Arches National Park, UT

Fly into Salt Lake City Airport (SLC). The best time to arrive is between around Noon-3PM. However, if you can save a substantial amount on your flight by arriving at say, 11AM or 5PM, then do so.

Take the free airport shuttle to Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Stes Salt Lake City-Airport East, 200 N 2100 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, 801-741-1500

Equipment shakedown

"Before" measurements taken

Body temperature taken to check for Covid

Trail mix distribution, Covid permitting

Go to REI Salt Lake City, 3285 E 3300 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84109, (801) 486-2100 for last minute equipment

Go out for dinner (Dinner not included in trip cost)

Early (6AM) wake-up

Second set of "before" measurements taken

Body temperature taken to check for Covid

All the items that you won't bring on the trail will be set aside and put in storage. Try to keep this to a small amount of stuff.

Free breakfast at Hotel

Car shuttle 4 hours to Moab

Have a picnic lunch at Arches National Park Visitors Center

Watch 10 minute video and pick up permit for Fiery Furnace at Visitor's Center

Drive 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)

Drive to Balanced Rock, elevation 4950'

Day-Hike a 0.3 loop around Balanced Rock

Drive to Pack Creek Campground and set up for the week.

Base Camp at Pack Creek Campground site(s) TBD, elevation 5200'

Set up base Camp at Group Site A, Goose Island Campground on the Colorado River, elevation 4000'

Miles today: 2.3. Total miles: 2.3

Drive 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'

Lunch

Drive 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'

Drive to Pack Creek Campground

Base Camp at Pack Creek Campground

Miles today: 4.0. Total miles: 6.3

Fiery Furnace is closed as of this writing 4/15/2021. We expect it to be open by October, but if not we have 2 options

Option A

IMPORTANT NOTE: Fiery Furnace is currently closed (on April 13, 2021 anyway). "The Fiery Furnace remains closed until further notice (no ranger-led hikes nor permits available)."

If it remains closed as the trip approaches, we will offer an alternate hike for the day

Drive to Fiery Furnace Trailhead, elevation 4750'

Day-Hike 2.0 miles through Fiery Furnace. This trip will take at least 3 hours.

The following is directly from the Arches National Park Website

Everyone attending the tour should be aware of the demanding nature of this hike and properly equipped for current conditions. During the hike, participants must walk and climb on irregular and broken sandstone, along narrow ledges above drop-offs, and in loose sand. There are gaps which must be jumped and narrow places that you must squeeze into and pull yourself up and through. In some of these places, you must hold yourself off the ground by pushing against the sandstone walls with your hands and feet. Due to the maze-like nature of the terrain, all participants are committed to completing the hike once they enter the Fiery Furnace. To better judge the hike's difficulty, you can watch a video or view a photo gallery.

All participants must wear good hiking shoes or boots that have gripping soles. No sandals or high heeled shoes are allowed. Each person must carry at least one quart or liter of water. Water and other gear should be stowed in a backpack so that hands are free to be used to navigate the terrain.

Option B

Drive to Negro Bill Trailhead, elevation 4000'

Day-hike 2.6 miles to Morning Glory Natural Bridge, elevation 4400'

Day-hike 2.6 miles back to Negro Bridge Trailhead

Drive to Pack Creek Campground

Base Camp at Pack Creek Campground

Miles today: 2.0 or 5.2. Total miles: 8.3 or 11.5

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

Day-Hike 1.0 miles to Tower Arch via the Marching Men, elevation 5100'

Day-Hike 1.0 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)

Drive to Pack Creek Campground

Base Camp at Pack Creek Campground

Miles today: 3.9. Total miles: 12.2 or 15.4

Day-Hike 0.5 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 0.5 miles to Devil's Garden Campground

Drive to Pack Creek Campground

Base Camp at Pack Creek Campground

Miles today: 8.1. Total miles: 20.3 or 23.5

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

Day-hike 0.9 miles back to camp

End of hiking. Break camp

Miles today: 2.2. Total miles: 22.5 or 25.7

Shuttle 4 hours back to Salt Lake City

Check back into Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Stes Salt Lake City-Airport East, 200 N 2100 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, 801-741-1500

After measurements taken

Dinner and awards Ceremony. Dinner not included in trip cost.

Free Hotel Breakfast

Take Free Airport Shuttle