicate Arch, to admire this natural wonder from above.
Delicate Arch in Arches National Park is the largest freestanding arch with a width of 32 feet and a height of 46 feet. This arch is very symbolic to the state of Utah and the whole country. It is not just on the Utah license plates, in 2002 the Winter Olympic Torch was even carried under Delicate Arch.
Even though we are not huge fans of touristy attractions, we couldn’t resist taking our picture underneath this famous arch. If you want to do so, expect to wait a couple of minutes in line to get your shot.
Top Tip: If you want to feel the thrill of walking on a narrow natural arch, you should check out our detailed hiking guide for Devils Bridge in Sedona, Arizona.
Since this is an out and back trail, you just have to hike back to the parking lot the way you came from, to enjoy some other adventures in Arches National Park.
How Long of a Hike is it to Delicate Arch?
The Delicate Arch Trail is a 3-mile round trip hike. You will reach Delicate Arch after about 1.5 miles. Although hiking to Delicate Arch is not an overly long hike, it is a steady uphill trek exposed to the sun.
You should expect to hike to Delicate Arch and back anywhere from 2 to 3 hours. The time it takes you to hike the trail will depend on how fast you hike and how much time you spend hanging out around the arch.
It took us about 2.5 hours to complete the hike to Delicate Arch. We hiked at a reasonable pace but spent some time taking in the view of the arch and capturing it from a variety of angles.
Top Tip: Trying to figure out what else you should do in Arches National Park in one day? Read our detailed itinerary on how to see the best of the park in just a day.
Is Delicate Arch a Hard Hike?
The hike to Delicate Arch is categorized as difficult on the National Park Service website. We did not feel like this trail was overly hard and would rather consider it a moderate hike.
The most difficult part is the steady uphill climb. Although the total elevation change is not drastic (480 feet), the elevation gain is consistent almost the entire way. On top of that, you will be exposed to the sun the entire Delicate Arch trail, which makes it especially challenging in the summertime.
Delicate Arch Trail Hiking Tips
1. Photographing Delicate Arch
Is there really a bad photo of Delicate Arch Utah, honestly? You can’t go wrong with this photo inspiration. But when you are looking for some suggestions to get your perfect, more unique picture of Delicate Arch, check out these ideas:
- The best time to photograph the arch is near sunset. The hour before the sun sets gives off the perfect lighting to capture the fiery red colors of the natural sandstone arch.
- Try taking photos from a variety of perspectives to really capture the size and beauty of this captivating geological structure.
2. View Delicate Arch from Different Angles
We already mentioned that seeing Delicate Arch from different perspectives is a must. Here are the spots you definitely don’t want to miss:
- Stand directly underneath the huge arch to really feel like a little ant.
- Get a bird’s-eye view of the arch by climbing up the surrounding sandstone bowl.
- Get a glance at Delicate Arch through the Twisted Doughnut Arch.
3. Protect Yourself from the Sun
The hike to Delicate Arch is completely exposed to the sun, so make sure you have the appropriate items to protect you from the harsh sun rays. A hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen will help you be safe.
4. Fuel Yourself with Water and Snacks
Just like on any hike, make sure you bring lots of water with you. The hotter and longer the hike, the more liquids your body will need.
This hike is not super long, but bringing a snack is always a good idea. You don’t want to be stuck out on the trail wishing you had something to eat. Try to pack foods that give you energy, like granola bars, nuts, or dried fruits.
5. Wear Comfortable Clothes and Shoes
Wearing the right clothes, depending on the season, is important for your hike. When we hiked to Delicate Arch in the summer, we were thankful for our dry-fit clothes. They won’t make you feel wet by absorbing your sweat. Also, make sure to check the weather before you head out on your Delicate Arch hike to make sure you are dressed properly.
Since there are some rock scrambling sections on this trail, we would suggest wearing over-the-ankle hiking boots.
What is the Best Time to Hike to Delicate Arch?
The best time to hike to Delicate Arch is early in the morning. At that time, there will be thinner crowds, and you can enjoy more solitude. When you are an early bird, you can even go for the sunrise to catch a glimpse of the sun rising around the arch.
Top Tip: Since Arches National Park is open 24 hours, you don’t have to worry about the opening hours. You can come and go whenever you feel like it.
Another good time to hike to Delicate Arch is in the latter part of the day to view a Delicate Arch sunset. This is a very popular time to visit the arch, so you will probably be sharing the trail with many other hikers. Don’t forget your headlights, since you will have to hike back in the dark.
Top Tip: Did you know that Arches National Park is a certified IDA International Dark Sky Community? That makes it one of the best places for stargazing. When you enjoy Delicate Arch in the dark, you will have an unforgettable time watching the stars.
The only time we would not recommend hiking to Delicate Arch is during midday. The Delicate Arch trail is completely exposed to the sun and it can be extremely hot on the steady uphill climb, especially during the warmer months.
Is There Another Way to See Delicate Arch?
Hiking to Delicate Arch on the 3 miles out and back trail starting at Wolfe Ranch is the only way to see Delicate Arch up close, and we would highly recommend this bucket list hike.
The arch is not visible at all from the main road. However, if the weather conditions are not ideal or you are not in the mood for a longer, more difficult hike, there is another way to view Delicate Arch in Arches National Park.
When you drive past the Wolfe Ranch, you get to the Lower Delicate Arch Viewpoint parking lot. Even from this parking lot, you will have to take a short walk. There are two options to catch a distant view of the popular arch:
- Lower Delicate Arch Viewpoint: After an easy 100 yards walk, you will be able to finally spot Delicate Arch Utah.
- Upper Delicate Arch Viewpoint: Hike 0.5 miles on a moderate rocky uphill path to get a little bit closer to the iconic arch.
Final Thoughts on Our Hike to Delicate Arch
We absolutely loved the hike to Delicate Arch. Even though it is marked as difficult, it was not as hard as expected and you don’t have to be an experienced hiker for this trail. Just be prepared, and keep in mind that being exposed to the sun in the hotter months of the year gets tiring after a while.
We are sure we will come back to Arches National Park again soon. Then, we would try to hike this trail for the sunrise or sunset, to enjoy a more peaceful hiking experience and have Delicate Arch Utah more to ourselves.
How was your hike to Delicate Arch? What was your favorite perspective of the iconic arch?
Share your experiences with us or drop a question in the comments below!
Our Other Resources for Arches National Park:
- 8 Incredible Trails to Hike Arches National Park
- How to See Arches National Park in One Day
- How to Save Money with the American the Beautiful Pass
Other Resources for (Utah’s) National Parks
- BRYCE CANYON: Best Bryce Canyon Hikes for Your Bucket List
- CANYONLANDS: The Best of Island in the Sky Canyonlands National Park
- CAPITOL REEF: Explore 10 Striking Capitol Reef Hikes in the Fruita District
- ZION: 11 Best Hikes in Zion National Park
- ROAD TRIP: Explore Utahs National Parks in One Unforgettable Road Trip
- ROAD TRIP: Plan a Trip from Zion to Bryce Canyon: 2 Utah National Parks
- HIKING: 15 Most Helpful Hiking Apps to Download
- HIKING: What You Should be Packing for a Hike: The Essentials + Extras
- HIKING: 100+ Best Gifts for Hikers to Buy
- NATIONAL PARK: 34 Best West Coast National Park + Western U.S. Parks that Will Blow Your Mind
- NATIONAL PARK: A Complete National Park List by State + Downloadable Checklist and Map
- NATIONAL PARK: First Hand Ranking of National Parks in USA from Best to Worst
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