Active Pursuits

Biking

Bikes are prohibited on all trails and are not allowed to travel cross-country within the national park boundaries. The park's established scenic drive is open to cyclists, although you need to be aware that the 18-mile dead-end road is narrow and winding in spots and can be a bit crowded with motor vehicles in summer.

Mountain bikers also have the option of tackling one of several four-wheel-drive roads . For guided mountain-bike trips outside the park, as well as rentals, repairs, and supplies, see the Moab section earlier in this chapter.

Four-Wheeling

Arches doesn't have nearly as many four-wheel-drive opportunities as nearby Canyonlands National Park, and in fact the most popular route, the Klondike Bluffs to Willow Flats Road, was closed indefinitely due to flood damage in 2006. One other route, the Willow Flats Road, is open to off-road vehicles. Check at the visitor center for directions and current conditions.

Hiking

Most trails here are short and relatively easy, although because of the hot summer sun and lack of shade, it's wise to carry a good amount of water on any jaunt of more than 1 hour.

One easy walk is to Sand Dune Arch, a good place to take kids who want to play in the sand. It's only .3 miles (round-trip), but you can add an extra 1.2 miles by continuing on to Broken Arch. Sand Dune Arch is hidden among and shaded by rock walls, with a naturally created giant sandbox below the arch. Resist the temptation to climb onto the arch and jump down into the sand: Not only is it dangerous, but it can also damage the arch. Those who continue to Broken Arch should watch for mule deer and kit foxes, which inhabit the grassland you'll be crossing. Allow about 30 minutes to Sand Dune Arch and back; 1 hour to Broken Arch.

From the Devils Garden Trail, you can see about 15 to 20 arches on a fairly long, strenuous, and difficult hike, or view some exciting scenery by following only part of the route. Take at least the easy-to-moderate 1.6-mile round-trip hike to Landscape Arch, a long, thin ribbon of stone that's one of the most beautiful arches in the park. Watch for mule deer along the way, and allow about an hour. Past Landscape Arch, the trail becomes more challenging, but offers numerous additional views, including panoramas of the curious Double O Arch and a large, dark tower known as Dark Angel. From the section of the trail where Dark Angel is visible, you are 2.5 miles from the trail head. If you turn back at this point, the round-trip will take about 3 hours; if you keep going, you'll have the primitive loop almost to yourself as most people turn back at Double O Arch.

Considered by many to be the park's best and most scenic hike, the 3-mile round-trip Delicate Arch Trail is a moderate-to-difficult hike, with slippery slickrock, no shade, and some steep drop-offs along a narrow cliff. Hikers are rewarded with a dramatic and spectacular view of Delicate Arch, as well as a visit to the John Wesley Wolfe ranch, and an opportunity to take a side trip to a Ute petroglyph panel that includes what may represent a bighorn sheep hunt. When you get back on the main trail, watch for collared lizards -- up to a foot long -- which are usually bright green with stripes of yellow or rust, with a black collar. Collared lizards feed in the daytime, mostly on insects and other lizards, and can stand and run on their large hind feet in pursuit of prey. (Very reminiscent of Jurassic Park.)

Continuing along the trail, watch for Frame Arch, off to the right. Its main claim to fame is that numerous photographers have used it to "frame" a photo of Delicate Arch in the distance. Just past Frame Arch, the trail gets a little weird -- narrow and twisting -- having been blasted out from the cliff. Allow 2 to 3 hours.

The Fiery Furnace Guided Hike is a strenuous 2-mile round-trip naturalist-led hike to some of the most colorful formations in the park. Guided hikes are given into this restricted area twice daily from mid-March through October, by reservation. Cost is $10 per adult, $6 per child from 6 to 12, and free for children 5 and under. The hikes, which last from 2 1/4 to 3 hours, are often booked a day or two in advance, and reservations can be made in person up to 7 days in advance. As you hike along, a ranger describes the desert plants, points out hard-to-find arches, and discusses the geology and natural history of the Fiery Furnace. Permits are required to enter the Fiery Furnace on your own ($2 adults, $1 children 6-12), but special restrictions apply and there are no marked trails, so you must first speak with a ranger at the visitor center. Unless you're an experienced hiker, it's best to join a guided hike.

Another strenuous hike is to Tower Arch. This is a short but rugged hike on a primitive trail. It starts with a steep incline to the top of the bluff and proceeds up and down, with great views of the Klondike Bluffs to the right. Beware of the slickrock that makes up part of the trail, and watch for the cairns leading the way. The hardest part is near the end, where you struggle uphill through loose sand. Your reward is a grand sight: the immense Tower Arch standing among a maze of sandstone spires. Climb up under it for a soothing view while you take a much-deserved break. In the spring, the majestic, snowcapped La Sal Mountains can be seen to the east through the arch opening.

The backcountry has no trails or campsites, and very little of the park is open to overnight camping, but backcountry hiking is permitted. Ask park rangers to suggest routes. No fires are allowed, and hikers must carry their own water and practice low-impact hiking and camping techniques. Those planning to be out overnight need free backcountry permits, available at the visitor center.