1-2 days.

If you’re only visiting Arches National Park for a day, arrive as early as possible. Start with the Delicate Arch hike (3-mile round trip, moderate, walking along rock ledges, plan on this taking at least three hours).

Next, stop at the Salt Valley and Fiery Furnace Viewpoints. Then hike out and back to Sand Dune Arch. If the Delicate Arch hike is too strenuous for you, walk to the Upper Delicate Arch Viewpoint (200 feet, easy, 15 minutes round trip), then visit the Salt Valley and Fiery Furnace Viewpoints, then hike out and back to Sand Dune Arch and Broken Arch (1.5 miles round trip, easy-moderate, about an hour).

Have lunch near the Devils Garden Campground, then hike behind the Amphitheatre to see Skyline Arch. Most people view Skyline Arch from the main road, but the view is better from the amphitheater side, and you can usually have the arch to yourself.

Spend the next three(ish) hours hiking as much of the Devils Garden Trail as possible. I recommend getting at least as far as Navajo Arch, Partition Arch, and Landscape Arch. Pace yourself, and don’t hike further out than you can walk back.

Next, drive back down the main park road and stop at Panorama Point and Garden of Eden. Then explore Double Arch and hike the North Window/South Window/Turret Arch loop.

On your way out of the park, end your day by seeing Balanced Rock, the Petrified Dunes Viewpoint, Courthouse Towers Viewpoint, and La Sal Mountains Viewpoint.

1-2 days.

If you’re only visiting Arches National Park for a day, arrive as early as possible. Start with the Delicate Arch hike (3-mile round trip, moderate, walking along rock ledges, plan on this taking at least three hours).

Next, stop at the Salt Valley and Fiery Furnace Viewpoints. Then hike out and back to Sand Dune Arch. If the Delicate Arch hike is too strenuous for you, walk to the Upper Delicate Arch Viewpoint (200 feet, easy, 15 minutes round trip), then visit the Salt Valley and Fiery Furnace Viewpoints, then hike out and back to Sand Dune Arch and Broken Arch (1.5 miles round trip, easy-moderate, about an hour).

Have lunch near the Devils Garden Campground, then hike behind the Amphitheatre to see Skyline Arch. Most people view Skyline Arch from the main road, but the view is better from the amphitheater side, and you can usually have the arch to yourself.

Spend the next three(ish) hours hiking as much of the Devils Garden Trail as possible. I recommend getting at least as far as Navajo Arch, Partition Arch, and Landscape Arch. Pace yourself, and don’t hike further out than you can walk back.

Next, drive back down the main park road and stop at Panorama Point and Garden of Eden. Then explore Double Arch and hike the North Window/South Window/Turret Arch loop.

On your way out of the park, end your day by seeing Balanced Rock, the Petrified Dunes Viewpoint, Courthouse Towers Viewpoint, and La Sal Mountains Viewpoint.

I highly recommend spending a second day in Arches National Park if possible. This will allow your first day to go at a more leisurely pace. If you have a second day, hike the Devils Garden Trail on your second morning instead of your first day.

Then in the afternoon, do a guided 4×4 tour of the backcountry. More than 1.5 million people visit Arches National Park every year, but only about 15,000 venture into the backcountry. So a 4×4 ride is a way to escape the crowds and explore a part of the park that few people ever visit.

Arches National Park is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. But in the winter, some facilities are closed or operate on reduced hours.

June to August is the peak travel season, so be prepared for limited parking and crowds. You can avoid some of the other visitors by going on weekdays and arriving early in the morning. Daytime temperatures can get up to 110 degrees, so plan on hiking in the mornings and evenings. Book your accommodation and time entry as far in advance as possible, and rangers lead free guided evening walks in the summer

The rainy season is in late summer when frequent afternoon thunderstorms can bring heavy rain, flash flooding, or lightning. So you’ll need to monitor the weather continuously and don’t start a hike if storm warnings are in effect.

September and October are cooler months, with daytime temperatures in the mid-80s and 70s and lows in the 50s and 40s at night. There will be fewer tourists than in the summer, but you should still be prepared for crowds, especially on the weekends.

Winter is the off-season when you can have the park practically to yourself. November to March has daytime temperatures in the 30s – 50s, so it will be cold, but you won’t have to compete for parking or spots at the famous viewpoints. No ranger programs are offered in winter, though, and some roads and trails may close because of snow or ice.

April and May are beautiful months to visit Arches because the wildflowers will be blooming. Daytime temperatures will be in the low 80s and 70s, and rangers offer free, daily guided 1-mile walks along easy trails. Spring is only slightly less popular than the summer months, so there will be crowds and lines to get into the park.