Navajo Arch Trail

Route Description for Navajo Arch Trail

The Navajo Arch Trail is a fantastic, reasonably easy, out-and-back route in Arches National Park. The trails in this area get little shade, so save this hike for a cooler day and pack along lots of water.

The Navajo Arch trail is a must-do in Arches National Park; this route passes by Landscape Arch: a sandstone formation that is one of the largest freestanding natural arches in the world. The Navajo Arch trail also passes by the remains of Wall Arch: a slickrock formation that collapsed in the summer of 2008. This trail ends at the cool cavernous formation that is Navajo Arch. This is a great place to bring kids and introduce them to the beauty and wonder that Arches National Park has to offer.

From the Devil’s Garden Trailhead, follow the well-defined path northwest. The trail will divide at two points before you reach Landscape Arch, the first major arch on this route. To stay on track to the Landscape arch, just stick left. Just 1.4 km down the trail, there are two official viewpoints with excellent views of Landscape Arch. Continue down the trail another 0.2 km to see the remains of Wall Arch just off the main trail. The path ahead will continue for another 0.3 km to a divide, the trail on the left takes you to Partition Arch- stick right here and follow the trail a few more yards to the next divide- take a left here and follow the trail as it turns down to Navajo Arch.

Take a rest in the cool cavern of the Navajo Arch and have fun playing with the echo created by its sloping walls. Then, when you are ready to head home, simply follow the same trail back to the trailhead.

Trail Highlights

Landscape Arch

The Landscape Arch is one of, if not the, largest natural arch formations in the world. This arch is 93 m long and only 3 m thick at the center. This arch is truly a wonder of nature that is impressive to behold.

Wall Arch

Wall Arch was an impressive slickrock arch that collapsed sometime in the night of August 4th or in the early morning of August 5th, 2008. No one witnessed the collapse of this arch—it was simply there one day and gone the next. Wall Arch serves as a reminder that despite its perceived permanence, this magnificent landscape is forever changing.

Insider Hints for Navajo Arch Trail

• If you are hiking in the late spring or summer—look for desert wildflowers that like to bloom along this trail
• Bring along a camera—this trail has lots of great photo-ops
• To spend more time in this area, consider a visit to Partition Arch or Black Arch just down the trail