No, you're not on Mars. You're in Arches National Park...
Littered with over 2,000 giant, balancing rocks and natural stone arches, this aptly named national park is one of Utah's most majestic landscapes. Lace up your hiking boots and explore the textures, shapes and colours of these spectacularly eroded formations, discover ancient Ute Indian petroglyphs, or test your balance on a paddle boarding trip down the Colorado River. With Canyonlands National Park just a stone's throw away and the city of Moab to enjoy Southwestern hospitality after adventure-packed days, this is the Wild West at its best.
Our Arches National Park tours
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Highlights of Arches National Park
Explore the trails
The best way to explore the park's towering rock pinnacles and sprawling canyons is with your feet. There are trails for everyone whether you're an experienced hiker or a beginner. Follow in the footsteps of Indiana Jones on the Double Arch Trail (it was a filming location in The Last Crusade), navigate through a labyrinth of giant sandstone fins on the Fiery Furnace hike, or crawl and scramble your way along the Devil's Garden trail.
Go paddle boarding
Get a different perspective on this desert landscape from a stand-up paddleboard. Surrounded by soaring sandstone cliffs, you'll float down a flat section of the Colorado River while learning about the park's history and some of the famous stories within the local community. With the sun on your back and the sounds of the water lapping beneath your board, this is as cruisy as it gets.
Watch the sunset at Delicate Arch
There's sunset... then there's an Arches NP sunset. Hike up to Delicate Arch — an iconic 54-foot, freestanding rock formation — and watch Mother Nature paint the sky with delicate streaks of purple, pink and orange as the sun dips below the horizon. Yes, it's busy and yes, it’s one of the most photographed places in the park, but that's because it's nothing short of spectacular.
Arches National Park tour reviews
Arches National Park FAQs
Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards
From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).
However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.
Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.
Arches National Park is located just outside the city of Moab in southeastern Utah, the United States.
Arches NP is spectacular all year round, however, all of our trips run in the summer between May and September. Summer sees hot days, mild nights and plenty of daylight, which is great for exploring all the park has to offer. May and September offer a good balance of warm, sunny weather and smaller crowds.
Arches NP is located on the Colorado Plateau in a high desert region, so the weather varies significantly throughout the year. Spring and autumn see the mildest weather with average highs of 16-27ºC, while summertime highs often top a sweltering 38ºC. Thunderstorms are also common on hot days. Winters are cold with average highs of 5-9ºC, and lows of -8ºC. While it does snow (mostly in December and January), heavy snowfall is rare.
At a minimum, you'll need a sturdy pair of well-fitting hiking boots, a mixture of lightweight and warm layers (think shorts/leggings, t-shirts, a hoodie and warm pants), a water bottle or bladder, and a camera. We also recommend bringing a windproof jacket, a hat and sunscreen.
Before embarking on an active outdoor adventure, make sure to read the Essential Trip Information section of your itinerary for a better idea of what's provided and what you'll need to bring.
Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. However, we’re always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them towards the most suitable itinerary for their needs and where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.
Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation (TIF). In fact, we make a donation on behalf of every traveller. Trips to this country directly support our global Intrepid Foundation partner, Eden Reforestation Projects.
Eden Reforestation Projects
Eden Reforestation Projects are helping to mitigate climate change by restoring forests worldwide; they also hire locally and create job opportunities within vulnerable communities. Donations from our trips support restoration across planting sites in 10 countries around the globe.
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