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Park Avenue Trail

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Intermediate Intermediate
 3.8 (29)
  1. Areas
  2. UT
  3. …Southeastern Utah
  4. …Arches National Park
  5. Courthouse Towers
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“A trip through this spectacular canyon is a treat - do the sandstone towers remind you of Manhattan? ”

Megan W
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Map Key

0.9

Miles

1.5

KM

Point to Point

4,547' 1,386 m

High

4,239' 1,292 m

Low

5' 2 m

Up

311' 95 m

Down

6%

Avg Grade (4°)

30%

Max Grade (17°)

Dogs No Dogs

Features Views

Family Friendly This is a short point-to-point or out-and-back that gives the family a taste of what's to come at Arches NP!

Overview

Either arrange a pickup at the northern parking lot, or simply do an out-and-back. Either way, this trail is sure to captivate new arrivals to the park.

Description

The Park Avenue Trail is usually traveled as an out-and-back, but can also be done without retracing your steps if you arrange for a pickup, or have a car left at one end, or trade keys with a friend in the middle. The path can be traveled in either direction, but most folks seem to leave from the south and head north.

From the southern trailhead, follow the paved beginning of this trail to the end of the Park Avenue overlook. From here, step down the stone stairs onto the dirt trail in the mouth of this unique canyon. The remainder of the trail is a gentle, enjoyable descent along the canyon bottom. Towards the end, the trail peters out as it crosses sandstone slabs, but you won't lose your way - it's marked by rock pile cairns.

The named formations are: Courthouse Towers, Queen Nefertiti, Queen Victoria Rock, Tower of Babel, The Three Gossips, and the Organ. A beautiful trip any time of the day, enjoy the sunlight/shadows on the enormous sandstone walls. Late afternoon is thought to be the best time to photograph Park Avenue, Garden of Eden and the Courthouse Towers for the best color. Early morning is best for photographing The Three Gossips. Note: bikes are not allowed on this trail.

Contacts

Land Manager: National Park Service - Arches National Park

Shared By:

Megan W
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  3.8 from 29 votes

#1

in Courthouse Towers

#990

Overall
  3.8 from 29 votes
5 Star
24%
4 Star
41%
3 Star
28%
2 Star
7%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#1

in Courthouse Towers

#77

in Utah

#990

Overall
14 Views Last Month
2,631 Since Mar 5, 2015
Intermediate Intermediate
14%
14%
71%
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Photos

Arches National Park.
Oct 31, 2016 near Moab, UT
Arches National Park, Park Avenue.
Jun 3, 2016 near Moab, UT
Park Avenue on a winter's night
Mar 8, 2015 near Moab, UT
The Three Gossips.
May 1, 2017 near Moab, UT
Three Gossips (R), Sheep Rock (C), and Courthouse Tower (L).
May 1, 2017 near Moab, UT
Park Ave in B&W
Aug 8, 2017 near Moab, UT

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Weather

Current Trail Conditions

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Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Oct 18, 2024
Anonymous
My favorite hike of the day. Very quiet. Stairs killed my knee
Sep 8, 2024
Anonymous
Mar 30, 2024
J Rai
Dec 26, 2023
Wei Jing
May 16, 2023
Jennifer Rutkowski
0.5mi
Mar 10, 2023
Stewart Carnes
Aug 4, 2022
Matthew Manfredo
0.5mi — 0h 27m
Mar 28, 2022
Lexi Swanson
there and back (can be done as a one way) 1.8mi — 0h 45m

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