Moderately easy hike, upto 6 easily reached arches, desert settings.
This is a wonderful hike that allows you to see upto six named arches, any one of which would be worth the moderately easy 4 mile hike. The main trail is well maintained, and wide. The first spur trail takes you to Tunnel Arch and Pine Tree Arch. We were lucky enough to share Tunnel Arch with a small herd of grazing mule deer.
Next the trail leads to Landscape Arch, which at 306' long is one of the largest natural spans in the world. After visiting Landscape Arch, you begin your only significant uphill climb of the trip. You will walk well below Wall Arch, then climb higher to spur trails to Navajo and Partition Arch. The later offering great views out over the desert. At this point we retraced the main trail back to the trailhead, but you could continue on for an additional 2 1/4 miles for views of Double Arch and Dark Angel.
The trailhead lies at the end of main road through Arches National Park, just past the Devils Garden Campground.
National Park Service - (435) 259-8161
Craig F (247)
7 months ago
N/A:
34 Completed 8 Reviews
Great Hike, Loved it. One of the best trails in Arches.
Scott Bishop (278)
almost 2 years ago
N/A:
6 Completed 6 Reviews
This is one of my favourite hikes in Arches. When we hike this trail, we usually go out to Dark Angel and back. We have taken the primitive loop a couple of times, which makes this hike around 7 miles total. I would definitely suggest taking the primitive loop at least once, but take it from Double O Arch back to the trail near Landscape Arch rather than the other way around unless you enjoy climbing up the slick rock. The were several places on the primitive loop where I was very glad I had not gone the other way. Landscape and Double O are the two highlight arches on this trail, but there are many others. With the recent collapse of Wall Arch, the trail to Double O now requires a climb up a rather steep sandstone fin, but with good shoes it is not as difficult as it appears. After Double O Arch, a trail goes out to Dark Angel, a sandstone monolith that is quite impressive. It is also rarely crowded when we go in October, so it allows you to enjoy some solitude. If going out to Dark Angel, take plenty of water and some lunch for a nice meal when you arrive. It's a very beautiful, scenic hike.
Joan Hansen (210)
almost 2 years ago
N/A:
14 Completed 4 Reviews
Great hike! Beautiful rock formations everywhere. Kids can do it too!
Jason Izumi (1851)
over 2 years ago
N/A:
22 Completed 36 Reviews
We did not realize it was Halloween weekend as we twisted and turned in the late evening darkness driving the lonely c.20 miles from the park entrance looking for this rather remote campground. We were really looking forward to pitch tents asap and get some rest, having driven several hundred miles from Salt Lake City. When we got there, however, we we surprised to be informed by the on site manager that it was completely full, but she saw our sad faces and decided to let a reserved spot go, to us, as a no show! We thanked God, what a relief! And it was even coveniently near the comfort facilities! A mother and young son who had followed our car coming in was also inquiring about a space, but it was not looking good, so we offered them to share ours which was generous in size. Lucky for them, though, the manager soon gave up another reserved spot, right next to ours! We were relieved for them too! So the moral of this is to be sure to book a reservation in advance if you intend to camp at Devil's Garden Campground around Halloween! Next morning I got up very early to do some trails while nearly all were asleep, and noticed there had been lots of revelry that evening--picnic tables, many with fancy dining linens, littered with champagne, beer and wine bottles, melted candles, dirty plates and scraps of food--quite an entertaining sight, though we thought such practice was supposed to be a (fineable?) "no no" out in the wild! That said, we agree with the other reviewers about the nice trails and captivating rock formations throughout this park.
April Cortez (63)
about 1 month ago
14 Completed 3 Reviews
Very nice trail, can be a bit much at some points if you are afraid of heights. Beautiful 360 views in a couple of areas, several arches if you hike out to all side trails branching off main trail. I actually did the primitive trail, which is where the heights & ledges come in. It can be a little long & moderately strenuous at times. I did see one teenage girl crying on one part of the trail where it was a little steep up & down the rock walls. It wasn't too bad, but not for everyone I suppose. My fiancee is afraid of heights & steep ledges. He made it through and said it wasn't horrible. In fact, he wants to go back one day to do it again. It was still a little cold in the morning when we hiked this March, but I'm glad it wasn't mid-summer. Definitely take the side trails for Partition Arch and Navajo Arch. Well worth the short hikes to these two, especially the view from Partition Arch. This was my favorite trail in Arches.