Zion National Park

Zion National Park

Zion National Park is a large park with many different things to see and do. There are hikes that will take you to high places and hikes that go through streams and canyons! We only had a day and a half to explore this large park and therefore we had to pick and choose what we thought was worth exploring. I would suggest spending 2-3 full days here if you want to experience everything. One important thing to note is that Zion National Park cannot be explored in a car, as driving through it is not permitted. You must walk, bike, or take the shuttle system. Depending on the time you go, the shuttle can be very busy and so plan up to an extra hour of wait time to get on the shuttle. 

Tips:

• As always START early! If you are taking the shuttle you may have to wait up to an hour to get on the it. We went around 9AM and waited for about 45 minutes to get on.
• Bring your wallet! There are a few little places to eat and shop along the shuttle route. It is worth getting an ice cream cone or burger! 
• Research a nearby hotel to stay at. We stayed at Flanigans Inn and it was a 5 minute walk to the park, which was a game changer! Being able to walk to the shuttle and not have to find parking was very convenient and helpful! 
• Bring everything you will need for the day. Once you are in the park you do not want to have to take the shuttle then walk/drive to get back to your hotel! 
• Of course, water and sunscreen are a must!
• Check out the NPS webpage for weather alerts and closings. This was helpful for us, as we found out one of the hikes we planned to do (Angel's Landing) was closed due to maintenance. 

Zion Canyon Scenic Drive

The shuttle system takes you through what is called Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. It starts at the visitor center and goes all the way to the end of the park. There are 9 stops along the way with various hikes and things to see at each stop. The shuttle bus also has a tour guide that explains each stop and the different parts of the park and history behind it all. I recommend doing the Canyon Scenic Drive from start to finish to learn about the park and see some incredible views. We were doing The Narrows hike that was at the very end of the park, so we were able to do the entire drive without getting off. It was a wonderful way to get a feel for the park!

The Narrows

***Highly Recommend 

Since we only had a short time in Zion National Park, we were only able to pick 1 long hike. We were debating between Observation Point and The Narrows. Since we have done many hikes to the top of a mountain, we decided to try something new and we went with The Narrows. 

The Narrows takes you on an upstream hike through the narrowest section of Zion Canyon. Depending on what time of year you go, the Virgin River can be very cold and cause hypothermia if proper gear is not worn. You are in the water the ENTIRE hike with high canyon walls surrounding you on all sides! This was unlike any hike we have every done! It was fairly easy and very enjoyable! This hike can take 4-6 hours depending on how far you decide to go.

Gear:

We went in early April when the water was only 39 degrees, so we had to rent dry gear for the hike. Fortunately when I had researched this hike, everyone suggested renting dry gear the night before as they sell out fast! We rented our gear from Zion Adventure Company and I could not have been happier with this company! They were reasonably priced and very knowledgeable about the different hikes in the park. They close at 8PM and open at 8AM and can be very busy! We rented the dry pants, shoes, and socks. We did not rent the entire wet suit and after doing this hike I do not think the wet suit is necessary. You also get a water stick to help you navigate through the water, as well as to help you know how deep the water is in various spots. The water can get deep in random places and you don't want to go in water that go above your dry pants or you will be quite chilly the rest of the hike! This stick came in quite handy for me as I am short and I was able to avoid the deep spots! The shoes they give you are AMAZING! Even if you go in the summer and you do not need to rent dry gear, I would still recommend renting the shoes and socks! They saved my life! The grips on the shoes are incredible and make walking through rocks and water easy!

We brought our own gloves that we wore the first part of the hike, as it is mostly in the shade and it can be chilly! I wore leggings under my dry pants, a long sleeve shirt, a jacket, and a rain jacket. I found this amount of clothing to be suitable. I wasn't cold at all and even shedded a few layers by the end of the hike. Sam brought a backpack with lunch and water. We put our phones in small dry proof pouches in the back pack. We didn't go in areas that went above his pants so everything stayed dry anyways. But if you do happen to step in a deep spot or chose to float down the stream, the waterproof pouch may come in handy!

Starting the Hike:

The trailhead for The Narrows starts at the Temple of Sinawava, which is at the end of Zion Canyon Scenic Drive Road (the last stop on the shuttle). This is the last place to use the bathroom! There are no other bathrooms on the trail. We arrived and started hiking at 10AM and the crowds were not too bad. We were by ourselves most of the hike, but we could see people in front of us and behind us. I would not suggest going after 10AM, it gets very busy! 

The first part of the hike is the Riverside Walk. This is a nice gravel trail along the river, that many people choose to do who are not hiking The Narrows. At the end of the trail, is where you get in if you are hiking the Narrows. We chose to carry our gear and put it on right before we got in the water, so we wouldn't get too warm. Other people put it on at their hotel, it is whatever you feel most comfortable doing. 

Hiking The Narrows:

Hiking The Narrows is pretty easy to navigate because there is nowhere else to go but up and back down the river, making it impossible to get lost! I was nervous going into this hike since I had never done anything like it. But after the first 1/4 mile I got the hang of navigating the rocks and soon felt like a pro! If you can do the first 1/4 mile, you can do the whole thing! The rest of the hike is pretty much like the first quarter mile in terms of navigating the river. When we went, the water was flowing at 99 cfs which is relatively quick, but we found it pretty doable. This hike will be closed if the water flow is above 150 cfs (which it was when I checked a few days before we went). You can find this information on the homepage of Zion NP. Since the hike can last anywhere from 4-6 hours, it is smart to bring a lunch! We stopped and enjoyed the views on some dry rocks while eating lunch. Obviously there are no garbage cans so anything you pack in you must pack out.

One of the great things about this hike is that you can make it as short or as long as you want. The place where they tell day hikers to turn around is called Wall Street Canyon. We didn't make it that far because honestly we found most of the hike looked the same! At one point you will come to a split in the river. To go to Wall Street you should go to the left. We decided to go to the right instead. There were no people and we enjoyed the isolation! There were many small waterfalls to the right and we had a fun time navigating ourselves over these waterfalls, just seeing how far we could go. Eventually, we reached a point where we couldn't get over the waterfall because it was too deep and we turned back around. We then headed back down the trail the way we came. Be sure to bring a map along with you. It is helpful in showing where you are at and how much farther to go because there are no markers on the river itself. On our way back, we were pretty warm and we even saw people floating down the river. If you go in the summer when the water is warmer, I highly suggest just laying on your back and floating down the river in the places that are deep enough!

Overall, we LOVED this hike! It was different from anything we had ever done and we highly recommend giving it a shot!

Biking Zion National Park

Since we were visiting over spring break, the busiest time of year, the shuttle bus was very crowded and took hours to get on. So we decided to rent bikes for 25$, for a half day, from Zion Adventure Company and explore Zion on 2 wheels! We started at Zion Adventure Company and biked to the trailhead of Emerald Pools. Given more time we would have biked the entire park! It was an amazing way to explore Zion! You bike on the same road as the shuttle bus, but it is so much better than the bus. It's quicker, more scenic, fresh air, no crowds, and the ability to stop whenever you feel like it! 

Biking Tips:

• You MUST pull over whenever a bus is behind you. The buses cannot pass you unless you pull over. We didn't have any issues with this. We only had to pull over a total of 3 times. 
• Your bike comes with a sticker guide on how long it will take you to bike places, as well as a lock so you can stop and do hikes. The furthest point in the park takes about an hour and a half to get to (45 minutes via the shuttle bus) so biking is definitely an efficient way to do it!
• Going into the park is all uphill and can be tiring. But going back is all downhill and takes half the time!

Pa-rus Trail

The Pa-rus Trail is the trail you will first start on when biking. It is a paved trail that takes you to the main road. This trail is beautiful, peaceful, and surrounded by mountains! Even if you do not rent bikes, I suggest walking this trail! 

Emerald Pools

After biking to the Emerald Pools, we locked up our bikes and started the 1-3 hour hike to the pools! We did all three pools-lower, middle, and upper. You can do all or one of them but I suggest doing them all. It is a fairly easy hike, family friendly, and only took us an hour and a half. 

We really liked this hike. It is a collection of short trails with pretty views of small waterfalls rolling from the cliffs to form several pools. The water flow of the waterfalls was light when we went, but can be heavier depending on the time of the year. You can actually put your head or hands in the water flowing from one of the waterfalls and it felt very refreshing! This hike is simple but beautiful, often described as "an oasis in the middle of the desert." 

Biking Zion National Park is an amazing way to experience all Zion has to offer! I highly recommend it!

Zion Drive - Zion Mount Carmel Highway (route 9)

This is another part of Zion National Park that you are able to drive your car on. We drove out of the park this way and it is definitely worth doing. The views feel very different from those on the Canyon Scenic Drive. There are several tunnels you will drive through which is kind of fun. There are many places to stop for pictures and we even saw some people hiking on the rocks. Definitely worth at least driving through!

Canyon Overlook Trail

This trail is right on the Zion Mount Carmel Highway. We did not have time to do this hike, but it is rated #6 on TripAdvisor and is easy to access with quick parking. It takes about 30 minutes and provides a great introduction or conclusion to the park. Is supposed to be the best short hike in the park with some great views!

Other Hikes in Zion 

Since we were limited on time, we were not able to do these hikes. However, they are highly rated on TripAdvisor and supposed to be worth checking out!

Observation Point 

This was on our list to do, but we decided on hiking The Narrows instead, as it was unlike any hike we have ever done! However it is rated #1 on TripAdvisor with great reviews! This hike is considered a strenuous hike, with many switchbacks, that can take 4-6 hours round trip. The views at the top are supposed to be some of the best views in the park and less crowded than Angel's Landing. You gain about 3000 feet in elevation and can see Angel's Landing from the top.  Check out TripAdvisor for more information!

Angel's Landing

Check out this video before doing the hike to make sure you can handle it! (Note: The video below was not made by me. I just found it on youtube and it helped me realize this hike was not for me!)

This hike was also on our list of things to do, but it was actually closed due to maintenance when we arrived at Zion. It reopened the next day, but after doing some research and watching the above video link, I decided it was much too dangerous for me! This hike is NOT for children or for people even remotely afraid of heights. There are many spots with VERY exposed cliffs. The first half of the hike is just switchbacks that are not scary, just tiring. After the switchbacks, you will come to the chains that are screwed into the side of the cliff. This is the part of the hike that can get dangerous. The chains are only on 1 side of you and it is very narrow with drop offs on both sides. This hike can get very busy and there is no room to pass so it can get tricky and nerve wrecking. A couple we met at our hotel did this hike and got scared half way through the chains and decided to turn around. They said it is worth just doing the switchbacks and turning around at the chains, as the views even up to that point are beautiful. This is a very popular hike and many people do it, so it is a doable hike, you just have to know your limits! It usually takes about 4 hours round trip. Check out TripAdvisor for more information!

Final Thoughts

There are many things to see and do at Zion National Park! Overall, we decided to give it 4 out of 5 stars! A must see on The Grand Loop roadtrip!

Check out the video below for the highlights of our visit to Zion!

Grand Loop Hotels

Grand Loop Hotels

On our grand loop road trip adventure, we stayed in 3 hotels located in or near Arches National Park, Zion National Park, and The Grand Canyon. All of our hotels were picked based on the 3 Cs; were they - cheap, clean, and convenient. Below are our honest reviews of all three hotels!

Arches National Park - Big Horn Lodge

If you have read my review of The Badlands Inn, Big Horn Lodge was almost identical to that! It wasn't a 5 star hotel, but it was exactly what we were looking for. We spent 2 nights here and had no issues with it. It was clean and cheap at only $140 a night. It is also conveniently located in Moab, Utah just 11 minutes from the entrance of Arches National Park. Moab is a great town to stay in. There are many shops and restaurants to visit at night and plenty to see and do. If you are an off roading enthusiast (like Sam!) then you will love both the town of Moab, and the parking lot of this hotel! There are many off roading lovers that stay at this hotel, as shown by the number of off roading vehicles in the parking lot!

Limited view of the hotel and parking lot

Just one of the many off roading vehicles in the parking lot! 

Pros

• Cheap
• Clean
• Great location
• Free parking 
• Free Wi-Fi
• Near many restaurants and shops

Cons:

• Very simple place, nothing fancy
• Located on a busy road, can be a little loud

Overall, we were pleased with this hotel and would recommend it to anyone who just needs a simple place to stay!

Zion National Park - Flanigans Inn

When visiting Zion National Park, we found it very difficult to find a cheap hotel anywhere near the park. So we splurged and stayed at Flanigans Inn for 2 nights and it was worth every cent!! 

Pros:

LOCATION

The best part about Flanigans Inn was the convenience of the location. It was close to everything you could possibly need. This is very important when visiting Zion, as driving is not permitted inside the park and it is a hassle to drive anywhere near the park. Everything is basically on 1 road and the traffic can be pretty bad, so walking or biking is the best way to get around. Luckily for us, Flanigans is just a 5 minute walk to the entrance of the park. While most people have to drive and find parking or take a shuttle to the entrance, we were able to just walk! This saved us a ton of time and energy and this alone made it worth the money. It is also conveniently located next to Zion Adventure Company, which meets all of your renting needs! We rented bikes and dry gear from them and it was wonderful to be able to pick it up right next door! Finally, it is located next to numerous restaurants of all kinds. We were able to walk right down the street for a bite to eat or some tasty ice cream and desserts! 

LUXERIOUS 

Flanigans was a beautiful place to stay and the rooms felt elegant and spacious. We had 2 very comfortable queen beds, a small couch and chair, free working Wi-Fi, and a bathroom for $220 a night. The rooms feel more like cabins, as everyone has their own outside entrance with a small porch area. The entire place is also very well landscaped with a lot of greenery, pretty flowers, and a stunning view of the mountains. It also has a pool and hot tub, which is a huge perk regardless on when you visit. Since the weather was chillier when we visited, we enjoyed the hot tub after the long Narrows hike through the cold water. It felt amazing to just soak our sore feet!

FOOD

If you don't want to walk down the street for food or don't have enough time to find breakfast, search no further than Flanigans! They have their own restaurant called The Spotted Dog Cafe and the food is almost as wonderful as the location! We enjoyed both dinner and breakfast here and we were very happy we did! The breakfast is buffet style and you get a discount for staying at Flanigans. We had breakfast here twice because it was so tasty!


FRIENDLY STAFF
The staff here is wonderful! They are very helpful if you have any questions about the park. They are able to provide directions and suggestions and they helped us out a lot! We were also able to talk with the owner and he was very friendly and originally from Minnesota! We always love meeting a fellow midwestern! He also told us a better route to go home so we could stop at Monument Valley!

Honestly I don't have any cons for this hotel! We loved our stay here! We highly recommend staying at Flanigans if you can!

The Grand Canyon - Yavapai Lodge

Since we were only in the Grand Canyon for 2 nights, we wanted something close to the park to maximize our time. So we chose to stay at Yavapai Lodge, which is located right inside the park. We stayed here for 2 nights for about $213 a night. 

Yavapai Lodge has a main building with the front desk/check in, a cafeteria, and a small gift shop. The rest of the lodge is split up into multiple buildings that you have to drive to after you check in. There are 2 parts you can stay in, Yavapai Lodge East and Yavapai Lodge West. The east rooms are newer 2 story buildings with air conditioning. The West rooms are one story and good for people with mobility issues. However, they are older and do not have air conditioning. We chose to stay in the newer east rooms. We didn't have any issues with the room apart from the fact that there was no Wi-Fi. It was a very basic room, but it was clean and comfortable. I do not however, think that it was worth $213 a night. I would have been more willing to pay $213 for a hotel further away that was a little nicer. 

Yavapai Lodge has a cafeteria and it is the only place to eat for miles. So there is really no choice but to eat here and therefore the place is very crowded. We found the food to be the equivalent of a school lunch, but for the price of a nice restaurant. We only ate here once because it was not worth the money or time to go back. The cafeteria is also the only place with Wi-Fi. Unfortunately, the Wi-Fi did not work at all and we were never able to get our phones to connect. We just expected more from the cafeteria and were pretty disappointed. 

Pros:

• Located right inside the park
• Clean room
• Free parking

Cons:

• No Wi-Fi
• Horrible food
• Expensive for what you get
• Crowded

Overall, this was a clean and convenient hotel with a few downsides. However, it was not worth the price we paid for it. Therefore, we would give it only 2 out of 5 stars for the overall quality of our stay.

Final Thoughts

Hotels on the grand loop can be very pricey, so make sure you book your hotels in advance! Overall, we didn't have any major issues and as a whole we were pleased with our hotels!

Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon

Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon

On our way to the Grand Canyon, we decided to make a pit stop at both Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon. We were so glad we decided to make the time to stop at both of these because they were INCREDIBLE! 

Horseshoe Bend

Horseshoe Bend is located near the town Page, Arizona. This is an easy 3/4 mile hike out to a spectacular view that overlooks the Colorado River. Be careful at the lookout. There are many cliffs and drop offs and no guardrails. So if you have small children, keep an eye on them. It is also very crowded but it really didn't take away from the experience, as there are many places to get a good look. Be sure to walk a little ways around the bend. Each place provides a slightly different view and it is worth checking out more than 1 spot! Overall, we spent about 40 minutes here.

Antelope Canyon

Antelope Canyon is just 20 minutes from Horseshoe Bend and is located in Page, Arizona. The canyon is located on Navajo land and the only way to access it is with a tour guide. You are not allowed to go in without a guide. There are 2 canyons you can tour, upper and lower. We chose to tour the lower canyon, but there are positives and negatives to both. 

Upper Antelope Canyon

To access the entrance of Upper Antelope Canyon, you get to take a ride in a 4x4 truck. The perk of this canyon is it is easier to access because there are no stairs or ladders required to get in. It is also known for the iconic light beams that you may have seen in many famous photos. Some drawbacks to this canyon is it is much more crowded than Lower Antelope Canyon, since it is more popular and narrower. You also have to hike back out the way you came, making it again more crowded. It is also more expensive (almost double) than the lower. canyon.

Lower Antelope Canyon 

To access Lower Antelope Canyon, you must be able to climb down quite a few stairs in order to get in and out. If you do not have any mobility issues, than this should not be a concern. The stairs are not difficult at all and we had no trouble with this. In Lower Antelope Canyon it does not have the "iconic light beams" like the upper canyon. However, the light still shines through making for some amazing photos and breathtaking views. Because you exit in a different location than you enter, the flow of traffic is just one way. This makes it less crowded and easier to take pictures. This tour is also longer than upper which gives you more time in the canyon. 

Our Decision - Lower Antelope Canyon

After completing extensive research on both canyons, I found that most people said you cannot go wrong with either canyon. The photography is essentially the same in both and you really can't make out a huge difference. So, ultimately, we decided on the Lower Antelope Canyon tour simply because it was longer and cheaper! We were blown away by the entire experience and remarkable colors. Whether you chose to do upper or lower, it really doesn't matter, just as long as you do at least one!

Booking A Tour

We chose to book a tour with Ken's Tours and we were very pleased! The other tour you can book is with the Dixie Ellis Tours. I have read great things about this tour as well. We even saw Dixie Ellis Tours going through at the same time that we were, so I assume there really isn't a big difference between the 2 tours. 

You MUST book this tour in advance. They book up fast and if you just show up hoping to jump on a tour, you will most likely be disappointed. Once you book, you must reconfirm your reservation 24-48 hours prior to your tour by calling or texting your confirmation number to Ken's Tours. You must also show up 30 minutes before your tour starts and check in. Another thing to note is the time zone. All times on their site are in Arizona time. Because the Utah State line is less than 7 miles away, our cell phones displayed the wrong time. Luckily I was aware of this, so I manually set my cell phone to Phoenix, AZ time so I wouldn't miss my tour! The tour lasts 1 hour and 15 minutes and cost $40. Since it is on Navajo land you also have to pay an $8 Navajo permit fee.

Lower Antelope Canyon Review

After completing the hour tour of Lower Antelope Canyon, we were VERY happy we booked it! The guides were INCREDIBLE! They were very knowledgeable about the history and legends surrounding the canyons. They were also great photographers! They told us the best places to take pictures, took pictures of groups, and helped us with settings on our phones in order to capture all the bright colors. The canyon itself is beyond words. The twisting tunnels, bright orange swirling sand, and magnificent colors made this tour unforgettable and worth the money! I strongly recommend booking this tour!

Right when you enter the canyon

They call this one "Lady in the Wind"

View once you exit the canyon

Check out the last half of the video for views of Horseshoe Bend and the Lower Antelope Canyon tour! 

We loved both Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon! 5 out of 5 stars from us for both!

Hiking Arches National Park

Hiking Arches National Park

Arches National Park is located in Moab, Utah and is a great place for hikers, off roading thrill seekers, and families. There are several hikes and stunning views that will leave you in awe of the power of nature. We spent a day and a half in Arches National Park. We probably could have spent a full 2-3 days here, as there are a lot of different things to do such as jeep tours, hikes, and guided tours. However, we only had 8 days for our entire Grand Loop, so we did as much as we could in a day and half! 

Tips

• Start early! We slept in and didn't head out to Arches until about 9AM. The line to get in the park was about a 30-40 minute wait. If you want to avoid the hassle of a line, go around 8AM.
• Bring sunscreen! There is very little shade in the middle of the desert! Sunscreen is a must!
• Dress in layers. We started off our day in shorts and quickly realized the wind made the temperature feel a few degrees colder and we decided pants or capris were a better option.
• It is very windy.  A wind jacket is a must!
• Bring a lot of water! It is very dry in Arches and even if you are not doing a lot of hiking, you will get thirsty!
• Download the gypsy app for $5.00. It is a great app that runs off of GPS, so even if you don't have service it still works. This app is like having a tour guide in your backseat. He tells you the history behind the park and different rock formations. He tells you the science behind how certain rocks were formed and he gives you suggestions on what hikes are worth doing and what hikes you can skip. This app is VERY helpful and informative! Highly suggest downloading it. It is worth the money!
• Bring your own food for lunch/snacks. There are no places to eat located in the park. If you plan on spending all day hiking and you don't want to leave the park, you need to bring your own food. 

Check out our Arches video to see if it is worth a visit! Spoiler Alert- It's worth it! 😁 ↓↓↓

Delicate Arch

***Highly recommend 

Delicate Arch is a very popular hike! It is on every poster and magnet and is what everyone thinks of when they think of Arches National Park. So naturally going into this hike we wondered if it would live up to all the hype, and let me tell you it sure did! Even after seeing it in dozens of pictures I was still amazed and in awe of this beautiful natural arch. If you only have time for 1 hike, this is the hike you should do!

Things to know:

• The hike out to Delicate Arch is 3 miles round trip and fairy easy. It does go uphill and can be tiring but nothing too strenuous.
• There is no shade so prepare for warm temperatures! Bring water and sunscreen!
• It starts at the Wolfe Ranch parking lot and takes about 2-3 hours. 
• This is a very popular hike so go early! We started this hike around 10AM and it wasn't overcrowded, but still had a decent amount of people there. If you are looking to enjoy the arch by yourself definitely go at sundown or sunrise. 
• Usually there is a line to get your picture taken under the arch. We had a nice guy take our picture in return for us taking his. It is worth the awkward and annoying "can you take our picture" conversation and I was glad we did it! 

Cool petroglyphs at the beginning of the hike

Mid hike views!

We made it! 

Delicate Arch

Devils Garden Primitive Loop

***Highly Recommend 

Devils Garden is a 9 mile loop hike, however you can make it as long or as short as you want. There are a total of 9 arches you can see on this hike but we chose to shorten it and just see 4 arches. The trails to 3 of the 9 arches are well maintained and easy to hike. The rest are on what is called the "primitive trail" which is trickier terrain and not for those who are deathly afraid of heights. As mentioned previously, I am not a huge fan of heights but I still found the hike doable. The hardest part was the beginning of the primitive trail in which you have to climb up a slick rock with drop offs on either side. I will admit it took me a good 10 minutes to muster up the courage to do this, but I didn't have any trouble with the rest of the hike! Devils Garden was my FAVORITE hike in Arches! The views were just incredible and the hike was anything but boring! We LOVED it! Below are the 9 arches you can see in order and some tips for this hike as a whole!

Pine Tree Arch and Tunnel Arch

Pine Tree and Tunnel Arch are quick side trails you can do on your way to Landscape Arch. They are only .9 miles on a well maintained trail. You can walk right under both arches and enjoy the views on either side. They are both pretty ordinary arches, but worth the easy hike to get a few note worthy pictures! I recommend it since it is on the way to Landscape Arch anyways! 

Pine Tree Arch

Tunnel Arch

Landscape Arch

Landscape Arch is an easy 1.5 mile hike and is the longest arch in the park, and the 5th longest arch in the world. It is 306 feet long and an impressive sight! I highly recommend seeing this! Due to erosion, this arch may not exist in the next few hundred years so see it while you can! 😉

Partition Arch and Navajo Arch

After Landscape Arch, the primitive trail begins. Below is a picture of the "trail" or rather a variety of slick rocks you have to climb up. Partition Arch has 2 arches, a larger one you can walk through, and a smaller one too high to reach. Navajo Arch is back out to the main part of the trail and to the left. This arch looks like a doorway! We did not visit these arches but you can check them out here and learn more about them! 

Black Arch Overlook

To get to Double O Arch, you take a trail that is on top of what looks like a long giant rock. It is very wide but there are drop offs on either side so you must look where you are going. It can also get very windy so bring a jacket. You take this trail until it again reaches ground level. Right before it reaches ground level, there is a stunning view of the park and if you look closely you can see what is called Black Arch (we did not get a picture of this). You are surrounded by gorgeous views every which way you look! Absolutely breathtaking!

Walking on the "long giant rock"

View directly in front of us

View to the left of us

View to the right of us

Double O Arch

After hiking over a few more steep rocks, you will get to Double O Arch. This was my favorite part of Devils Garden and definitely worth the minor panic attack it took to get here! The arches are stacked on top of each other and you can walk directly under the lower arch. Then if you continue through the arch to the other side and scramble up some tricky rocks, you are rewarded with (in my opinion) one of the best views of the entire park! We were the only ones at Double O Arch, so it was nice and private and we spent 30 minutes here snapping picture and just taking in the beauty of it all. I highly recommend hiking out to Double O Arch. While it is a little nerve wrecking to get to, it is worth every second of it!

Double O Arch from a distance

You can walk right under it!

Truly magnificent! 

View from the other side of Double O Arch

Dark Angel and Private Arch

After Double O Arch, you can follow the signs for Dark Angel. This takes about 1/2 mile to get to and is not an arch but instead a pinnacle or a large rock. After Dark Angel you can retrace your steps to get back on the Devils Garden trail. The last arch you can view is Private Arch. It is another 1/2 mile trail and gets you to one of the lesser viewed arches, thus the name Private Arch. We chose to not do either of these, but you can learn more about them here!

Whether you see some of the arches or all of them, Devils Garden is an absolute must do!

Double Arch (Not to be confused with Double O Arch)

**Recommend as a quick stop

Double Arch is a quick .5 mile hike to get directly under the arches. You can also get a great view of it from the parking lot/car. We got out of our car and walked just a ways for a picture and then drove onto the next sight! Definitely worth a stop and the quick walk out to the arches! We had already had a few hikes under our belt at this point, so we were satisfied with just a picture from the parking lot! 

Other Options

There are many other things you can explore in Arches National Park beyond what we did. Fiery Furnace is supposed to be an excellent tour, however you must have a guide or a permit. The tours don't start until the end of April so we were not able to do this but I read great things about it! It is a strenuous hike with some jumping, scaling, and a few tricky hiking maneuvers such as climbing through tight spaces. The guided tour is a group of 14 and takes about 3 hours. You cannot reserve this online or on the phone. You must visit the visitor center and reserve it there. But spots fill up quickly and there are only 2-3 tours a day. Usually you will book your tour the day before you actually go. If you choose to try this hike on your own, do your research! Watch youtube videos and download the AllTrails app and load it before you head out. The Fiery Furnace is known to be a very complicated maze that even guides can get lost in. So it is not recommended to go without a guide. Click here for more information if this sounds like your type of adventure! 

Another popular thing to do while you are in Moab are jeep tours! We thought about booking one, however Sam really had his heart set on driving his own 4Runner so we decided to do some off roading instead (click here for more information on this)! Below are some jeep tour reviews if you think a jeep tour is up your alley! 

Dan Mick's Guided Jeep Tours

Hell's Revenge Tour

This website is also helpful for hiking and other adventures for your stay in Moab, Utah!

Final Thoughts

Arches National Park definitely earned 5 out of 5 stars from us! We loved the unique views and excellent hiking!