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 desert area is one of a kind. Moab itself has two national parks; Canyonlands and Arches. With Arches being the closest national park to the town of Moab. It makes the park a perfect location for spending a whole day or even just a half day if you go in the afternoon.

My favorite hike, if you’re up for the challenge, is Delicate Arch at 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 parts of the park either after 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! To be honest 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 was ever completely full. Although new for 2026 there is no timed entry, so it will be interesting to see how parking and traffic pan 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, there’s actually a couple view points (Lower and Upper Delicate Arch View Points), 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 daytime being the busiest. I think the best time to hike it is for sunset due to the coloring and lighting the desert provides in the evening. These will also be the best times for photography too.

What is the best time of year to hike Delicate Arch

For the best weather, May or October will be the best months of the year to visit. I also think winter could be pretty cool if it snows. There probably aren’t many people in the park during the winter either.

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

The trail will be an out and back that is just a little over 3 miles with about 600 feet in elevation gain. You’ll be able to see a good portion of the hike from the bottom! To be honest it is a little steeper than I expected, but was worth it. I started the hike around 4 pm and sunset was around 8 pm ish. Keep in mind I did hike with camera equipment and took time to shoot some photos and video.

With that being said, if you’re hiking for sunset, give yourself a couple of hours to get to the top. That way it will give you some time to shoot photos of yourself in front of the arch (this is pretty popular) and enjoy the surrounding desert views. Be respectful of other people shooting photos and you’ll have to have a little patience.

The first part of your hike, there will be a slight detour to some hydroglyphics (ancient messages in the form of drawings on rock). You’ll pass an old cabin like building and this trail will circle back to the main trail.

Well marked with not too much incline is what you will discover at the start. Once you get to the red rock (called slick rock) that’s when it gets steeper and having proper footwear will help drastically.

One thing to note is you will more than likely encounter wind on this hike so make sure pockets are zipped and things like sunglasses have a way to be secured on your face. I had a pair of sunglasses blow right off my shirt!.

Shot by Megan Ray

As you hike up the slick rock there will be signs and stacked rocks to keep you on the correct path. Just make sure to stay on trail as best as possible as the desert soil helps with the entire eco system and if you step on it over time, it could cause significant damage to the park!

As you approach the top of the trail, there will be a number of steep drop offs. Be careful as you start to make your way to the Arch. Be conscious of people coming down the trail too.

A cool secret-ish viewpoint is going to be the twisted donut arch, you’ll have to crawl up on your hands, but you’ll get a cool view of the arch from a far away distance.

If you’re scared of heights don’t look down below on this part of the hike as it feels somewhat narrow. Home stretch to Delicate Arch from here!

Once you’ve made it, find a place to grab a good seat to catch the sunset while also trying to take photos. As mentioned there will be other people looking to get pictures, so be patient!

Once the sun has set, you should be able to catch blue hour on the hike down. The colors are amazing in the desert when the sun sets! The hike down will be much quicker, just watch your footing as you make the trek. I can’t stress this enough as I saw a man with a gashed bloody forehead when hiking up.

I made it back to the parking lot just before darkness set in. Although I didn’t use my headlamp, I would recommend adding this to a packing list!

What should we pack

Hiking Boots- I would recommend having some kind of outdoor sneaker with good traction or a hiking boot with good support due to uneven services on this hike. I would suggest going into a store to try on different styles and sizes. But if you can’t do that, my favorite hiking boots are La Sportiva!

Water- You’re in a dry/warm climate! Pack plenty of water.

Sunscreen- Keep your skin protected! My favorite sun care company is Sun Bum out of Encinitas California. Great chapstick as well. I like how the product keeps my skin protected for the entire hike and also isn’t very greasy.

Outdoor Clothing- Patagonia, Fjallraven, Arcteryx, and Norrona are just a handful of outdoor brands making comfortable outdoor clothing designed for the elements. Try to stay away from anything cotton, and make sure you find clothing that wicks moisture and stays breathable.

Is this a good place for elopement photos

To be honest, I don’t think it would be a great area for engagement photos just because of how popular the trail is. However! Arches is a great spot for elopement photos, with the best time to shoot, early in the morning at sunrise. I think Double Arch would be one of the best places just because of how easy it is to access.

Alright that’s it for hiking Delicate Arch at sunset! Looking for other outdoor adventures? Check out Salida Colorado, an original authentic mountain town.