Welcome to Travel Tuesday! We only spent a day in Arches National Park, but we managed to do a lotttt in that day! We went on a hike through Devils Garden after the hike to Delicate Arch!
A Hike Through Devils Garden
Distance: 7.9 miles (out + back/loop-ish – can you tell we got lost?)
Elevation: 1069 ft
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Duration: ~5 hours
Trailhead Address: Devils Garden Rd, Moab, UT 84532
Parking: $30 (admission fee; free if you have the annual interagency pass)
Elevation: 1069 ft
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Duration: ~5 hours
Trailhead Address: Devils Garden Rd, Moab, UT 84532
Parking: $30 (admission fee; free if you have the annual interagency pass)
The arches here are located in what’s called “Devils Garden” and is located 18 miles north of the Arches Visitor Center (takes ~45 minutes to drive there).
Landscape Arch to Double O Arch to Partition Arch to Dark Angel to Primitive Trail
This was a really fun adventure, but because we got lost (and because we went to so, so many other arches throughout the day), we didn’t start this hike until late afternoon. Thankfully, it was summertime so there were more daylight hours left than usual, but we definitely did get lost and ended up walking back by way of moonlight in the end!
Landscape Arch is the longest arch in North America! It’s only 6 feet in diameter at its narrowest point.
There are lots of sections on the trail for rock scrambling and climbing up onto the sandstone fins gave us gorgeous views of the park.
This hike usually gets a lot of foot traffic, but since we went later in the day, we didn’t come across any crowds.
Partition Arch gives you a great view of the north side of the park — we got to see it at sunset! Double O Arch is like one arch stacked on top of the other — if you hike underneath it, you can get a better view of both!
There was also Tunnel Arch and Navajo Arch here that we may have missed (or perhaps just not photographed?). It’d be cool to get to come back here someday to do an even more thorough (and less accidental off-roading) hike!
Black Arch Overlook!
We had some debate about whether or not we wanted to trek out to Dark Angel as it was getting late in the day and also looked like a storm was coming. We hadn’t heard any mention of what it was and were super curious, so off we went! As it turns out, Dark Angel is a 125-foot huge sandstone spire!
After Dark Angel is the part where we got extremely lost–we couldn’t find any of the rock cairns and went down several dead-ends that led to steep, steep drop-offs. Somehow, we ended up on the Primitive Trail and hiked back by moonlight.
- Wear shoes with adequate traction! The footing can get a little slippery.
- There are a lot of narrow ledges so be careful!
- There’s no cell service, so download the map on your phone before you go!
- When’s the latest you’ve ever finished a hike?
- Have you ever gotten super super lost on a hike?
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Oh gosh, I’m sorry you all got lost for a bit!! It looks beautiful though – and that’s awesome you didn’t have to deal with crowds.
ShootingStarsMag recently posted…Lauren Does London: Visiting 221B Baker Street
All good! At least we found our way, hehehe. It was a beautiful hike!
Oh no for getting lost! Still, you saw some amazing arches on the trails you did find. Does GPS work out there is you had a map like alltrails, or is there just no signal at all?
I get lost all the time. Hehe I have good-ish navigation skills, but then sometimes I get turned around, especially if there is fog or we’re in a forest. Logging roads are reeeeeally easy to get lots on too!
I have to admit, I have not done much night hiking or finishing with the stars, I would like to give it a try this summer so we can take sunset photos.
Josy A recently posted…Vancouver’s Parks – Local Adventures
There wasn’t any reception out there and we unfortunately neglected to download the maps beforehand! (Oops.) I’d definitely recommend doing that if you go out there! :P (Bringing a light would’ve been smart too…we didn’t expect to be out there so late though, haha.)
Totally understandable! I’m usually pretty good with directions too, but when it gets dark, everyyyyything looks so different!
I’d love to try that too! I want to learn to take better photos of sunsets (+ astrophotography! *-*)!
You know the local search and rescue mentioned that not having a flashlight is the #1 reason they get called out by people in trouble here. At least now you’ve had that experience you’ll know to bring a light for future hikes. :)
Josy A recently posted…Vancouver’s Parks – Local Adventures
True facts! I had my phone as a flashlight and an extra battery, but I definitely had my headlamp pre-packed in my bag since that trip! :P
You do see so much more when you are lost. It’s so easy to get lost in canyon desert regions. I did this hike many years ago and still remember many of the arches.
Very true! It was a beautiful hike and definitely an unforgettable experience! <3
Omg! this is beautiful :) It shows a very unique hiking destination. Hope I can travel soon!
I really hope so too! I miss it!
Oh my gosh! I’m glad you found your way back. I can’t wait to visit Arches. We were supposed to go in April but had to cancel due to Covid. I’ll go back to your post for when we do make it out there.
I’m glad too! I’m so sorry you had to cancel your trip! :( I hope you can go sometime when it’s ok to travel again. Make sure you check out Delicate Arch too! :] I have a post coming out next Tuesday on a bunch of little hikes to maximize all the arches you can visit in a day! :P
What a lovely spot to get lost! I’m glad you found your way out safe and sound, but it’s those days that don’t go according to plan that are the most memorable. I’ve never been to Arches, but I do hope to explore more of the area soon!
That’s so true about the getting lost being more memorable! :P I hope you get to go explore sometime too! It’s such a cool park!
Getting a bit lost sometimes is always really a blessing haha. I’m glad you got back safe! Also, I bet you had really good shoes to navigate that place!
haha, agreed! (As long as it turns out okay/we end up being un-lost!) I’m definitely glad for my hiking boots! :P
This national park looks amazing! The arch formations are so cool and unique!
Agreed! It was a fun place to explore! :]
I’m absolutely dying to go! The natural landscape is so so beautiful!
I hope you get to go sometime! <3
What a stunning hiking trail! I love the rock formations, they’re so dramatic.
Agreed! :] It was fun to explore!
What a gorgeous hike! It reminds me so much of Valley of Fire in Nevada. I can’t wait to road trip in Utah and hike here!
Ahh, I really wanted to go visit there–hopefully next time! I hope you get to go to Utah sometime too! :]
Farrah recently posted…One Day in Arches National Park
This hiking trail looks unbelievable. Your post makes me want to visit. Beautiful pictures. Cannot wait to go now. Thanks for sharing.
Aww, thank you! :] I hope you get to go visit sometime!!
Wow these rock formations look great. It must have been a very interesting hike! They kind of remind me of Hanging Rock which has similar unusual formations near Melbourne…
Wow these rock formations look great. It must have been a very interesting hike! They kind of remind me of Hanging Rock which has similar unusual formations near Melbourne..
It was a really cool hike! I’d love to visit Melbourne someday! :]
Such a great hike! I am glad that you finally find the way back :)
hehehe, thank you–me too!!
It’s good that you were already back to Primitive Trail by the time it started getting dark. I wouldn’t want to be walking toward a drop- off and not see it. Along your hike to Landscape Arch, did you see the sign about the arch falling in the mid-70’s? Someone got a picture of it as it collapsed with tourists very close by.
Debbie @ Deb Runs recently posted…Six Steps to a Perfect Plank
For sure! I was worried about that, but thankfully we had light from our phones and such. I did see that sign! That must have been terrifying for them. :( I think it said it’s only a matter of time til the rest of it collapses.