Park Avenue |

Arches

Hiking Park Avenue - Arches Hiking Park Avenue

Arches

Overview

RATING: Easy Hiking
MAPS: MOAB, UT; THE WINDOWS SECTION, UT;

Tue

Sunny, with a high near 65. Southwest wind 0 to 5 mph.

65 | 35

Wed

Sunny, with a high near 68. Southwest wind 0 to 10 mph.

68 | 37

Thu

Sunny, with a high near 71.

71 | 37

Fri

Sunny, with a high near 71.

71 | 42

Sat

Mostly sunny, with a high near 72.

72 | 43

View Full Weather Details
SEASON: Any
GEAR: Standard Hiking Gear
WATER: None

Tue

Sunny, with a high near 65. Southwest wind 0 to 5 mph.

65 | 35

Wed

Sunny, with a high near 68. Southwest wind 0 to 10 mph.

68 | 37

Thu

Sunny, with a high near 71.

71 | 37

Fri

Sunny, with a high near 71.

71 | 42

Sat

Mostly sunny, with a high near 72.

72 | 43

View Full Weather Details
Evening light on Park Avenue

Evening light on Park Avenue

While most people visit Arches National Park to see.. well.. arches, however, the Park Avenue Trail is one of my personal favorites despite its lack of arches. The trail, a 1 mile "through" hike between stops on the main park road, is exquisitely lined with soaring walls and towers.

The scale of the scenery really makes this hike special. Though you can see the entire trail from the trailhead, nothing beats actually hiking down near the towering walls.

Note: The hike is a pleasure anytime, however, morning and evening lighting can be particularly photogenic.
Note 2: The hike is 2 miles round-trip. Most just do this from the top down and use either two cars or hitchhike back to the start.
The side canyon off Park Avenue

The side canyon off Park Avenue

Getting There

From the Arches visitor drive into the park, stopping at the well signed Park Avenue trailhead approximately 2 miles inside the park on the left side of the road. This is the Park Avenue Trail starting trailhead.

If you have two cars, continue 1.4 miles to the exit trailhead and leave the 2nd car there.

Park Avenue on a winter day.

Park Avenue on a winter day.

Towers along Park Avenue. The little one is called the Twinkie.

Towers along Park Avenue. The little one is called the Twinkie.

Route

From the trailhead, the trail is visible as it meanders down the valley between towering walls. About 1/2 way down, a side canyon comes in on the left. This makes a nice, short side trip to get off the beaten path a bit. Be sure to stay in the wash bottom to avoid erosion and minimize impacts.

Near the bottom of the hike, Courthouse Towers come into view right before the exit trailhead and park road. The Three Gossips are also visible on the left of the hike near the end. Magnificent!


Maps

Route - One Way / 1.03 miles / Elevation Range 4,232 - 4,545 ft.
Printable Maps:
Trailhead - Upper

12S 621911mE 4276033mN

N38° 37' 28" W109° 35' 58"

Trailhead - Lower

12S 621847mE 4277428mN

N38° 38' 13" W109° 36' 00"

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