If you're planning a trip to Utah and are looking for things to do, spend time at Arches National Park for camping, scenic hikes & photography opportunities
Travel Guides

Arches National Park

I’m back with another edition of Travel Thursday!  Last week I give you a glimpse into my Utah and Colorado road trip, and today we’re going to take an up close look at one of my stops…Arches National Park!  I only stayed for a few hours but my time there was filled with absolutely amazing views and I can’t say it enough…schedule a trip to Utah…there is sooo much beauty!  The Park has more than 2,000 natural stone arches (wow!) and a wide assortment of other red rock features…including some rocks so carefully balanced they look as if they will topple over any minute!  If you plan to visit in the middle of the summer (like I did!) I would recommend getting to the Park early to beat the heat and the crowds.  And now without further ado, a virtual trip through Arches National Park…

Tweet: Make a virtual stop in Arches National Park with @jmdenouden http://bit.ly/1U0fjHw #travel #utah #nationalparks

My first hike was the Park Avenue Trail where I was amazed to see balanced rocks (how in the world do they stay up there like that?!?) as I hiked along the canyon floor.  If you’re heading to Arches National Park in the summer I would highly recommend going first thing in the morning.  This will not only allow you to avoid the heat of the day but it will help you avoid the large crowds.  As a bonus, if you get started early in the day you’ll be able to enjoy shade for the beginning of your hikes!

Tour Arches National Park with Girl on the Move
Tour Arches National Park with Girl on the Move

Tour Arches National Park with Girl on the Move

If you're planning a trip to Utah and are looking for things to do, spend time at Arches National Park for camping, scenic hikes & photography opportunities

Do you have a favorite National Park?  Which National Parks would you recommend I add to my travel bucket list?  Which National Parks are on your travel bucket list?

43 Comments

  • Karla Cook

    Arches is on my bucket list! Maybe this fall, even! Or we may wait till next year and get an annual pass to the national parks so we can go to Rocky Mountain NP several times, and work in Arches as well. We are close enough to RMNP to make it a day trip. Arches would be a weekend.

    Let’s see… I’ve been to Yosemite, Mount Rainier, Glacier, Yellowstone, Brice Canyon, Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountain, Denali… and maybe a couple others that I’m not remembering. I would have a hard time picking a favorite. All of them are worth going out of your way for! Yosemite would probably be close to the top because I love the waterfalls.

  • Terumi

    What a gorgeous park! We don’t have a favorite National Park but this one needs to go on our list of parks we need to see in our lifetime. Thank you for sharing!

    • jmdenouden@gmail.com

      It’s really difficult to have a favorite park but I would highly recommend this, and the other parks in Utah…all of them are just so gorgeous!

  • Sharon

    Love Arches NP! Such a great place! So many great national parks, but I’d say one of my most favorites is Mount Rainier NP only because that’s my hometown and I love Mt. Rainier!

    • jmdenouden@gmail.com

      I was so bummed to only have a short time there and I couldn’t agree more, the US does National Parks well!

  • katja - globetotting

    I’ve read a few posts on Utah’s national parks in recent months and it’s gone from a place that I had never considered visiting to right up near the top of my travel wish list. Arches National Park looks particularly stunning – I love the contrast of the red rock against that deep blue sky. Beautiful!!

    • jmdenouden@gmail.com

      I think it’s easy to forget about Utah because there aren’t a ton of big cities to draw people in but, WOW is it a gorgeous state!!! I would highly recommend going there for a visit!

    • jmdenouden@gmail.com

      If you live in Utah then you definitely need to go! On a side note, also go to Swig and get one of their sugar cookies…AMAZING!

  • Lisa Serrano

    Oh, I like the looks of this park, but there isn’t a park I don’t like. You look like you have been to Yellow Stone National Park & The Grand Canyon. Those are both parks that I always recommend. I love red rocks in the grand canyon and the beauty views. I love all of the hot springs in Yellow Stone. I love all parks, I love State Parks also. Thanks for introducing your blog to us at Boss Girls.

    • jmdenouden@gmail.com

      Thanks for stopping by! I need to check out more of the state parks…and the rest of the parks on my National Parks list…there are just so many places I still want/need to see!

  • Doreen Pendgracs

    I loved our trip thru Arches National Park, but it was years ago. I remember also loving Zion National Park. I’d love to go back to Mount Rushmore and see the Crazy Horse memorial, as it wasn’t there last time we visited.

  • Theresa @DearCreatives

    I’ve been to the Arches & loved it. But, need to get Sammie to that part of the country she has never been. Have you been to Yosemite National Park? Early summer when the waterfalls are full or later spring. Amazing! I could tell you more but, it’s like I’d be writing a book. lol

  • Elizabeth

    We went to Arches many years ago. It is an amazing place, I had several of our pictures enlarged and hung on the wall. People always comment on them. I agree with you about Utah- if you can get there you should make a trip. It is amazing scenery.

  • Sanket D.

    The US seem to love their National Parks don’t they? Though I must admit I’ve never heard of Arches before. Yellowstone’s the dream of course, but I hope I’ll be able to see Arches for myself someday too 🙂

    • jmdenouden@gmail.com

      We definitely love our National Parks here in the US…I think because it’s one thing we do really really well!

    • jmdenouden@gmail.com

      I am pretty much obsessed with Utah and want to spend even more time there because there is so much I still want to see!

  • Stacey Valle

    Like you said, so much beauty!!! I only went to Utah for a very short time to Bryce Canyon National Park and tried to camp at zion but didn’t had the right clothing for snowy conditions (it was snowing in early May!). I still have to explore more of Utah and I want to go to Colorado as well! 😉 Arches National Park is definitely on my list for Utah 🙂

  • Marta

    I would love to see Arches National Park. I haven’t had the chance to spend a lot of time in the US but I managed to go to Yosemite: very different landscape from this, but so incredibly beautiful, I loved it

  • Rob Taylor

    Solid tip about hiking first thing in the morning. We did Bryce Canyon National Park at 1pm in the afternoon and truly thought we might die. Arches is so different and not to be missed…or to suffer heat stroke while exploring.

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