Moab Utah, A Sunset Hike to Delicate Arch

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Moab Utah is like another planet, surrounded by red rock, larger than life rock formations, and canyons, this dessert area is one of a kind. Moab itself has two national parks; Canyonlands and Arches. With Arches being the closest to the town of Moab itself, it makes it a perfect location for spending the whole day or even just going in the afternoon through the evening. My favorite hike, if you’re up for the challenge! is Delicate Arch for sunset. It’s hikes like this that really make you appreciate mother nature and make your trip that much more memorable.

In this post I’ll be going over where Delicate Arch exactly is, best time of year to hike it, and of course trail details. Let’s do this!

Where is Arches

Arches is going to be right outside of the town of Moab which will be in the middle of the state on the eastern side. Pretty close to the border of Colorado actually. With a little over 5 miles from downtown Moab, depending on traffic, it is going to be about a 10 minute drive to the entrance. As you probably know, you’ll want to check out other part of the park either after you hike Delicate Arch or before you hike Delicate Arch. The closest major airport to Moab will be in Grand Junction Colorado. Below I listed distances from common areas.

Grand Junction: 112 miles/1 hour 45 minutes

Salt Lake: 234 miles/3 hours and 43 minutes

Denver: 354 miles/5 hours and 25 minutes

How does the timed entry work

In the past there were timed entry requirements, however that is no longer the case! Tbh I kind of liked time entry because some of the areas in the park have small parking lots so therefore it helped improved the flow of vehicles throughout the day. But hey at least you save a few bucks and can go to the park at your leisure.

What is parking like

Because Delicate Arch is the most popular hike in the park, there is plenty of parking! I would be surprised if the parking lot ever was completely full. Although new for 2026 is no timed entry, so it will be interesting to see how it pans out. The best way for guaranteed parking is by either entering the park at sunrise or entering later in the afternoon.

How do you access Delicate Arch within the national park

Delicate Arch will actually be towards the end of the park. I highly recommend picking up a map at the visitor center as cell service inside the park is almost none-existent. Follow the signage until you see the turn for Delicate Arch on the right. Take a right and you will see a giant parking lot on the left side. Don’t feel like hiking The Delicate Arch Hike, there’s actually a couple view points that will be near the parking lot, allowing you to look up from below at the Arch!

When is the best time to go, to avoid crowds

Sunrise will definitely be the best time to hike Delicate Arch without many people with during the day being the busiest time. I think the best time to hike it is for Sunset due to the coloring and lighting the dessert provides in the evening. Sunrise or Sunset will also be the best time to go for photography.

Does it cost money to visit Arches

It does cost money to visit arches. The best way to save money is to purchase a National Parks pass. For international residents they now offer a parks pass option too. If you only think you’ll do one or two days at a National Park it’s usually best to get the day rate, which can still be expensive! The fees apply per vehicle not per person. If you’re a US resident, then your pass will be much cheaper!

What is the trail like and what are the main details