12 Absolute Best Things to Do in Arches National Park with Kids
Visiting Arches National Park with kids and wondering what you can see and do as a family? This guide will give you plenty of inspiration for things to do in Arches with children and help you plan a truly amazing family trip to this stunning natural paradise in Utah. Take a look!
Good to know: All the recommendations in this article are based on our personal experience visiting Arches National Park with kids (ages 5, 5, and 7 at that time).
It just so happened that we decided to include Arches in the same itinerary as the Rocky Mountain NP, Maroon Bells near Aspen, and Yellowstone, and therefore ended up visiting Arches with kids in the summer heat of over 100°F (38°C). Despite the heat, Arches National Park was one of the most exciting places we visited on our American summer road trip, and I would do it again – no matter the season!
Even in the summer, we managed to see all the main highlights of Arches with kids and do quite a bit of hiking. In this post, I’m sharing our tips to help you plan an epic family trip to Arches National Park with children.
My Top Tip: Book accommodation with a pool – it’s truly a must when visiting Utah in the warmest months! We stayed at Aarchway Inn – a good value hotel with a nice outdoor pool and spacious family rooms.
READ ALSO: Where to Stay Near Arches National Park
Best things to do in Arches with kids:
These are the best things to do in Arches National Park with kids:
1. Arches National Park Scenic Drive
Driving the 18-mile Scenic Drive (22 miles including side roads) is one of the best ways to see the stunning landscapes of Arches National Park. Many of the main sights are just a short walk from the road, making this an ideal way to explore the park – especially with kids.
The Scenic Drive is a must if you’re traveling to Arches with young children or if it’s simply too hot to hike. In fact, even without stepping far from your car, you’ll see some of the park’s most iconic rock formations. The views are so impressive that the drive alone can be a highlight of your visit.
Good to know: Distances in Arches aren’t huge, and it’s easy to navigate. Check out the official Arches map to get a better idea of where everything is.
You’ll find a detailed overview of all the best stops along the Scenic Drive in the link below, and we’ve highlighted some of our favorite family-friendly ones further in this guide.
LEARN MORE: Best Stops on Arches Scenic Drive
Many of the most impressive highlights in Arches National Park don’t require a lot of hiking. Below are some of our favorite short and easy hikes that you shouldn’t miss, even if visiting Arches with very young children:
2. Balanced Rock
Balanced Rock is one of the most recognizable and quirky rock formations in Arches National Park, and it’s a very popular photo stop along the Scenic Drive. The massive boulder looks like it’s defying gravity, perched precariously on a narrow pedestal – it’s a fun and impressive sight for kids and adults alike.
The loop trail around Balanced Rock is short and very easy – just 0.3 miles (0.5 km) round trip. It’s flat, well-maintained, and suitable even for toddlers or a quick stroller walk. You can admire the rock from the parking area, but walking the loop gives you a closer look from all angles and takes just a few minutes.
TIP: This is a great stop if you’re short on time or need a quick break during the drive.
3. The Windows
The Windows area is one of the most impressive and family-friendly spots in Arches National Park. With multiple large arches close together and easy trails, it’s a great place to explore with kids.
The full Windows Loop is about 1 mile (1.6 km) and relatively flat, with only gentle elevation changes. Along the way, you’ll see three major arches: North Window, South Window, and Turret Arch. If you’re short on time or energy, you can also just walk to one or two of the arches and turn back – still very rewarding.
TIP: This area is especially beautiful at golden hour. The Windows glow in the warm light of sunset, while Turret Arch and the nearby Double Arch (just across the parking lot) look stunning at sunrise. Bring your camera!
4. Double Arch
Located just across the parking lot from The Windows, Double Arch is another must-see in Arches with kids. The short, easy trail is only 0.5 miles (0.8 km) round trip and leads you right up to the base of two massive, connected arches. It’s one of the largest arch formations in the park and feels a bit like walking into a natural cathedral.
We once tried climbing the slick rock to get a view from the other side, but honestly, it didn’t feel safe, especially with young kids. Climbing down was trickier than expected and not really worth the stress.
The good news? The view from below is actually the best one anyway. You get the full effect of the arches towering above you, and there’s plenty of space for kids to explore safely near the base.
5. Pine Tree Arch & Tunnel Arch
The Devils Garden area is one of the most popular hiking spots in Arches National Park.
Most visitors head to Landscape Arch or continue further to Double O Arch, but those trails can be too strenuous for young kids, especially during the summer heat.
The good news: Pine Tree Arch and Tunnel Arch are both easy to reach and well worth a visit. Located at the beginning of the Devils Garden Trail, this short hike is only about 1.2 miles (1.9 km) round trip and mostly flat.
Pine Tree Arch is especially impressive (see the featured image at the top of this article) since you can walk through/close to it. Tunnel Arch is visible from a short side trail.
6. Park Avenue Viewpoint
Park Avenue Viewpoint is one of the most dramatic stops along the Scenic Drive. The towering red rock walls here look like a city skyline, and they reminded us a bit of Monument Valley. You can simply pull over, snap a few photos, and move on without hiking.
But if you’re up for more, consider the easy Park Avenue hike to the Courthouse Towers. It’s 1 mile (1.6 km) one way, mostly downhill if you start at the viewpoint. You can arrange to be picked up at the other end or hike just a portion of the trail and turn back. Either way, it’s a great, less crowded option for families.
7. Wolfe Ranch and Rock Art at the Delicate Arch Trailhead
Wolfe Ranch is located at the Delicate Arch trailhead and is worth a quick stop, even if you’re not hiking to the arch. Just a short walk from the parking lot takes you to a fascinating Ute Rock Art Panel that kids will find intriguing.
TIP: If you don’t plan to hike to Delicate Arch, you can still see it from a distance at the Delicate Arch Viewpoint along the Scenic Drive (no hiking required).
READ ALSO: Best Things to Do in Arches National Park
8. Sand Dune Arch & Skyline Arch
If you’re looking for more easy-to-visit sights in Arches with kids, check out Sand Dune Arch and Skyline Arch. Both are close to the road and require minimal walking.
Sand Dune Arch is especially fun for kids. Tucked between tall sandstone walls, it offers a shady, sandy area where little ones can play. Skyline Arch, on the other hand, is visible right from the road or via a short, easy trail. It’s a good option for a quick, low-effort stop.
If you want to explore the park deeper, the best way to see the stunning scenery of Arches National Park is by embarking on a longer hike. Despite the heat, we managed to do several longer hikes in Arches NP with kids. Here are the most beautiful family-friendly longer hikes I recommend for families:
9. Delicate Arch
Delicate Arch is the most iconic landmark in Arches National Park. To see it up close, you’ll need to do a moderate 3-mile (4.8 km) round-trip hike, but it’s absolutely worth it.
Yes, you can do this hike with kids (age 4+), even in summer. Just avoid hiking in the middle of the day. Start early in the morning or go at sunset, like we did. Bring plenty of water, wear proper footwear, and take it slow, especially on the exposed slick rock sections.
For more details and tips, check out our full guide via the link below.
READ MORE: Hiking to Delicate Arch with Kids
10. Landscape Arch
Landscape Arch is one of the most popular hikes in Arches, and also one of the easiest. The 1.6-mile (2.6 km) round-trip trail is relatively flat and manageable even for younger kids.
As mentioned earlier, you can stop at Pine Tree Arch and Tunnel Arch along the way. But it’s really worth continuing just a bit further to see the impressive Landscape Arch – one of the longest natural arches in the world.
11. Navajo Arch & Partition Arch
Navajo Arch and Partition Arch might look close to Landscape Arch on the map, but getting there involves a more challenging trail. Initially, we hadn’t planned to go this far with our kids, but the arches looked so close that we gave it a try.
Unfortunately, the summer heat caught up with us – even at 9:30 AM (!). Our 5-year-old twins were struggling, so my husband hiked back to the car with them while I continued with our 7-year-old. After a steep and tricky climb, the rest of the trail to both arches was flat and relatively easy.
These arches are beautiful and far less crowded than the main sights. But keep in mind that the climb, especially coming back down, can be tough for younger kids. If your family is up for a bit of a challenge, give it a go. It’s a very rewarding detour.
12. Rafting near Arches with Kids
While rafting isn’t part of Arches National Park itself, it’s really a must-do, especially if traveling in the summer. Most trips depart from Moab, and you can easily fit a half-day tour into any itinerary.
Good to know: Several sections of the Colorado River near Moab are very calm, so on family-friendly tours, you can expect a relaxing float with occasional mild rapids. When it gets too hot, you can even jump in for a swim. You’re wearing a life vest and can simply float along. Our kids loved it!
That said, if you are traveling with older kids and are looking for a more adventurous experience, there are also whitewater rafting tours in the wilder sections of the river. You can see an overview of all the best rafting tours here.
Our experience: We spent our mornings and evenings in the park, and used the hottest hours for water activities. This half-day rafting tour was a huge hit with our whole family, and we highly recommend it.
TIP: Choose a morning or late-morning departure to avoid the worst of the heat. Our local guide said that summer afternoons can get too hot even for rafting. Wear UV-protective clothing and use lots of sunscreen.
LEARN MORE: Rafting in Moab
Info & Tips
IMPORTANT! In the high season (April-October), timed entry reservations are required for visiting Arches National Park. Reservations usually open 3 months in advance. So be sure to check the official website and reserve your entry!
- Visit the park early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the crowds and the heat. You can do the scenic drive in Arches during the hot hours of the day as well, just limit your time outdoors. Read our suggestions for more great things to do in Moab.
- Limit hiking to the cooler hours of the day. We finished our morning hikes by 10-11 AM; ideally, you should stop by 10 AM. The temperatures become somewhat more bearable around 6 PM again, so you can do a nice sunset hike in the evening.
- Spend the warmest hours of the day by the pool of your hotel or go rafting. Book a hotel in Moab, close to the entrance of the park, so that you don’t have to spend hours in the car. We stayed at Aarchway Inn; this hotel has a nice pool and huge family rooms that sleep up to 6 people. For more information, check out our hand-picked selection of the best Moab hotels for any budget.
- Carry lots of drinking water. At least one large reusable water bottle per person is a must. However, you can only refill it at the Visitor Center and the Devil’s Garden Trailhead. So make sure you have plenty of water in the car and refill your bottles before you set on any hike. Tip: if you use plastic water bottles, put them in the freezer the night before your hike. That way you can enjoy nice and fresh water during the entire day.
- Good sun protection is a must in Arches in summer. Use sunscreen lotion SPF50, wear a breathable hiking hat, and sunglasses. I also advise wearing a long-sleeved shirt or a UV t-shirt. The sun is harsh in Arches NP in summer!
- Wear closed walking shoes with a good grip if you plan to do any hiking in Arches. You don’t need heavy boots, but I wouldn’t hike in sneakers either.
- If you are visiting three or more national parks in the same year, buy the America the Beautiful Pass (you can get it at the entrance of any National Park). It’s cheaper than individual passes and is valid for the whole family.
- When visiting Arches, don’t miss the nearby Canyonlands National Park as well. The Mesa Arch Trail is one of the most beautiful easy hikes in the world and is great for families!
READ ALSO: Top Places to See in Utah (Bucket List)
More tips for your trip to the Moab area:
- All travel guides: Visiting Moab, Arches, and Canyonlands
- How to plan your trip: Moab Itinerary Suggestions
- Off the beaten path: Best Tours in Moab
- Moab: Best Things to Do in Moab
- Where to Stay: Best Moab Hotels
- Make the most of your trip: How to See Arches and Canyonlands in One Day
- More: Places to Visit in Utah
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More travel guides for the southwestern USA:
- Grand Canyon:
- More of Arizona:
- Zion & Bryce Canyon National Parks:
- Las Vegas:
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Hi! We’ve been slowly working our way through the national parks with 4 kids under 8. This April/May we will be doing NPs 9-16 for us! I specifically have a questions about where you said not for kids under 4. I’m assuming you mean hiking on their own? We always use 2 backpack carriers, youngest one gets worn at all times and then the next oldest gets worn when they’re tired or through dangerous portions. We will have a 9 yr old, 7 yr old, almost 5, and almost 2 at that time. Over the course of 1.5 days I’d like to accomplish as many of these as we can: Delicate Arch, double arch, balanced rock, windows, and the Devils garden to landscape arch only (tunnel arch and pine tree arch). I’m hoping early may (may 5/6) the weather will be cool enough to extend the hours in which we can hike. Thanks!
Hi Stephanie, yes, indeed, when I say a hike is from a certain age, I mean that the kids hike by themselves. If you can carry them, you could do it with a baby. That said, you guys are brave! I wouldn’t be able to carry a 2-year-old for that long, let alone a 5-year-old.
The good thing is that you are visiting in a somewhat cooler season (still – expect it to be very warm) and some of the things you want to do are really close to the parking area, so there is not that much walking involved to Balanced Rock, Double Arch, or the Windows (unless you go all the way around here). Also Landscape Arch is really not that far, and the hike is easy. So Delicate Arch is the most challenging of those on your list. Take a look at our guide to hiking to Delicate Arch to get a better idea of what to expect.
Good luck!
@Jurga, thank you! Yes, good hiking toddler backpacks are a must, when we first started I ordered every single one they make from REI and my husband and I each picked the one that fit us best. It also helps to have an ox of a husband. The 4 yr old hiked quite a bit of Big Bend last year, so I’m confident he’ll be able to hike most of our hikes this year. I just don’t trust him next to ledges, lol.
Thank you!
Thank you for sharing your experience. How many days would you recommend for Arches and Canyonland NP? We are planning family trip in April and wondering if one week is enough for these two national parks or if we would have extra time or not. Thanks in advance.
Hi Samir, a week is plenty! We spent just 3 days in the area – you can a short itinerary suggested in our Best Things to Do in Moab article.
I think that 3 days is about a minimum, but you’ll just scratch the surface. Having more time means that you can explore more, do more hiking, maybe try a couple of fun activities. There is so much to see and do in the area – you won’t get bored.
Hi Jurga. I did arches today along with my kids of 2 and 5. Right from start to end, I followed your blog and whoa what a day it turned out to be. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful experience and blog. Great work!
So glad to hear that, Vaidya. And thanks a lot for taking the time to come back to our blog and leave this feedback.
Happy travels!
Hi Jurga, inspired by your blog I am planning a trip to Moab, UT in April with my two kids, 1,5 and 7 year old. I know my boy is very little and we will be limited, we will do what we can. We will be flying into Grand Junction, CO. Do you recommend to stay there a few days for any of the sightseeing, or head straight to Moab and spend the entire time there? Our trip will be 10 days long. Thank you!
Hi Tamara, we didn’t stay in Grand Junction, so I don’t really know what you can see/do there. I do remember looking into Glenwood Hot Springs though, but we had no time for that. I think that’s something the kids would love, so maybe a nice day trip for you? Alternatively, you could even stay there for a few nights – Glenwood Hot Springs Resort looks amazing for families.
10 days is quite long for Moab, but then again it depends on what you want to see there. Please check this post for more ideas for some of the best things to do in and near Moab. Make sure you visit Canyonlands NP, maybe even two sides of it if you’re in the area longer. Another really nice place to visit is Mesa Verde NP, and also Durango Railway is probably nice to do with kids, so maybe it’s worth to stay in that area for 2-3 nights.
Now that I look at the map, I think you could (if this kind of travel is of any interest to you) make a circle road trip. So let’s say you start at Grand Junction and head straight to Moab, stay there for a few nights (see our suggestions on where to stay in Moab). From there you head to Durango, do a train ride one day and visit Mesa Verde the next day. From there you go back up towards the earlier mentioned Glenwood Springs and end your vacation with a relaxing day at the hot pools. From there it’s just a short ride back to Grand Junction for your flight back home.
If you think this is too much for you with kids, then just do Moab and Glenwood Springs – it will be a great combination of sightseeing and relaxation I think.
Just my opinion, of course. Hope this helps and have a great trip!
Very well written blog with nice pics and description specially for kids.. thanks a lot 🙂
Your photo’s are beautiful. Looking for some advice – planning to visit some US National Parks in October half term from the UK. Where would you recommend? Family with three boys aged 13, 11 and 9. Want to do some hiking and hopefully some kayaking. Would have eight nights in total.
Hi Nicky, I think Arches is a great choice in October. As well as the nearby Canyonlands NP. You could also add Mesa Verde NP, Bryce, Zion, and the Monument Valley. Depending on how much hiking you are planning to do, you can’t do all of these parks in just 8 nights, but you could easily visit 2-3 parks and explore each of them a bit deeper. The temperatures will be much more human in that period, so you can do more sightseeing on any given day than you would be able to do in summer. So all in all, I think you could turn it into a really nice trip with plenty of time outdoors.
Thank you. Am going to do some serious research. Much appreciated.
Those arches are amazing! Love all the tips and advice
This is really cool! I have a 2-year old and while we don’t have a trip to Arches NP, I’ve added it to my bucket list board. Maybe when our son is three!!!
Hi Annie, I think you are right to wait a bit. If your son is older and can hike with you, you will enjoy Arches more. But even at 3, I’m not sure he could do Delicate Arch hike. Landscape Arch – maybe, since it’s pretty much flat. If you can, avoid hot summer months.
Thank you! Great advice 🙂
I really want to spend more time exploring the USA at some point and all the national parks are on the wishlist! We aren’t too keen on driving as we prefer the train though I think all that may change in Australia. Definitely something I want to do – your photographs are lovely.
I’m not sure about train trips in the U.S., but I have heard of a really nice one in Australia, so maybe something for you to try, Tracy ;). We love the freedom that road trips give us to explore the most beautiful places at our own pace, it also gives you possibilities to avoid the crowds.
What an awesome collection of hikes! Arches National Park has been on our bucket list for awhile and your post is a great resource as we start to plan.
Good to hear that, Megan! Have a great trip, Arches is spectacular!
These arches are absolutely spectacular and it looks as though you had them all to yourselves. The rock art reminds me of the rock art we find in South Africa. The South African art has a different antelope though. I’d love to visit this park but I think I’ll go when it’s a bit cooler.
Haha, that’s definitely a good idea, Sara. Summer is really too hot for proper hiking. As for having it all to ourselves, pictures might be misleading – there were quite some other people. But not as much as I expected it to be, especially on the more strenuous hikes.
I love Arches, I went 2 years ago on a road trip. I did all the hikes in the park and so great that the kids were able to do so many of them too. Delicate Arch and the view from Partition Arch were probably my highlights 🙂
All hikes, wow! You must have been traveling during the less hot months then… 🙂
This national park looks amazing! So beautiful, and a great place to hike! I love all the different shapes and arches. Looks like you and your family had a wonderful time 🙂 Great post!
We did, Rhiannon! It’s actually one of our favourite National Parks in the U.S. Would definitely make it into top 5!
The Arches National Park looks amazing!! I need to do a USA road trip to explore these types of places more 🙂 Your photos are stunning too – thanks for sharing!! 🙂
Thank you, Katie. And yes, American National Parks are well worth a trip. Would need a long trip to cover even a small part of them though..