Arches National Park, Utah

In southern Utah, you’ll find Arches National Park. Like its name suggests, this park has the largest concentration of sandstone arches in the world. Arches is located in the southern section of Utah near the town of Moab. From Moab, take Utah highway 191 north for five miles.

The main activities here are centered around hiking. Before you head off down the trail, make a stop at the visitors center, located near the park entrance. Here you can watch an orientation program about the park’s beautiful formations.

Most families choose to see the park on the road trail. This is a 48-mile trip through the park that takes you to the major attractions for a good view. From the drive, you’ll also have the opportunity to pull over and take part in some of the hiking trails.

Some other family activities include hikes with rangers (these are held from March through October so check at the visitors center for times), picnics, and biking – not to mention photographing those spectacular arches. The peak visiting months are March through October. The summer months are toasty at this latitude: expect the mercury to regularly hit 100 degrees during the summer. Bring the sunscreen!

If you visit the park in the winter, plan on opposite extremes. Winter temperatures are often below freezing and can fluctuate over 50 degrees throughout the day.

The park campground, Devils Garden Campground, has 50 tent and trailer sites and these are at a premium during summer months and even as early as mid-March and as late as October. This campground is located 18 miles from the park entrance and the facility includes flush toilets and water, at least until freezing weather. To snag one of these sites in the peak months, you’ll need to go by the Visitors Center EARLY in the morning (between 7:30 and 8am) or at the entrance station after 8am. These spots fill up very fast.

If you don’t get one of those sites, you’ll find other accommodations in the area: Moab Chamber of Commerce, Tel. 435-259-7814 and St. George Chamber of Commerce, Tel. 435/628-1658.  For more on the park, contact Arches National Park, PO Box 907, Moab, UT 84532, Tel. 435/719-2299.