Arches National Park is packed with over 2,000 arches, but if you only have a limited amount of time, there are a handful that you absolutely can’t miss. These are the top 5 stops in Arches National Park—the ones that give you the best mix of easy access, iconic views, and unforgettable hikes. If you’re planning your Arches adventure, you might also love my guide to the Best Sunrise and Sunset Spots in Moab Utah to help you time each stop perfectly.
Trail Length: 3 miles round trip
Difficulty: Strenuous (steep slickrock, uneven terrain, no shade)
Elevation Gain: About 500 ft
Estimated Time: 2–3 hours
Best Time: Sunset
Delicate Arch is the arch—the one on Utah’s license plates and postcards. The hike to get there isn’t easy. It’s uphill most of the way, over wide slickrock with zero shade. But when you round the final corner and see the arch perched on the edge of a cliff, it’s unforgettable.
I did this at sunset, and while the climb was sweaty and steep, the payoff was worth it. My friend told me it can be wall-to-wall people (50+ sometimes), but I lucked out with a smaller crowd. If you go, plan to arrive at least an hour before sunset so you can snag photos and then just sit back and soak in the glow.
Shortcut option: If you don’t want to tackle the full hike, check out the Delicate Arch Viewpoints (Lower and Upper) for a great angle without the climb.
Trail Length: 1.9 miles round trip (from Devils Garden trailhead)
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate (sandy sections)
Elevation Gain: About 250 ft
Estimated Time: 1–1.5 hours
Best Time: Morning
Landscape Arch is the longest arch in the park at 306 feet across—and it looks impossibly thin, like it could collapse any second. Chunks have already fallen off in recent decades, so it feels like you’re witnessing a natural wonder that might not last forever.
The hike is mostly easy, though the sandy stretches slow you down. Along the way, you can make quick detours to Pine Tree Arch and Tunnel Arch if you’ve got the energy. For even more breathtaking angles inside the park, check out my post on the Top 5 Epic Views Around Moab.
Trail Length: 0.3 miles round trip
Difficulty: Easy (soft sand)
Elevation Gain: Minimal
Estimated Time: 15–20 minutes
Best Time: Morning (fully shaded)
Sand Dune Arch feels like a secret hideout. The trail takes you into a shady slot between sandstone fins, with soft sand underfoot and an arch tucked inside. It’s especially fun for kids, but even as an adult, I loved how it felt tucked away and different from the wide-open desert. In the morning, the whole area is shaded—a big bonus if you’re visiting in summer.
Trail Length: 0.3 miles (loop, optional)
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: Minimal
Estimated Time: 15 minutes
Best Time: Sunrise or golden hour
Balanced Rock is exactly what it sounds like: a massive boulder perched precariously on a narrow pedestal. It looks like it could topple any second (though geologically, it’s been holding on for millennia). The short loop trail lets you circle around it for different perspectives, but honestly, it’s impressive even if you just pull over and admire it from the car.
If you're building a longer itinerary, my Spend a Weekend in Moab: The Perfect 3-Day Itinerary pairs perfectly with these stops.
Trail Length: 0.5 miles round trip
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: Minimal
Estimated Time: 20 minutes
Best Time: Anytime
Double Arch is one of my personal favorites. Two massive arches share the same base, curving into the sky in a dramatic 3D shape. The short, flat trail makes it easy to reach, and standing beneath both arches is awe-inspiring. It’s also a great spot for photos that really capture the scale of Arches National Park.
These five stops give you the best of Arches in a short amount of time. From the bucket-list hike to Delicate Arch, to the easy strolls at Double Arch and Sand Dune Arch, you’ll get a mix of effort and reward.
If you have just a day in Arches, make these your priorities—you’ll leave with photos and memories that capture exactly why this park is one of Utah’s most iconic. If you’re exploring more of the area, don’t miss my One Day in Arches National Park: The Perfect Itinerary for an easy route that includes these exact highlights.
Haywood Smokehouse is the BBQ spot that ruins you for every other BBQ spot. Lean brisket so tender it doesn’t need the fat, fried pork ribs you won’t find anywhere else, and don’t sleep on the banana pudding for dessert.
Save this before your next Waynesville or Dillsboro trip 🍖🔥
Booked this Bryson City yurt for the ‘ber months and it’s already my top fall pick this year. 🍂
The Junaluska Yurt sleeps six but feels more like a stylish cabin than a yurt, two real queen bedrooms with actual doors, a full kitchen, and a private bathroom with a walk-in shower. Check-in is just a door code texted to your phone, no lobby, no waiting.
The real win is outside: wraparound porch, private fire pit, free firewood, a gas grill, and Smoky Mountain sunsets that stop you mid-sentence, picture all of that with October color on the ridgeline. Heads up, the last stretch in is a gravel road, so skip the low-profile rental, and there’s no restaurant onsite, you’re minutes from Bryson City, Dillsboro, and Sylva for dinner.
Two to three nights is the sweet spot. (We actually stayed in the dead of winter and it was still stunning, fall just takes it up a notch.) Full review linked in bio.
Italian food felt like the last thing I expected to find in the middle of the Appalachian Mountains... until I sat down at Ilda in Sylva.🍝
They call it Italian-Appalachian, and that’s not just a tagline. Homemade pasta, craft cocktails, local ingredients pulled straight from the mountains around it, this is the kind of meal that makes you forget you’re two hours from the nearest city. It’s cozy, it’s a little upscale, and it is not a walk-in kind of place, call ahead, because tables go fast on weekends.
It’s not cheap, and it’s not trying to be. But if you’re already making the trip out to Sylva, this is the one reservation worth planning your day around.
Full write-up, including what to order, link in bio.
Booked my fall cabin before September even started, and I’m not sorry about it. 🍂
These are the stays that make you actually want the cold to hurry up fireplaces, mountain views, the kind of porch you don’t leave. Not every one of these is going to fit every trip, but if a cozy fall getaway is on your radar, this is the roundup to start with.
One of my favorite travel seasons is almost here, and I have zero chill about it. 🍁✈️
There’s just something about fall trips cooler air, apple orchards, that first flannel of the season, food that actually makes sense with the weather again. I’m already mentally packing for it before September even starts.
If fall is your favorite time to travel too, tell me where you’re headed... I’m taking notes for the list.
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
