This short loop visits a natural arch within the granite formations near White Tank Campground in Joshua Tree National Park. The 0.3-mile hike is a must for anyone staying at White Tank and is an easy enjoyable stroll for visitors traveling down Pinto Basin Road.

To reach the trailhead, enter White Tank Campground and take the left split in the road. The trail begins alongside campsite nine, and there is day use parking near site fifteen (at the end of the loop). The arch is an eighth of a mile up the trail and easy to spot. Take your time getting there and read the placards along the trail describing the geological history that contributed to the creation of the arch.

One of the signs along Arch Rock Nature Trail

The single-track provides a side-view of Arch Rock, and a few steps off trail puts hikers right below the rock span. Climb right up and touch it if you like. Arch Rock is about 30-feet across and shaped somewhat like a brontosaurus. Though certainly not in the same league as the spans in Arches National Park, Arch Rock is still a fascinating formation.

Arch Rock

Past the arch, the trail curves to the left, circling back to the campground, completing the brief loop. This is a level, easy, family-friendly hike. Arches are always cool to see, so go check it out.

To get to the trailhead: From then intersection with Park Boulevard and Pinto Basin Road, 4.5 miles south of the north entrance, head west on Pinto Basin Road for 2.7 miles to White Tank Campground. Enter the campground and proceed to the trailhead near site nine.

Use the map below to create your own directions:

Photos

 

                   
         

These photos were taken in November of 2010. Click to enlarge.

 

Nearby Trails

 

	Contact Mine This 3.9-mile hike ascends 700 feet up a wash, a canyon, and an old road to a mountainside mine site that offers a glimpse into the mining history of Joshua Tree.
	Cholla Cactus Garden This quarter-mile loop allows visitors to stroll through an intense concentration of Cholla cacti.
	Mastodon Peak This 2.6-mile loop visits a 3,400-foot summit with panoramic views of southeastern Joshua Tree.
	Lost Palms Oasis This 7.2-mile hike visits a desert oasis nestled between mountains in the southeast corner of the park.
	Desert Queen Mine This 1.6-mile hike follows a level trail to an overlook before crossing a canyon to visits the ruins of one the most profitable gold mines in the California desert.
	Wall Street Mill This level 1.55 to 2.15-mile hike visits a well-reserved gold mill, exploring the mining history of Joshua Tree National Park.
	Barker Dam This level 1.5-mile loop visits a small foreign-looking reservoir within the Wonderland of Rocks.
	Fortynine Palms Oasis The 3-mile round trip hike visits a cool desert oasis.
	Hidden Valley This one mile loop circles the interior of a small valley surrounded by tall rocks that serves as an excellent bouldering arena.
	Lucky Boy Vista This level 2.5-mile hike visits a modest overlook at the site of an old mine.
	Hikes in the California Desert Explore more trails in Death Valley National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, and Mojave National Preserve.

 

Similar Trails

 

	Landscape Arch in Arches National Park This level 2.5-mile hike visits the longest natural arch in the world along with two other enjoyable arches.
	Skyline Arch in Arches National Park This short 0.4-mile hike ends below a wide arch near the top of a sandstone fin.
	Delicate Arch in Arches National Park This 3-mile hike visits this most iconic arch in the world, a beautiful span that should not be missed.
	Double Arch in Arches National Park This 0.8-mile hike visits a pair of connected arches in the Windows region of Arches National Park.
	Window Arches in Arches National Park This one-mile loop presents three arches in close proximity, the North and South Windows and Turret Arch.
	Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park This half-mile loop visits a picturesque arch spanning across the mesa’s edge.
	Negro Bill Trail to Morning Glory Bridge in Moab, Utah This 6-mile round trip hike travels through a scenic canyon to a 243-foot long natural bridge.

 

Camping

 

Joshua Tree Campgrounds There are nine campgrounds with 500 total sites spread throughout the park to facilitate your visit.

 

Wildflowers

 

Joshua Tree Wildflowers The desert in bloom is something any outdoor enthusiast in California should see.

 

More Info

 

Arch Rock in HIKING CALIFORNIA’S DESERT PARKS by Bill and Polly Cunningham

Arch Rock on protrails.com

The official website for Joshua Tree National Park

 

This one-mile loop visits three impressive arches in close vicinity. The North and South Window Arches form openings in the same sandstone fin, while Turret Arch stands within a more castle-like formation. The circle between the arches has three spurs leading to the base of each arch, creating an action-packed hike with just 150 feet of elevation gain.

North Window Arch

The first stop on the loop is North Window Arch. A tenth of a mile from the trailhead, turn left at the junction and continue another tenth of a mile up stone steps the base of the arch. You can stand directly beneath North Window and look out at a rustic landscape of sandstone hoodoos that lie beyond the arch. There is a primitive trail through this area known as The Spectacles, which begins at the next stop, South Window Arch.

A view of Turret Arch from North Window Arch

As you leave North Window Arch, there is a nice view of Turret Arch on the other side of the loop. After a short distance, the trail come to a junction with a short spur going to the left to South Window Arch. This arch is elevated from the desert floor, and the trail stops below the base of the sandstone fin.

North and South Window Arch

Continue clockwise around the loop toward Turret Arch, looking over your shoulder for a broad view of both Window Arches. Turret Arch is the smallest of the three. Step through the span for a view of the Windows framed by Turret Arch. When done, proceed around the loop and down to the trailhead. The well-marked one-mile trek makes it easy to visit three impressive arches in a short period of time, and the minimal 150 feet of elevation gain makes the trail feasible for hikers of all abilities.

Turret Arch

To get to the trailhead: From the visitor center, drive 9.5 miles up Park Avenue (0.3 miles past Balanced Rock) and turn right toward the Windows District. Drive an additional 2.5 miles to the loop at the end of the road where the parking area for the trailhead is located.

Use the map below to create your own directions:

Photos

 

     
     
     
These photos were taken in June of 2010. Click to enlarge.

 

Nearby Trails

 

	Double Arch This 0.8-mile hike visits a pair of connected arches in the Windows region of Arches National Park.
	Delicate Arch This 3-mile hike visits this most iconic arch in the world, a beautiful span that should not be missed.
	Balanced Rock This quarter mile loop circles a perilous block of sandstone balancing near the center of Arches National Park.
	More trails in Utah Explore other hikes in Arches National Park and elsewhere.

 

Similar Trails

 

	Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park This half-mile loop visits a picturesque arch spanning across the mesa’s edge in the Island in the Sky.
	Morning Glory Bridge in Moab This 6-mile round trip hike travels through a scenic canyon to a 243-foot long natural bridge.

 

More Info

 

Windows Loop in HIKING CANYONLANDS AND ARCHES NATIONAL PARKS by Bill Schneider

Arches National Park on wikipedia.org

Arches National Park on Utah.com

The official website for Arches National Park

 

Wonders never cease in Arches National Park. For proof, hike Double Arch Trail, which visits two grand arches joined at a common pillar at a 90-degree angle. The 0.8-mile round trip hike passes a unique sandstone formation known as the Parade of Elephants while ascending 125 feet to the Siamese spans.

The start of Double Arch Trail is just a few hundred feet from the trailhead for the Window Arches and Turret Arch, making it possible to visit five arches in less than an hour.

The Parade of Elephants

Start down the level desert trail toward Double Arch. To the left are distinct rocks that bear an uncanny resemblance to elephants. Pass the elephants and continue to Double Arch, which looks like part of a gyroscope embedded into a sandstone cliff. The trail passes directly beneath the bigger of the two arches, a monumental 112-foot tall, 144-foot wide span, which is the tallest in the park and the third widest.

Double Arch

Ascend the rock amphitheater behind the first arch up to the adjoining span, a smaller 67-foot wide and 86-foot tall arch. Geologists believe this impressive span began as a pothole of water on the surface overhead. The collected water slowly broke down the rock, forming an alcove, which eventually created both arches. Science aside, the twin arches seem like an improbably natural wonder, created solely to amaze. The inspiring configuration went by a few other names over the years, like Double Windows, Jug Handles, and Twinbow Bridge. Whatever you name Double Arch, you will call it impressive. This short hike should not be missed.

Looking out from Double Arch

To get to the trailhead: From the visitor center, drive 9.5 miles up Park Avenue (0.3 miles past Balanced Rock) and turn right toward the Windows District. Drive 2.5 miles to the loop at the end of the road. Pass Windows Trailhead and follow the circle to the parking area at the start of the trail to Double Arch.

Use the map below to create your own directions:

Photos

 

                 

These photos were taken in June of 2010. Click to enlarge.

 

Nearby Trails

 

	Window Arches This one-mile loop presents three arches in close proximity, the North and South Windows and Turret Arch.
	Balanced Rock This quarter mile loop circles a perilous block of sandstone balancing near the center of Arches National Park.
	Delicate Arch This 3-mile hike visits this most iconic arch in the world, a beautiful span that should not be missed.
	More trails in Utah Explore other hikes in Arches National Park and elsewhere.

 

Similar Trails

 

	Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park This half-mile loop visits a picturesque arch spanning across the mesa’s edge in the Island in the Sky.
	Morning Glory Bridge in Moab This 6-mile round trip hike travels through a scenic canyon to a 243-foot long natural bridge.

 

More Info

 

Double Arch in HIKING CANYONLANDS AND ARCHES NATIONAL PARKS by Bill Schneider

Double Arch on protrails.com

Double Arch on wikipedia.org

Arches National Park on Utah.com

The official website for Arches National Park

 

Do not leave Arches National Park without seeing Delicate Arch. The emblematic arch appears on the Utah License plate, and while it is certainly not the largest in the park, it is probably the most memorable. Two overlooks provide a distant view of the arch, but the best way to see Delicate Arch is to hike right up to it. This incredible 3-mile trek is a must-do for anyone visiting Arches.

Begin from Delicate Arch Trailhead and head east past Wolfe Ranch, the former home of the park’s earliest Caucasian inhabitants. The homestead was built alongside Salt Marsh, which the trail crosses with the help of a wooden bridge. Not long after, a side trail to the left visits petroglyphs along a rock wall.

Looking back on the trail as it starts up the slickrock

The trail takes a gradual climb up slickrock slopes, eventually ascending 480 feet to the arch. The wide gravel trail is reduced to a weathered line across exposed sandstone. Follow the cairn-lined track across bare rock as it turns northward, leveling some before swinging to the right around the back of a sandstone fin. A path cut into the ledge presents the only way forward.

The building anticipation can make the mile and a half journey to Delicate Arch feel long, but as you traverse the ledge, the trail curves to the right and Delicate Arch appears. Wow, what a sight!

Delicate Arch

Delicate Arch stands on the side of a bowl shaped depression, flying solo above the surrounding rock. There is something special about this place that is hard to describe. If you arrive around sunrise or sunset, the spiritual beauty will be undeniable.

Delicate Arch is only about fifty feet tall, and stands in an area where the surrounding stone has been removed. Somehow, this stubborn span perseveres, looking both breathtaking and perilous. The arch appears frail, but defiant. The creation and steadfastness of Delicate Arch seem improbably, but thank god it’s there. The vast colorful landscape behind the arch sets the backdrop for one of the most striking views in any national park.

Delicate Arch

Have a seat along the sandstone amphitheater and watch the light play off Delicate Arch. When you are ready to head back, probably after the sun has gone down, return the way you came. This awe-inspiring sight will stick with you. Delicate Arch is incredible.

Delicate Arch

To get to the trailhead: From the visitor center, drive 12.3 miles up Park Avenue and turn right. Continue an additional 1.2 miles and turn left into the parking area for Delicate Arch Trail.

Use the map below to create your own directions:

Photos

 

                                       

These photos were taken in June of 2010. Click to enlarge.

 

Nearby Trails

 

	Landscape Arch This level 2.5-mile hike visits the longest natural arch in the world along with two other enjoyable arches.
	Skyline Arch This short 0.4-mile hike ends below a wide arch near the top of a sandstone fin.
	Balanced Rock This quarter mile loop circles a perilous block of sandstone balancing near the center of Arches National Park.
	More trails in Utah Explore other hikes in Arches National Park and elsewhere.

 

Similar Trails

 

	Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park This half-mile loop visits a picturesque arch spanning across the mesa’s edge in the Island in the Sky.
	Morning Glory Bridge in Moab This 6-mile round trip hike travels through a scenic canyon to a 243-foot long natural bridge.
	Arch Rock in Joshua Tree This 0.3-mile loop visits a natural arch in the granite formations around White Tank Campground.

 

More Info

 

Delicate Arch in HIKING CANYONLANDS AND ARCHES NATIONAL PARKS by Bill Schneider

Arches National Park on Utah.com

Delicate Arch on wikipedia.org

Delicate Arch on protrails.com

Delicate Arch on nileguide.com

Delicate Arch on takemytrip.com

Delicate Arch on localhikes.com

Delicate Arch on outsideadventureguide.com

Delicate Arch on twoknobbytires.com

The official website for Arches National Park

 

Skyline Arch Trail is short enough to be overlooked when you are planning your itinerary for Arches National Park, but the impressive rock span at the end of the effortless trail is worth checking out. Located near the Devils Garden Trailhead (start of the hike to Landscape Arch), this 0.4-mile round trip hike ascends a mere 50 feet to the base of a sandstone fin that houses a large elevated natural arch.

A panel at the trailhead depicts how a large block of sandstone fell from Skyline Arch in 1940, doubling the size of the arch overnight. Currently, the arch measures 71 feet across and 33.5 feet tall. Boulders from the collapse remain, and can be seen below the arch today.

Looking up at Skyline Arch

The hike is so short that Skyline Arch is visible from the start. Take the well maintained single-track around the north end of a sandstone fin running parallel with the arch. On the other side, you will come across the boulders that settled on the desert floor. Either stand back and enjoy the view of the arch, or scramble up the rocks onto the neighboring fin to gain a better perspective of Skyline Arch.

There is a sheer drop on the sandstone wall below the arch, making it impossible to reach from this side. There is however, a trail up the backside of Skyline Arch, which begins at Devils Canyon Campground. If you happen to see adventurous campers standing below the arch, you will know how they got there.

Children standing beneath Skyline Arch

To get to the trailhead: From the visitor center, drive 17.5 miles north on Park Avenue. The trail to Skyline Arch begins from a pullout half a mile from the end of the road at Devils Garden.

Use the map below to create your own directions:

Photos

 

                   

These photos were taken in June of 2010. Click to enlarge.

 

Nearby Trails

 

	Landscape Arch This level 2.5-mile hike visits the longest natural arch in the world along with two other enjoyable arches.
	Delicate Arch This 3-mile hike visits this most iconic arch in the world, a beautiful span that should not be missed.
	Balanced Rock This quarter mile loop circles a perilous block of sandstone balancing near the center of Arches National Park.
	More trails in Utah Explore other hikes in Arches National Park and elsewhere.

 

Similar Trails

 

	Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park This half-mile loop visits a picturesque arch spanning across the mesa’s edge in the Island in the Sky.
	Morning Glory Bridge in Moab This 6-mile round trip hike travels through a scenic canyon to a 243-foot long natural bridge.

 

More Info

 

Skyline Arch in HIKING CANYONLANDS AND ARCHES NATIONAL PARKS by Bill Schneider

Skyline Arch on Utah.com

Skyline Arch on localhikes.com

Skyline Arch on nileguide.com

Arches National Park on wikipedia.org

The official website for Arches National Park

 

The 290-foot long Landscape Arch is believed to be the longest natural rock span in the world. The impressive sandstone arch can be reached via a level two-mile out and back hike in the Devils Garden region of Arches Nation Park. The trek can be expanded to 2.5-miles round trip by visiting two other arches along the way, or extended beyond Landscape Arch to visit several more arches deeper in Devils Garden.

Tunnel Arch

To reach Landscape Arch, begin at Devils Garden Trailhead at the very north end of Park Avenue. The trail leaves the parking lot and passes between tall sandstone fins to enter an arch-filled wonderland or rocks. The wide gravel trail is quite level, ascending just 50 feet over the first 0.3 miles, where it comes to a junction with the spur trail to Tunnel Arch and Pine Tree Arch. To explore these fine arches, make a right and take the equally wide trail down to another split. A short track to the right heads closer to Tunnel Arch, perched on the sandstone wall ahead. The left fork continues for 0.2 miles to the ground-level Pine Tree Arch. You can actually stand directly beneath Pine Tree Arch, making it a fun destination. Visiting these two arches adds half a mile to the total distance of the hike.

The trail through Devils Garden

When you finish with the two appetizer arches, continue up the main trail through a landscape of impressive sandstone formations. The longest arch in the world is ¾ of a mile past the junction. However, the trail turns from gravel to sand 0.2 miles before the arch. Follow the track to the left toward the long thin ribbon of rock running along the side of a sandstone wall.

Landscape Arch

The mirage-like Landscape Arch looks entirely under-supported. The arch is so long and so thin, it’s hard to believe it can stand. The arch’s existence would throw the entire notion of gravity into question, were it not for three pieces of the arch that have broken off in the last two decades. A trail that once ran below the arch was closed after a 180-ton block fell from Landscape Arch in 1991. A wooden fence keeps visitors a safe distance from the fragile arch, while still offering impressive views. Boulders from the fallen sections can be seen covering the old trail below the arch.

Landscape Arch

Once your eyes come to accept that this improbable arch is actually standing, you are free to hike back the way you came. If you are eager for more, there are six other arches further up the trails beyond Landscape Arch. Partition Arch, Navajo Arch, Wall Arch, Private Arch, Dar Angel Arch, and Double O Arch can be reached via a combination of primitive and maintained trails. Seeing them all will add about five miles to this hike.

To get to the trailhead: From the visitor center, drive 18 miles north up Park Avenue. The road ends at Devils Garden. Parking for the trailhead is just past the campground.

Use the map below to create your own directions:

Photos

 

                             

These photos were taken in June of 2010. Click to enlarge.

 

Nearby Trails

 

	Skyline Arch This short 0.4-mile hike ends below a wide arch near the top of a sandstone fin.
	Delicate Arch This 3-mile hike visits this most iconic arch in the world, a beautiful span that should not be missed.
	Balanced Rock This quarter mile loop circles a perilous block of sandstone balancing near the center of Arches National Park.
	More trails in Utah Explore other hikes in Arches National Park and elsewhere.

 

Similar Trails

 

	Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park This half-mile loop visits a picturesque arch spanning across the mesa’s edge in the Island in the Sky.
	Morning Glory Bridge in Moab This 6-mile round trip hike travels through a scenic canyon to a 243-foot long natural bridge.

 

More Info

 

Devils Garden in HIKING CANYONLANDS AND ARCHES NAT’L PARKS by Bill Schneider

Landscape Arch on wikipedia.org

Landscape Arch on Utah.com

Landscape Arch on nileguide.com

Devils Garden Trail on protrails.com

Devils Garden Trail on localhikes.com

The official website for Arches National Park

 

Mesa Arch is an easy to visit landmark in the Island in the Sky region of Canyonlands National Park. This pothole arch spans across the mesa’s edge, framing a scenic canyon vista. A half-mile loop trail brings you right up to Mesa Arch, one of the park’s most popular points of interest.

A nature guide is available at the trailhead, and can be used to learn more about park vegetation and geology. The guide is quick to remind you to stay on the trail, a point you will see repeated through Canyonlands and Arches National Parks. This is because stray footsteps can damage the cryptogamic soil just off trail. This black crust on the ground forms the foundation for desert ecosystems. The vital mixture of lichens, moss, fungus and algae prevents soil erosion and helps support larger plants.

Just beyond the parking lot, the trail comes to a Y. Both routes lead to Mesa Arch, and the loop is equally enjoyable in both directions. As you hike, keep and eye on the edge of the mesa for sneak peaks of the iconic arch.

Looking out through Mesa Arch

The trail ends in front of an elegant stone that spans fifty feet across the top of a 500-foot vertical cliff. Mesa Arch is classified as a pothole arch because it was formed by surface water that pooled on the sandstone behind the arch, slowly eroding the rock. The result is an arch that dangles across the mesa’s edge.

Geology aside, the arch provides the frame for a stunning Utah landscape. Along the mesa to the east is another arch, named Washing Woman Arch. Below the mesa is the prominent white rim of spectacular canyons carved by the Colorado River. Rounding out the view, the snow-capped peaks of the La Sal Mountains meet the sky at the horizon.

Looking out at Buck Canyon

The arch is beautiful any time of day, but if you end up here around sunrise or sunset, you will likely be in for a beautiful show. After leaving the arch, complete the loop to return to the trailhead for a 0.5-mile hike with 100 feet of elevation. On the way back, you will have a nice view of Aztec Butte rising above the mesa beyond the parking lot.

To get to the trailhead: From the Island in the Sky Visitor Center, drive south for 6.3 miles and turn left into the parking area for Mesa Arch. If you reach the intersection with Upheaval Dome Road, you have gone too far.

Use the map below to create your own directions:

Photos

 

                                     

These photos were taken in June of 2010. Click to enlarge.

 

Nearby Trails

 

	Aztec Butte This is a 1.8 -mile hike ascends a dome-shaped butte that houses Puebloan granaries and offers nice views of Taylor Canyon.
	Upheaval Dome This 1.7-mile hike visits two overlooks along the rim of a puzzling three-mile wide crater.
	Whale Rock This one-mile hike ascends a whale-shaped sandstone formation near Upheaval Dome.
	Murphy Point This 3.6-mile hike visits a west-facing point on the Island in the Sky overlooking canyons carved by the Green River.
	More trails in Utah Explore other hikes in Canyonlands National Park and elsewhere.

 

Similar Trails

 

	Landscape Arch in Arches National Park This level 2.5-mile hike visits the longest natural arch in the world along with two other enjoyable arches.
	Skyline Arch in Arches National Park This short 0.4-mile hike ends below a wide arch near the top of a sandstone fin.
	Delicate Arch in Arches National Park This 3-mile hike visits this most iconic arch in the world, a beautiful span that should not be missed.
	Double Arch in Arches National Park This 0.8-mile hike visits a pair of connected arches in the Windows region of Arches National Park.
	Window Arches in Arches National Park This one-mile loop presents three arches in close proximity, the North and South Windows and Turret Arch.
	Morning Glory Bridge in Moab This 6-mile round trip hike travels through a scenic canyon to a 243-foot long natural bridge.
	Arch Rock in Joshua Tree This 0.3-mile loop visits a natural arch in the granite formations around White Tank Campground.

 

More Info

 

Mesa Arch in HIKING CANYONLANDS AND ARCHES NATIONAL PARKS by Bill Schneider

Biological Soil Crust in Canyonlands National Park on nps.gov

Mesa Arch on nileguide.com

Canyonlands National Park on Utah.com

Canyonlands National Park on wikipedia.org

The official website for Canyonlands National Park