We love visiting Arches National Park in Utah and exploring the numerous trails and rock formations. In our family adventures, we’ve discovered that some hikes are great for kids. Others are great for older kids or adults.

If you’re planning a family trip to Arches National Park with young kids, then here are seven trails that are kid friendly and parent approved.

The hikes are listed in the order you’d encounter them while driving through the park. The first one is closest to the entrance, while the last one is as far into the park as you can drive. But before we get to the fun stuff, we need to take care of safety. It’s important!

Preparing for Your Day in Arches National Park

Water. If you don’t have enough, you’ll be in trouble. The temperatures in the summer can reach as high at 110 degrees. There is minimal shade on most of the trails.

It’s recommended to carry at least one gallon of water per person per day. Whether you use a CamelBak or carry bottles of water in your backpack, be sure your entire group has enough water. There is a spigot at the Visitor Center, so be sure to fill up there if you haven’t already.

Before heading out on any trail, be sure everyone in your party knows why you MUST STAY ON THE TRAILS! The soil in Arches National Park is alive, and if you step on the bacteria living on the soil, you’ll damage it, which leads to unnecessary erosion. So for the sake of everyone, be sure and stay on the trails.

If you arrive at the park between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., you may end up waiting in line for a long time. Anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours. Arches National Park is extremely popular. You can avoid waiting if you enter the park earlier in the morning (before 8 a.m.), or plan to spend just the afternoon and evening in the park (after 3 p.m.).

The other option would be to camp in one of the 52 sites available in the north end of the park. The Devils Garden Campground is close to many hiking trails, and you wouldn’t have to worry about navigating the park entrance with all the traffic. Reservations must be made about six months in advance, so you’ll need to plan ahead.

You can stop at the Visitor Center to watch a brief movie about how the arches were formed, explore the geology exhibits, buy a souvenir from the gift shop, take a bathroom break (probably a GREAT idea for the kids to do) and pick up a Junior Ranger booklet.

Now let’s get to the list of hikes.

Start with a Gentle Hike Down Park Avenue

Once you make your way up the switchbacks, the road levels out. The trailhead for Park Avenue will be on your left-hand side. The caveat about this trail – People usually hike it one way, which means the car will need to make it’s way to the Courthouse Towers Viewpoint to pick up everyone when they get to the end. Otherwise, you’ll have to hike both ways. That’s not bad, you’ll just want to plan accordingly.

The trail descends down some stairs near the start, and it pretty flat after that. Keep an eye out for rock formations along the way. Can you spot the face along the right wall roughly one-third of the way down the trail?

At the end of Park Avenue, on the left-hand side are three formations: The Courthouse Guard, the Three Gossips (or Three Sisters) and Sheep Rock.

Just east of those formations are a few others: Tower of Babel and The Organ. Can you tell which is which?

TRAIL OVERVIEW: 1.0 miles (one-way); Considered a MODERATE hike.

Make the Loop Around Balanced Rock

Balanced rock is one of the iconic formations in Arches National Park. You can’t miss it as you make your way further into the park.

How does that large boulder stand atop that fragile sandstone base? Is today the day it’s gonna fall? Let’s hope not.

The trail is paved all the way around the formation. It’s wheelchair accessible.

Remind the people in your group – especially the kids – to stay on the trail. I’ve seen many kids climbing up the rock formation and walking on the living soil. Let’s not spoil the fun for everyone else.

TRAIL OVERVIEW: 0.3 miles roundtrip; Trail is considered EASY.

Explore the Windows – North and South

Just down the road from Balanced Rock is a right turn into a section of the park full of things to explore. See if you can spot Pothole Arch out the right side of the car a hundred or so yards down the road.

Depending on the time of day, parking may be an issue (as with any spot in the park). From the trailhead, you’re able to walk to and explore both the North and South Windows. They make for nice framed views of Arches National Park.

You can also take a small offshoot trail and check out Turret Arch.

TRAIL OVERVIEW: 1.0 mile roundtrip. Considered an EASY trail to both the North and South Window and Turret Arch. There is a primitive trail option you can take, but it’s slightly longer and more difficult.

Climb up Into Double Arch

If you’ve seen the movie, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, then you may recognize Double Arch from the opening scene. It’s always fun to think you’re standing where young Indiana Jones stood back in 1989.

Double Arch is a short hike from the parking area. Visitors are allowed to climb up into the alcove and explore every nook and cranny. There are some steep spots, so if you have younger kids, stay with them.

From my experience, kids enjoy climbing on rocks and exploring, so this is the perfect spot for them.

TRAIL OVERVIEW: 0.5 miles roundtrip; The trail is considered EASY, but there are some parts you’ll be walking in deep sand.

Don’t Miss Delicate Arch

You can’t visit Arches National Park and not make the trek to Delicate Arch. It’s one of the iconic symbols of National Parks across the country. But a reminder to bring adequate water with you. The recommendation is to bring at least one quart of water per person on this hike.

Even though the park has expanded the parking lot at the trailhead, it still fills up quickly. If you don’t want to fight for a parking spot, beat the crowds by doing this hike first, or save it for an evening hike. Although if you’re there at sunset, you’ll have to deal with pesky photographers like me trying to get the money shot. I’m courteous of others, I promise.

That said, this is the most difficult hike listed in this post. It’s doable by even the youngest of kids, but takes time. A hundred yards from the trailhead you’ll see Wolfe Ranch. A little further still and you can see some petroglyphs (rock art).

Follow the winding dirt trail until you reach the rock face. There is no designated trail across the rock face, but it is an uphill climb. Near the top, you’ll see a trail marker indicating the path to the left.

Just before reaching Delicate Arch, there is a narrow rock path carved into the side of the mountain. If you’re afraid of heights (or your kids are), keep close to the wall and hike on! Your less than 50 yards from your view of the arch.

Once at Delicate Arch, enjoy the views across the basin below you, but be careful not to drop any water bottles. They tend to roll rather easily to the basin below. You can hike around the rim of the basin and stand directly under Delicate Arch to see how large it is in comparison to you.

My photography tip: Get a photo of your group standing on the north side of the basin with the arch in the background on the other side. Otherwise, you won’t be able to tell it’s you at the iconic arch.

TRAIL OVERVIEW: 3.0 miles roundtrip; Considered a DIFFICULT hike. There is open slickrock, an elevation gain of 480 feet (146 meters) and ledges to be cautious around.

Play in the Sand at Sand Dune Arch

To be honest, Sand Dune Arch is on the questionable list for Parent Approved. If you’re okay with your kids playing in the sand, getting it in their shoes, socks, pants, hair and pretty much everywhere, then you’ll be okay on this trail. The kids will LOVE it!

It’s a rather short trail, and takes you between two large rock walls with deep sand floors. Shortly after entering the narrow passage (roughly 10-20 feet wide), Sand Dune Arch will be on your right. You can explore the passages, play in the sand, and climb on the rocks.

After enjoying time in the shade and playing around, be sure to empty the sand out of every possible place before climbing back into the car. However, you’ll probably still need to have the kids vacuum out the car when you get home.

TRAIL OVERVIEW: 0.3 miles roundtrip; Considered an EASY hike, and one the kids will love.

View the Panoramic Landscape Arch

Don’t mind the young boy picking his nose in the photo (OMG).

The advantage of hiking to Landscape Arch is that there are a few offshoots that let you explore other arches in the area. Pine Tree Arch and Tunnel Arch are near the start of the trail, so if you decide to visit those, just return to the main trail and make your way to Landscape Arch.

Visitors aren’t allowed to hike directly under the arch anymore. Many years ago, a large chunk of the arch fell to the ground below. When you see the arch in person and realize just how thin the rock arch is, it’s a wonder it’s still standing.

From Landscape Arch, there are some other arches to see if you continue up the trail. However, the trail past Landscape Arch is more difficult, so I’ve left it off this list.

TRAIL OVERVIEW: 1.6 miles roundtrip; Considered a MODERATE trail, there are some gravel areas and some elevation change.

Check out my photography portfolio of Arches National Park.

The Details

Address: Just north of Moab, Utah along highway 191.

Cost: Free with Annual National Parks Pass. Private Vehicle: $25; Motorcycle: $15; Per person: $10. See other park fees.

Hours: Open year-round, 24 hours a day. Between March and October, the park is very busy. Winter is a great time to visit the park as well. Visitor Center is open daily, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Website: https://www.nps.gov/arch/index.htm

Phone: (435) 719-2299

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