The BEST Sunrise Hike in Arches National Park
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Moab, Utah is an out of this world place that I’ve now been lucky enough to visit twice. But since Arches National Park & Canyonlands National Park are situated right outside of it, its hard to find a peaceful place anywhere without crowds.
Delicate Arch has got to be the most popular place in Moab. I mean.. the arch is on the Utah license plate!
Looking for more to do around Utah? Check out my blog posts on Slot Canyons to Explore, Observation Point in Zion, and Arches in Moab that aren’t in Arches National Park!
Hike Info & Stats
- Located in Arches National Park. Check out a map of the park here & how to get there.
- Fee of 30$ for a one week pass to the park. Or use your Annual National Park Pass (80$) that pays for itself after you make 3 visits to National Parks!
- 3 miles & 610 feet elevation gain. Check this site out for recent trail info and a map.
- This trail should take 2-3 hours between hiking, breaks, & some photo taking! I would average 45 mins to get to the arch itself.
- There are restrooms at the trailhead.
Why I chose to hike Delicate ARch for sunrise
I spent my birthday, December 1, waking up at 4:30am and hiking to the arch for sunrise while it was 25 degrees out.. maybe I’m crazy but it was exactly how I pictured spending it! I went hoping it would be a break from the crowds.. and I was right! It was a birthday dream come true!
I wanted to write this blog to emphasize why I like to do the opposite of what is supposed to be the ‘best’ time to see something.
I hiked Delicate Arch last year for sunset- because that’s what every other blog told me is the ‘best’ time to see the arch. However, even on a weekday in November it was SO crowded.
Don’t get me wrong- the golden light on the arch was gorgeous at sunset! But when I go on hikes I don’t want to be with a hundred other people that are lined up to take a picture. That’s just not enjoyable to me. I feel like I’m at an amusement park rather than cherishing time and connecting outdoors! And if you’re a photographer, it is going to be mighty hard to take a picture of an empty arch during sunset..
Seeing a place that is usually really crowded, with only a handful of other people is just really special.
Plus- blowing out my candle for my 25th birthday with no crowd was amazing, and it’s gonna be hard for any one of my birthdays to top this going forward!
What to Bring for a sunrise hike to Delicate Arch
- Headlamp: You will be starting this hike in the dark & the trail can be hard to follow at times, so a headlamp is a good idea. It may be really cold in the early morning, especially in the winter months, so holding your phone flashlight may be hard. This is the headlamp I use.
- Map: Like I said before, you will be starting this hike in the dark so it can be easy to get lost! I use AllTrails and pay a little bit to be able to download trails so I can stay on track. Someone on the hike actually got lost and was able to find us because of our headlamps. He said we were his ‘GPS’. LOL. So it’s a good idea to at least screenshot the trail because sometimes the trail looks like it could be anywhere in the dark desert. Also, look out for the rock cairns set by the NPS to guide your way!
- Water & Snacks: If you do take my advice and do hike this in the early morning, it won’t be as hot during the afternoon hours, but it’s still important to bring some water and snacks with you!
- Hiking shoes/ boots: I would really recommend a pair of shoes that have good grip & traction. A lot of the hike and the area around the arch is ‘slick rock’ that I really wouldn’t recommend anyone walking around in sandals or tennis shoes on as you may slip and fall.
Best Lighting
I thought the best lighting was about 15-20 minutes after the sun had risen and started lighting up the left side of the arch and underneath it! It was such a nice glow.
I really recommend when you go to stand under the arch. There is nothing that compares to that feeling of being under it and realizing it’s massiveness!
Another great place for lighting & pictures is in the Twisted Donut Arch. Keep an eye out for this rather hidden arch on your way back from the sunrise at Delicate Arch. This arch is alongside the ridge to hike to Delicate Arch. You can see it below on the AllTrails map. The early morning sun comes directly through this arch which makes for some pretty cool pictures!
And that concludes my post on how to hike Delicate Arch at sunrise! Let me know any places you have visited during ‘off’ times and why you love them!
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