Arches and Canyonlands National Parks in Utah are two of the most unique parks in the American Southwest. Typically people spend 2-3 days exploring Moab and the two nearby national parks, but sometimes you just do not have the time to spend multiple days. If you only have one day, here is how to hit the highlights from Arches to Canyonlands.
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Free Arches to Canyonlands 1-Day Itinerary
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Best Time to See Arches to Canyonlands
The best time to spend one day from Arches to Canyonlands is during the shoulder months of the summer season: April, May, September, and October. Temperatures during this time range from 60 to 80 degrees F. Summer months Utah are scorching hot plus the summer crowds can make it difficult to get all the highlights done in one day.
I often get alerts throughout the year that Arches National Park is full, and they are turning away visitors before 9:00 am. Since this will be a full day and because of the likelihood of Arches getting overcrowded, you should strive to arrive at or before 8:00 am.
Entrance Fees for Arches to Canyonlands
You will need to purchase a park pass to enter each of the national parks. The entrance fee to each park is $30 per vehicle for a 7-day pass. You may want to consider purchasing an America the Beautiful park pass, which will allow you into all national parks for a year for one single fee. The American the Beautiful Interagency pass is $80, and the costs to both parks is $60, so you are close breaking even on the pass. Also, if you have a 4th grader in your household, you can get a family pass for free to the national parks that is good for a year. Find out more about that benefit here.
What to Pack from Arches to Canyonlands
- Water!! Whether you use a hydration backpack or carry bottled water, make sure to pack plenty of water when outdoors!
- Sunscreen – Protect your skin from the sun, and do not forget to reapply.
- Hat – More sun protection to block the sun from your face
- Hiking shoes/boots – Some of the hikes are on steep, slick rock, and people wearing regular tennis shoes struggled to keep their footing. Here are the men‘s version of the hiking shoes I love.
- Hiking socks – The best way to prevent blisters is by keeping your feet dry. Moisture-wicking socks are the best way to do that.
- Backpack – A backpack is a necessity when hiking to carry your water, snacks, sunscreen, etc. that you may need on your longer hikes.
- RTIC Soft-Sided Cooler – Keep your drinks and sandwich stuff cool in this cooler.
- Jacket – Even in warmer months, the temps can be cool in the mornings and evening so pack a light men’s or women’s jacket.
- Printed Maps/Directions – Cell service is spotty, so I recommend you print maps/directions or download offline maps to all hiking trails and parks you plan to visit.
8:00 AM: ENTER ARCHES NATIONAL PARK
I cannot stress enough how important it is to arrive to the park early. Not only is it important to fit in all the highlights from Arches to Canyonlands, but the Arches park rangers often close the park entrance by 9:00 AM due to the park being full.
Unfortunately, when we visited, there was a forest fire near Salt Lake City and the smoke had blown towards Moab. The smoke made the day feel a little like the end of days. That is why my pictures are all very hazy. On a normal day, the sky is bright blue which is a nice contrast to the red rocks from Arches to Canyonlands.
8:30 AM: WINDOWS AND TURRET ARCH
After entering the park, drive straight to the Windows Section where you will explore the Windows Trail and Turret Arch. These arches are just a short walk up stairs from the parking lot. The windows trail will take you to North Window and South Window.
Make sure to walk through Turret Arch to see the other side. You will have to rock scramble to do this.
9:30 AM: DOUBLE ARCH TRAIL
You do not need to drive to Double Arch as it shares a parking lot with Windows and Turret Arch. Just walk across the lot towards the massive Double Arch on the well-maintained pathway. If you are feeling up to it, rock scramble to get closer to the two arches.
As you are walking towards Double Arch, look to your left to see the Parade of Elephants. These rock formations resemble several elephants walking trunk to tail.
10:30 AM: DEVIL’S GARDEN TO LANDSCAPE ARCH
Next, drive to the Devils Garden area of the park. Like the rest of the park, this parking lot fills up. We had to drive the loop 4 times before a parking spot became available. The Devils Garden Trail begins here and is 7.9 miles in total length. Instead of walking the entire distance, we walked to Landscape Arch before turning around.
Make sure to take the short spur to Pine Tree Arch and a viewing area of Tunnel Arch. The total walking length to Landscape Arch, Pine Tree Arch, and Tunnel Arch is around 1.2 miles.
11:45 AM: PICNIC LUNCH
Because of the time constraints to see all of Arches to Canyonlands, I highly recommend you bring a picnic lunch into the park with you. Plus, if you leave the park for lunch in Moab, you will likely not be able to reenter the park due to overcrowded nature of Arches. However, if you would rather have a late lunch and eat in Moab, you could finish the trip here with the Scenic Drive before eating.
12:30 PM: SCENIC DRIVE TO ARCHES VISITOR CENTER
After lunch, begin the Arches Scenic Drive towards the Visitor Center. There are several viewpoints along the way including Fiery Furnace Viewpoint, Salt Valley Overlook, and Panorama Point before reaching Balanced Rock. From here, keep going and you will pass Petrified Dunes Viewpoint.
Next, stop at the Courthouse Towers Viewpoint. Make a 360-degree turn and you will see a lot of unique formations such as Courthouse Towers, Three Gossips, Sheep Rock, Tower of Babel, and The Organ. La Sal Mountains Viewpoint and Park Avenue Viewpoint are the last two stops before you get to the Arches Visitor Center. Now is your chance to souvenir shop at the gift shop before leaving the park.
If you are visiting the Moab area for multiple days and do not need to experience Arches to Canyonlands in just one day, you can add another hike inside Arches and fill your day. Before driving the Arches Scenic Road out of the park, you can make your way to the Delicate Arch Trailhead. Delicate Arch is the arch featured on the Utah license plates. This trail is 3.2 miles in length.
2:30 PM: DRIVE FROM ARCHES TO CANYONLANDS
There are two main areas in Canyonlands: Island in the Sky and The Needles. Since you only have half a day in this park, you will need to pick one of the two sections to explore. Otherwise, you will need a full day in Canyonlands. For this Arches to Canyonlands itinerary, we will be spending the afternoon in the Island in the Sky area. Make sure to stop at the Visitor Center on your way in to talk to rangers and peruse the gift shop. The visitor center will likely be closed on your way out of the park.
3:30 PM: GRAND VIEW POINT TRAIL
From the visitor center, drive straight to the end of the road to the Grand View Point Trail. This easy 1.9-mile, out and back trail walks along the edge of the cliff to the ultimate view of the surrounding canyons; hence, the trail name, Grand View Point.
5:00 PM: MESA ARCH TRAIL
On the way to Mesa Arch, stop at Orange Cliffs Overlook, Buck Canyon Overlook, and Candlestick Tower Overlook for great views. The trail to Mesa Arch Trail is a short and easy loop, less than a mile in length. The view of the canyon through the window of the arch is enchanting. If you come during crowded times, be prepared to wait your turn for pictures with Mesa Arch.
5:45 PM: SCENIC DRIVE TO MOAB
Finish the scenic drive out of Canyonlands National Park with stops at Green River Overlook and Shafer Canyon Overlook. Complete your night in Moab with dinner and souvenir shopping. If you want to experience some nightlife, grab drinks at one of the pubs in Moab.
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