Arches National Park with Kids

Arches National Park in Southeastern Utah is breathtakingly beautiful.  Be warned, it is also often breathtakingly hot in summer. We first visited Arches as newlyweds and have returned to this park a couple times with our children.  It is a beautiful park with a unique desert landscape… and so many arches!

There are many hiking trails at Arches NP, but we chose to stick to shorter hikes with our kids.  The dry, desert climate makes hydration very important.  Most trails are also very exposed with little shade.  

Favorite Arches National Park Activities with Children:

1. Sand Dune Arch - this arch is a short walk from the parking area.  It stands out because, unlike most of the arches, this one is tucked away in the shade… and surrounded by sand.  This is a fun walk with kids and neat place for them to see an arch up close.

2. Double Arch - this is a massive set of arches - zoom in on the photo to see the people!  This set of arches can be seen from the parking lot and reached by a short walk.

3. Balanced Rock - want a short walk with neat rock formations?  That’s the area around Balanced Rock. 

4.  Park drive to identify features and spot arches.  Getting out of the car is going to lead to a richer experience, but there are many neat features that you can see from the car at Arches.

5. Delicate Arch Viewpoint - Delicate Arch is ironic, we have NOT done the hike to Delicate Arch, but the arch can be seen and photographed from the Delicate Arch viewpoint.

Each of these activities offer different views and elements of the park. Our young children enjoyed Sand Dune Arch the most.  When our children were older, Double Arch was the favorite due to it’s massive size.

Regardless of what you choose to do at Arches NP, there are some tips to keep in mind to help you have a safe and enjoyable visit.

Tips for visiting Arches National Park with Children:

• Think about the season you would like to visit - Spring temperatures are more mild, even a little chilly.  Summer is quite hot. 
• Drink plenty of water in the dry desert climate.  Make sure that you fill up water at the Visitor Center as there are limited locations for getting water inside the park.
• Sunscreen and hats are essential in any season, much of Arches National Park is open and exposed.
• Camping is quite limited inside the National Park.  The times we have camped and visited Arches, we stayed at Bureau of Land Management Campgrounds along the Colorado River.  You can learn more about BLM Campgrounds at https://www.discovermoab.com/blm-campgrounds/
• Be careful of the heat, especially in summer.
• Do not stack rocks into cairns or knock over any existing stacks.  Read why here.
• Check with a ranger for a park map and updated information.
• Canyonlands National Parks is national park neighbors with Arches, it would be a great addition to a trip to Arches NP.

Be sure to Check the Arches National Park Website for the latest information on reservations and current conditions.

*All information is based on our experience at this park and is provided for information and entertainment only, not as professional advice. Reading and using information from More Than Scenery as well as any travel/hiking/camping is at your own risk.  Accuracy is important to me, but park rules and conditions change constantly.  If you find an error, please let me know so that I can correct it.
Unless stated otherwise, all images are my (Jessica Branch) own and I hold the copywrite.  Please get permission before using any images or text from More Than Scenery.