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Devils Garden Main Trail

Intermediate Intermediate
 4.4 (48)
  1. Areas
  2. UT
  3. …Southeastern Utah
  4. …Arches National Park
  5. Devils Garden
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“This extremely popular trail serves up many impressive arches in exchange for only modest effort. ”

Megan W
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Map Key

2.1

Miles

3.4

KM

Point to Point

5,495' 1,675 m

High

5,204' 1,586 m

Low

321' 98 m

Up

129' 39 m

Down

4%

Avg Grade (2°)

36%

Max Grade (20°)

Dogs No Dogs

Features Views

Description

However much of the Devils Garden Trail system you complete, you'll leave happy. From the Devils Garden trailhead, take the initially paved path over mostly level ground between rock fins. Almost immediately, a signed fork announces the turnoff for Tunnel Arch Trail and Pine Tree Arch Trail. These are short, easy detours and highly recommended.

Return to the Devils Garden Main Trail, heading northwest through more widely spaced rock fin valleys. At the next trail junction, stay left on the Devils Garden Main Trail towards Landscape Arch Trail, ignoring the Devils Garden Primitive Loop trail that heads north. From here, take the paved path to Landscape Arch Trail and its spectacular viewpoint (more details about this impressive arch can be found on the Landscape Arch Trail trail page). The part of the trail to Landscape arch is non-taxing and very family-friendly, but past this point be advised to keep kids under close supervision.

Back on the Devils Garden Main Trail, expect increased challenges as your route climbs over sandstone slabs and traverses narrow ledges with some exposure to heights. Follow rock pile cairns to stay on the correct route. Soon, you have the option to take the short spurs Partition Arch Trail and Navajo Arch Trail to the southwest.

These arches often have shade and make worthwhile detours, but if you're out of stamina or time it is OK to bypass them. Further along the undulating Devils Garden Main Trail, cross more fins hiking over exposed, sun-baked ground. After a sharp hairpin bend around the end of a fin, the Devils Garden Main Trail ends at a 3 way junction with the Dark Angel Trail and the Devils Garden Primitive Loop. If you've got lots of time and energy left, visit Dark Angel and then consider tackling the more rugged Devils Garden Primitive Loop. If you're already down for the count, better retrace your steps back to the parking area.

Some words to the wise: take at least 1 quart (1 liter) of water per person, wear a hat, use sunscreen, take breaks. Visit early or late in the day if you want to avoid the crowds on this extremely popular trail. 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

  4.4 from 48 votes

#1

in Devils Garden

#56

Overall
  4.4 from 48 votes
5 Star
58%
4 Star
27%
3 Star
15%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#1

in Devils Garden

#7

in Utah

#56

Overall
3 Views Last Month
2,450 Since Mar 8, 2015
Intermediate Intermediate
5%
8%
60%
13%
15%
0%
Add a Photo

Photos

Evening light at Arches NP!
Mar 11, 2015 near Moab, UT
Landscape Arch looking impossibly thin
Feb 26, 2018 near Moab, UT
Landscape Arch
Dec 24, 2019 near Moab, UT
Double O Arch with hikers for scale
Mar 9, 2015 near Moab, UT
Landscape Arch
Mar 10, 2023 near Moab, UT
what a view
Feb 7, 2018 near Moab, UT

0 Comments

Weather

Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 15 days ago
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Dec 12, 2024
John Searing
Oct 18, 2024
Anonymous
Wowza. Beautiful but too many people
Jun 4, 2024
Jeremiah Judkins
Very nice network of trails and arches
Apr 25, 2024
John Eversmeyer
2.6mi — 1h 12m
Mar 30, 2024
J Rai
with a short side trip to Pine Tree Arch — 2h 30m
Nov 15, 2023
Claire Finley
Saw Landscape Arch, Partition Arch, Navajo Arch, Pine Tree Arch, and Tunnel Arch. Still more to see.
Jul 25, 2023
Steve Glasenapp
Jul 18, 2023
Dave Cerlanek
15h 30m

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