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Arches National Park

Sunday, September 21, 2025 - Sunday, September 28, 2025 -- $TBD ★

In the remote Utah backcountry, lies a magical world of naturally formed sandstone arches, canyons, mesas, and buttes called Arches National Park We will be day-hiking almost every established trail in this popular and colorful park. Colossal sandstone arches, monolithic rock faces, spires, windows, natural bridges, canyons and various other rock formations dot the landscape. While you may have to scramble over the rock terrain at times, mileages are low and rewards are often easy to come by. Everyone should see Arches once, even if they've never heard of Edward Abbey.


Our trek will visit just about every arch in the park that is accessible by established trail. We'll see many famous formations such as Delicate Arch (it's on the Utah license plate), Landscape Arch, Balanced Rock, The 3 Gossips and Double O Arch. Just about everywhere we'll hike has beautiful canyons and incredible mesas with visually stunning, unobstructed views.


Our mileage will be kept low and we will be carrying day packs only. In September, the days are still pretty warm. Expect great sunsets and amazing star-gazing.


If you prefer day-hiking only, this is the trip for you. Why not join us for an unforgettable trip?



Topographical Map of Proposed Route

See CalTopo map


Weather

Weather is always an important concern when hiking. Expect daytime hiking temperatures in the 80s and nighttime temperatures in the 40s. However, be prepared for the possibility of day temperatures as high as 100 and as low as 35, with a small chance of rain and on rare occasion, snow. Here is the historical Arches weather. Bring with lots of sun protection and water containers that add up to 6 liters of capacity.



Probable Trip Leaders

Guide(s) TBD

Difficulty


The trails through Arches National Park are often easy to navigate and enjoyable to hike, but not always. There will be some sandy patches, slickrock with dropoffs and a few places where scrambling (using hands and butt) are necessary. It's pure hiking pleasure.



Cost

$0 per person double occupancy. Here, double occupancy means that you will share a hotel room with another trip participant. You will also be responsible for transportation to and from Salt Lake City Airport (SLC), as well as personal equipment, restaurant meals and any gratuities for guides. You may also be assessed parking charges if you drive in and leave your car at the hotel all week. Shuttling to the park may also be an option


Covered expenses include 1 hotel night, 6 nights in front country campgrounds, 5 days of trail meals, airport ground transportation, ground transport to/from/within Arches, National Park permits and awesome guides.


Tipping: In order to keep our prices competitive with (and hopefully favorable to) other outfitters, we shamefully can’t pay our guides as much as we think they deserve. Like most other guiding services, we rely on the generosity of our participants to make up this shortfall by tipping the guides. While tips are not required or expected, if your guides have served you well, please consider a gratuity so they can continue living their extravagant lifestyles of eating powdered meals, sleeping in the dirt and pooping in smelly outhouses and small holes they've dug.



Notes


Day-Hiking / Base Camping only


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Itinerary
Weather
Guides for this trip
Cost
Important Note
Difficulty (Please Read)
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Itinerary


Sunday, September 21, 2025

Fly into Salt Lake City Airport (SLC). Plan to arrive by 1PM.


We will assemble at: TBD, To Be Determined


Mini-equipment shakedown, following up your virtual shakedown done prior to the trip


Make-Your-Own Trail mix bar


All the items that you won't bring on the trail will be set aside and put in storage.


At around 3PM, shuttle to campsite: Devil's Garden Campground, Arches National Park. Site(s): Canyon Wren Group Site Elevation: 5200'


Shuttling will take about 4 hours


Guides prepare dinner in camp. On some trips with longer shuttle times, we may opt to go out for an opening dinner at a local restaurant. (Cost of restaurant dinner not included in trip price)


Camp at Devil's Garden Campground, Arches National Park. Site(s): Canyon Wren Group Site Elevation: 5200'



Monday, September 22, 2025

Shuttle to Park Avenue Viewpoint, elevation 4550'


Day-Hike 1.0 miles on the Park Avenue Trail past the 3 Gossips to the Courthouse Towers Viewpoint, elevation 4250'


Day-Hike 1.0 miles back to the shuttle vehicle(s)


Shuttle to Balanced Rock, elevation 4950'


Day-Hike a 0.3 loop around Balanced Rock


Shuttle back to camp


Day-hike 1.3 miles via Broken Arch to Sand Dune Arch


Day-hike 0.9 miles back to camp


Base Camp at Devil's Garden Campground - Canyon Wren Group Site


Miles today: 4.5. Total miles: 4.5


Tuesday, September 23, 2025

Shuttle to Delicate Arch Upper Viewpoint Trail, elevation 4350'


Day-Hike 1.5 miles to Delicate Arch, the iconic image of Arches, elevation 4750'


Day-Hike 1.5 miles back to shuttle vehicle(s), elevation 4350'


Shuttle to Delicate Arch Lower Viewpoint Trail, elevation 4300'


Day-Hike 0.5 miles to the Delicate Arch Viewpoint, elevation 4500'


Day-Hike 0.5 miles back to shuttle vehicle(s), elevation 4300'


Shuttle to Park Avenue Viewpoint, elevation 4550'


Day-Hike 1.0 miles on the Park Avenue Trail past the 3 Gossips to the Courthouse Towers Viewpoint, elevation 4250'


Day-Hike 1.0 miles back to the shuttle vehicle(s)


Return to Devil's Garden Campground, elevation 5200'


Base Camp at Devil's Garden Campground - Canyon Wren Group Site


Miles today: 6.0. Total miles: 10.5


Wednesday, September 24, 2025

Drive on dirt and gravel road to the Tower Arch Trailhead, elevation 5100'


Day-Hike 2.2 miles to Tower Arch via the Marching Men, elevation 5100'


Day-Hike 2.2 miles back to the shuttle vehicle(s), elevation 5100'


Drive to Balanced Rock, have lunch here.


Drive to Double Arch Trailhead.


Day-Hike 0.5 round trip miles to Double Arch


Drive to the Windows Trail


Day-Hike 0.7 miles to Turret Arch, North Window and South Window


Day-Hike 0.7 miles on the Windows Primitive Loop Trail back to the shuttle vehicle(s)


Base Camp at Devil's Garden Campground - Canyon Wren Group Site


Miles today: 6.3. Total miles: 16.8


Thursday, September 25, 2025

Day-Hike 1.0 miles to Devil's Garden Trail


Day-Hike 0.4 miles to Tunnel Arch, elevation 5400'


Day-Hike 0.3 miles to Pine Tree Arch, elevation 5400'


Day-Hike 0.8 miles to Devil's Garden Primitive Loop Trail, elevation 5400'


Day-Hike 1.6 miles to Private Arch Trail, elevation 5400'


Day-Hike 0.3 round trip miles to Private Arch and back


Day-Hike 0.3 miles to Double O Arch


Day-Hike 0.4 miles to Dark Angel


Day-Hike 1.2 miles to trail intersection


Day-Hike 0.7 miles to Navajo Arch and Partition Arch


Day-Hike 1.1 miles past Landscape Arch back to the trailhead


Day-Hike 1.0 miles to Devil's Garden Campground


Miles today: 9.1. Total miles: 25.9


Friday, September 26, 2025

Drive out of the park to the Grandstaff Trail, elevation 4000'


Day-hike 5.1 round trip miles on the Grandstaff Trail to Morning Glory Arch, elevation 4550'


Shuttle to Pack Creek Campground


Camp at Pack Creek Campground group site


Miles today: 5.1. Total miles: 31.0


Saturday, September 27, 2025

Day-hike 2.0 round trip miles on the Mill Creek Rim Trail, elevation 4500'


End of hiking. Break camp


Miles today: 2.0. Total miles: 33.0


Shuttle 4 hours back to Salt Lake City


Shuttle back to local hotel: TBD, To Be Determined


Gather your off-trail items from storage


Dinner and awards ceremony at a local restaurant (Dinner cost not included in trip price)


Stay in our local hotel (included in trip cost)


Gather your off-trail items from storage


Dinner and awards Ceremony (Dinner cost not included in trip price)


This is the official end of the trip. You are welcome to spend the night at the hotel, however if you drove and would like to get on the road or if you flew and would like to schedule a late flight (or a red-eye if this is a West Coast trip) you can definitely do so.


Sunday, September 28, 2025

Take free airport shuttle or we will pay for a shared cab/Uber


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