Arches National Park at Sunrise- Delicate Arch & Mesa Arch

Utah is well known for its Mighty 5 National Parks. From Bryce to Zion, Utah is full of amazing landscapes, but only Arches National Park contains Utah’s most iconic landmark, Delicate Arch. The best way to see Delicate Arch is at sunrise. Hike at sunrise in Arches National Park to see it without the crowds and at a beautiful time of day. Whether you have one day in Arches or several, make sure that hiking to Delicate Arch at sunrise is on your list!

Why Hike at Sunrise in Arches National Park

You may be wondering why you would even want to hike to Delicate Arch at sunrise. This will require you to wake up early on vacation and get to the park while it is still dark. However, there are numerous reasons to hike the Delicate Arch trail at sunrise.

• This is perhaps the most popular hike in the park, and by arriving early you can ensure you get a parking spot and witness this majestic arch. The trailhead parking lot has a limited number of spaces and there is not much overflow parking, so if you arrive at almost any other time of day, there is no guarantee you will find a spot to park.
• The Delicate Arch itself is also a popular photo spot in Arches National Park. Most of the day there is a line to pose with the arch, but not first thing in the morning!
• By beginning your hike early in the morning, you also avoid the heat of the midday sun. This trail is almost entirely exposed to the sun and elements during the day.

Delicate Arch Hike Overview

• Length: 3.2 miles
• Elevation Gain: 629 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Views: 5/5
• Popularity: Very Popular
• Time to Hike: 2-3 hours
• Trailhead Location: Arches National Park

How to Get to Delicate Arch

Delicate Arch Hike at Sunrise

To see Delicate Arch at sunrise, be prepared for a fairly intense but short hike. The hike to Delicate Arch is over a mile and a half each way with some steep elevation gain.

The trail begins gently, hiking past the abandoned Wolfe Ranch and a side trail to view petroglyphs. Check this out on the hike down for an interesting attraction. A little under a mile into the hike, the trail steepens to a sharp ascent up Slickrock Slab. Here the trail gains over 200 feet in a quarter of a mile. You may need to stop for several breaks and drinks of water in this section. The trail is, as implied, slick, and at a 14-20% grade.

At the top of Slickrock Slab, the hike continues for another half a mile, ascending at a more gradual pace. I found the designated trail a little hard to keep track of here amongst the sand and stone, but there are more cairns guiding the way. Before rounding the corner to the large viewing point of Delicate Arch you may spot Twisted Doughnut Arch to the South. This is is a fun spot to take some photos of a unique perspective of Delicate Arch.

Delicate Arch will be impossible to miss at the end of the trial. The surrounding stone forms a large curved area, perfect for viewing the freestanding arch. Take your time and rest while gazing at and photographing one of Utah’s most popular landmarks.

The best part about hiking in Arches at sunrise is that you may get Delicate Arch entirely to yourself. Grab your picture standing under the arch while the line is short, and watch as the morning sun bathes the arch in beautiful golden light.

Other Sunrise Hikes in Arches National Park

Delicate Arch is not the only place to experience the sunrise in Arches National Park. There are several other hikes and lookouts in the park that are worth visiting at sunrise whether due to the exceptional views or popularity of the trail.

• Double Arch– 0.6 miles, Easy– Double Arch is another one of the most popular arches in the park. At sunrise, this area will be much less crowded and you can watch as the sun makes the rocks glow red.
• Windows and Turret Arches Loop– 1.2 miles, Easy– Windows Arches and Turret Arch can be seen from the same parking lot as Double Arch so make sure to see both!
• Devil’s Garden– 7.9 miles, Difficult– The Devil’s Garden is another one of the most popular hikes in the park and one of the longer hikes in Arches National Park. If you plan on hiking the whole trail, start early to minimize the amount of full sun hiking you will do.
• Balanced Rock– 0.3 miles, Easy– This is another short hike to a unique feature in the park. Consider this for your sunrise hike in Arches because when looking at the rock you will be facing East.

Mesa Arch at Sunrise

If you are looking for another sunrise spot near Arches, head to Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park. This arch is nearly as famous as Delicate Arch, known for the unique way it looks at sunrise.

Only 35 miles from Arches National Park, Mesa Arch is a great sunrise hike alternative to Delicate Arch if you are prioritizing Canyonlands National Park or have multiple days in the area. The hike to Mesa Arch is shorter, less than half a mile to the arch from the trailhead. Mesa Arch also stands out at sunrise more so than most arches.

At sunrise, the underside of Mesa Arch lights up a brilliant orange and red for only a short period of time. The rest of the day the arch looks normal, so if you want to see this unique phenomenon, arrive at or before sunrise.

If you are a photographer, looking to set up the perfect shot with your tripod, arrive even earlier, as there is limited space around the arch. However, if you are just wanting a quick peek at Mesa Arch at sunrise, you should be fine to arrive just before or at sunrise, as crowds will come and go.

Other Sunrise Spots near Canyonlands

If Mesa Arch is full or you want to experience a different view, check out one of the other viewpoints and hikes nearby that are equally as stunning to watch the sunrise in Canyonlands.

• Grand View Point Trail– 1.8 miles, Easy– This trail is technically 2 miles long, but there is also a viewpoint right at the trailhead if you don’t want to hike the whole trail. From this viewpoint, you can look East towards the sunrise.
• White Rim Overlook Trail– 1.8 miles, Easy– You will have to hike to get to this overlook, but the view is so worth it. The final vista looks directly East so you can witness the sunrise light up the canyons below.
• Dead Horse Point State Park– Just outside Canyonlands is Dead Horse Point State Park. This has easily one of the best viewpoints near Arches and Moab- Dead Horse Point. With almost panoramic views this is a great place to watch the sunrise or set.

Read More: Short, Easy Hikes in Canyonlands National Park

Tips for Hiking Delicate Arch at Sunrise

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

• Plan for enough time. Know when the sun will rise and how long it will take you to hike to Delicate Arch (or your intended destination). Timeanddate is a great tool to track sunrise as well as twilight, which normally begins around half an hour before the actual sunrise. It will take most people 2 to 3 hours to hike to and back from Delicate Arch, but only you will know your pace. Also, plan for at least a 30-minute drive from Moab to the trailhead.
• Pack appropriately– If you are going to be hiking for sunrise, be sure to bring a headlamp and batteries. I would recommend hiking boots to keep your footing on the rock, and make sure to bring good socks to reduce the risk of blisters! Dress in layers, as it may be windy and cold before sunrise, but heat up once the sun is out. I was glad to have my puffy coat, hat, and gloves when waiting for sunrise, even in late March.
• If you don’t have time or the ability to hike the whole trail to the arch, you can also stop by the Delicate Arch Viewpoints. The Lower Viewpoint is wheelchair accessible and only 50 yards long. The Upper Delicate Arch Viewpoint is a steep, 0.5 miles to a view of the arch from across the canyon.
• Bring lots of water! In normal conditions for moderate hiking, one recommendation is to drink half a liter of water for every hour of hiking, and even more in harsher conditions. Many of these parks do not have a lot of facilities, so do not count on getting water once to the park! Always keep some extra water in the car.

Other Things to Do Near Delicate Arch

After hiking to Delicate Arch for sunrise you will still have almost a whole day to explore Arches and Moab! Below are several more things to do near Arches in addition to the hikes mentioned above.

• Hiking near Arches– There is so much hiking near Arches and Moab it would be impossible to list them all. In addition to the hikes mentioned earlier, Sand Dune Arch is an easy, 0.3-mile hike that is not to be missed in Arches National Park. Corona and Bowtie Arch Trail is another moderate, 2.4-mile hike near Moab. This is outside the park and maybe less crowded than some of the other arches in the area.
• Drive along the Colorado River– Utah State Route 128 goes along the Colorado River, starting near the entrance to Arches National Park. This 45-mile road is also known as the Upper Colorado River Scenic Byway. Drive part or all of this scenic drive and take in the red cliff walls and scenic desert views.
• Rafting– If you have had enough driving on your road trip, you can also experience the Colorado River by rafting down it! Moab Adventure Center has several trips from multiple days to half-day adventures. Red River Adventures also offers several rafting options.
• Off-Roading Tour– There is so much great off-roading in Utah and the Southwest it would seem a shame not to experience it. Highpoint Hummer and Moab Tour Company are just two of the many companies in Moab that offer rentals and guided tours on 4WD vehicles.
• Mountain Biking– If two-wheel vehicles are more your speed, then instead go for a mountain bike ride on one of the many biking trails in Moab. Moab has everything from easy to extremely challenging mountain bike trails for whatever your skill level.

When to Go to Arches National Park

Spring and Fall are the best time to visit Arches and Canyonlands if you want the best weather. As you can see above, March to May and September to November will have the best weather with highs averaging around the upper 50s to 80s. The summer will have the hottest weather with highs well into the 90s and 100s. The winter can be cold and windy, but will also have the least crowds and amazing views if you catch the red rock in the snow. Even in March, you may see some snow when visiting Arches, so keep in mind that weather can change at higher elevations.

No matter when you visit, it is important to remember that the desert cools off considerably at night so be prepared for some chillier weather at night and early in the morning before the sunrises.

Where to Stay Near Arches

Make sure to get a good night’s sleep before your sunrise hike in Arches! Below are just some of the campgrounds and hotels nearby in Arches and Moab.

Camping in Arches

• Devils Garden Campground– Devils Garden Campground is the only campground in Arches National Park and requires advance reservations from March through October.
• Campgrounds along the Colorado River– There are many campsites along the Colorado River and Route 128. I couldn’t possibly list them all here; searching Moab, on Recreation.gov will bring up lots of campsites that take reservations ahead of time.

Hotels in Moab

• Red Cliffs Lodge– This lodge is a beautiful, luxury stay along the Colorado River.
• Sunflower Hill Inn– Sunflower Hill Inn is a cute Bed and Breakfast type hotel located inside Moab.
• Castle Valley Inn– This is another Bed and Breakfast close to Moab with a hot tub, perfect for a getaway!

You May Also Be Interested In

• Arches vs Canyonlands- How to Spend One Day
• Easy Hikes in Canyonlands
• Ranking the Utah National Parks
• One Day in Bryce Canyon
• Itinerary for 2 Days in Zion National Park

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