Arches National Park is a breathtaking park featuring sculptured red rock scenes created from 100 million years of erosion and weathering.

Located in eastern Utah, Arches National Park features the world’s most extensive collection of natural stone arches. The park has over 2,000 cataloged arches ranging from small three-foot openings to the Landscape Arch, the park’s longest arch which measures 306 feet base to base.

Native Americans used this area for thousands of years. The Archaic peoples, and later ancestral Puebloan, Fremont, and Ute peoples, searched the arid desert for food, animals, wild plants, and stone for tools and weapons. Evidence of their time in this park is found on pictographs and petroglyph panels.

Here are Yvonne’s tips for getting the most out of your visit.

  • The busy season for Arches National Park is March through October. Try to arrive at the park before 8:00 am for a beautiful sunrise, fewer crowds, and reduced traffic congestion.  Some national parks have timed entries, so be sure to check the National Park website to confirm park hours and recommendations.    
  • Go to the Arches visitor center to pick up a park brochure and map to help plan your day. Don’t forget to bring your sunscreen and two liters of water. Cell service can be limited, so plan accordingly.  And be mindful of the weather, especially during monsoon season.
  • At the visitor center, take a tour of the geological displays and learn more about salty inland seas, interweaved river systems, coastal plains, and sand dunes.
  • I recommend visiting the following arches for some beautiful photos in the early morning or late afternoon hours: Turret Arch, Double Arch, Delicate Arch, Courthouse Towers, Balanced Rock, The Windows, Petrified Dunes, and Landscape Arch at Devil’s Garden.

Enjoy your experience and share your photos with us on Instagram @one_planet_life. 

    Yvonne’s Arches National Park Photo Gallery

    North Window and South Window

    Courthouse Towers

    Turret Arch

    Three Gossips

    Sheep Rock

    Hiking the Trail

    Balanced Rock

    Delicate Arch

    Check out Yvonne’s Insider Tips for exploring these other national parks:

      Written by Yvonne Dwyer

      Written by Yvonne Dwyer

      Master Naturalist and OPL Content Contributor

      “It is truly an honor for me to be a contributor to One Planet Life. By sharing my experiences and lifetime of learning, I hope to inspire conservation, sustainability, stewardship, and awareness of enjoying the natural wonders of the world for the wellbeing of people and the planet.”