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Is Delicate Arch best at sunrise or sunset?

The best time to see Delicate Arch without the crowds is early in the morning, just past sunrise. If you want the chance to have Delicate Arch to yourself (or just share the experience with a handful of people) it's worth rolling out of bed early and heading right to Delicate Arch.



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Delicate Arch is the busiest destination in the park. If you plan to hike the trail between noon and sunset, expect to share the trail with many other hikers. For a less crowded experience, we'd recommend visiting the arch during sunrise, or after the sun has set.

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Is Delicate Arch better for Sunrise or Sunset? If you're hoping for the best experience, i.e. fewer crowds, sunrise is going to be the best time to hike Delicate Arch Trail. Keep in mind, in order to beat the crowds, you want to aim to be at Delicate Arch before the sun breaks the horizon.

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Delicate Arch Sunset You should plan to summit the trail around 1 hour before sunset so you can appreciate the unique Delicate Arch landscape before it gets dark. For example, you should plan to summit no later than 5.30pm if sunset is at 6.30pm. Check sunset times for Delicate Arch and allow enough time for the hike.

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Sunset was at about 8:30 and you'll need to stay until about 10:30 for adequate darkness. We saw clusters of stars in deep space that we'd never seen before. The walk down in the dark was exhilarating and the cairns marked the trail well. This is one of the country's best NPs, and I highly recommend this exercise.

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#3 Best Time to Avoid the Crowds The best time to see Delicate Arch without the crowds is early in the morning, just past sunrise. If you want the chance to have Delicate Arch to yourself (or just share the experience with a handful of people) it's worth rolling out of bed early and heading right to Delicate Arch.

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Conclusion – You Can Hike the Delicate Arch Trail with Kids The views along the way are phenomenal and I would recommend this hike to everyone visiting the Arches. If you do one hike in the park, make it this one – it's probably the most beautiful hike of the Arches National Park.

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Without a doubt, Delicate Arch is the most famous natural stone arch in the world. Referred to as The Arch by many arriving visitors for whom it is No. 1 on their must-see lists, Delicate has an allure that is hard to explain but impossible to deny. The light opening beneath Delicate Arch is 46 feet (14 m) high.

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List of the Best Sunrise & Sunset Spots in Arches National Park + Map
  • Courthouse Towers & Park Avenue (Sunrise)
  • Delicate Arch (Sunrise)
  • Turret Arch (Sunset)
  • The Windows (Sunrise)
  • Balanced Rock (Sunrise)
  • Fiery Furnace (Sunset)
  • Panorama Point (Sunrise)
  • Double Arch (Sunrise)


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How Long Is The Hike? The Delicate Arch trail is 3.2 miles long, round-trip. While you may be able to finish the hike in under an hour, most visitors will spend some time at the arch. Allow between two and three hours to complete the hike without being rushed.

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For those who aren't up for the hike, there are two other viewing options: The Lower Delicate Arch Viewpoint just down the road only requires a 100-yard walk over flat ground to get a fine look at the arch from a mile away.

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Arches National Park Chief Ranger Scott Brown said Friday that fatal falls at Delicate Arch aren't common, but that inclement weather can make the trail tricky to maneuver.

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This trail is strenuous and the arch is not visible until the end of the trail. For an easier view, try Delicate Arch Viewpoints. Hike Description: Avoid this hike during midday summer heat. This trail climbs up a steep slickrock slope with no shade and some exposure to heights.

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Yes. A timed entry reservation is required to enter the park even if you have an existing pass. Annual passes cover the payment of entrance fees, so annual or senior pass holders only need to pay the $2 reservation fee.

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Does the park close at night? No, the park is open 24 hours a day. View Operating Hours and Seasons. Arches is a great place for stargazing.

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The best easy hikes in Arches are The Windows, Landscape Arch, Double Arch, Sand Dune Arch, and Park Avenue. My name is Ash, and I'm a former park ranger.

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Despite its larger size, Canyonlands gets only a little over half as many visitors as Arches! If you are looking for solitude, Canyonlands is the way to go. Still don't expect to be alone if visiting the Island in the Sky, but the crowds will not be as bad as you can expect in Arches.

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Primitive Trail at Devil's Garden This is the longest and most challenging continually maintained trail in Arches National Park. After reaching Landscape Arch the trail gets a little more rugged as you climb over sandstone slabs and walk on narrow ledges and exposed fins.

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Wolfe Ranch Parking Lot Wolfe Ranch is located 13 miles (21 km) from the park entrance. The three-mile roundtrip hike (4.8 km) to Delicate Arch begins here. A short walk to Wolfe Ranch and a nearby ancient rock markings panel also begins here.

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Visiting Delicate Arch with kids is very doable with a little preparation and determination. To see Delicate Arch up-close you will need to hike 3 miles on Utah red rock. This guide will help your plan your hike to Delicate Arch with kids.

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