Utah’s Arches National Park in Photos
Home to the world’s densest concentration of natural rock arches, Arches National Park is one of the most photogenic national parks in America.
During my three-day visit, I, naturally, spend a good chunk of time playing with my camera. This post contains a selection of my personal favorite Arches National Park photos.
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Unique in The World
Arches National Park is home to more than 2,000 catalogued rock arches, the densest concentration of these rock formations in the entire world.
They range in size from three feet (90 centimeters), which is the minimum required length to be officially recognized as an arch, to almost three hundred feet (90 meters).
The easternmost of the five Utah national parks, it lies just five miles (eight kilometers) from Moab. This adventure-minded town is one of the greatest national park gateway towns in the USA, offering super-easy access to both Arches and Canyonlands National Park.
Begin your visit by stopping at the visitor center to pick up a map and park newspaper, before exploring the park on its only road—the Scenic Drive, which, I think, is one of the most scenic drives in America’s national parks.
Meandering its way for 19 miles (or 30 kilometers) through a desert landscape filled with rock spires and arches, fins and cliffs, monoliths and boulders, it takes you past essentially all the top sights in Arches National Park. Or at least, it brings you within striking distance of them.
Some attractions require you to hike a bit, others lie just on the side of the road.
The Arches National Park photos below show you just what you can expect from this popular desert park in southeastern Utah.
Arches National Park Photo Essay
Spanning 306 feet (93.3 meters), Landscape Arch is the longest rock arch in North America.
This Garden of Eden landscape is one of my absolute favorite Arches National Park photos, taken during golden hour (of course!).
The glowing red rocks in the parks at sunset are a major highlight.
One of the park’s most iconic arches: Double Arch in the Windows area.
When cruising the Scenic Drive, the first main attraction you’ll come across is Park Avenue, filled with towering rock walls, fins and pillars.
Some highlights in Arches National Park are a bit more low-key, but no less fascinating. These Native American petroglyphs are found at the start of the Delicate Arch Trail.
The sheer enormity of North Window is mind-boggling.
Balanced Rock, another popular attraction, makes you wonder how on earth a rock formation like this is even possible.
The Windows area at sunset, seen from inside Double Arch.
A huge area of fossilized sand dunes, wrongly called “petrified dunes”, makes for a fun stop on the Scenic Drive.
A couple of hikers is silhouetted against a colorful sunset.
Spot the two adventurers!
Arches National Park’s (and arguably Utah’s) star attraction is Delicate Arch, which is depicted on the state’s license plates.
One of several rock arches in Devils Garden, Double O Arch requires a hike to get to.
Arches National Park in a nutshell: red rock formations, a background of snowcapped mountains, pink sunset clouds and clear skies.
The greatest of all hikes in Arches National Park is the Primitive Trail in Devils Garden, a rather long trail that takes you to more than half a dozen arches.
Private Arch is one of the seven arches in the Devils Garden area.
It may look small in this photo, but South Window is absolutely massive!
Other National Park Photo Essays
- Acadia National Park in Photos
- Channel Islands National Park in Photos
- Death Valley National Park in Photos
- Capitol Reef National Park in Photos
- Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Photos
- Shenandoah National Park in Photos
- Petrified Forest National Park in Photos
- Saguaro National Park in Photos
Amazing post with full of great view point picture. Double Arch in the Windows area amazed me very well. Thanks for sharing.
Happy that you liked the pics!