3 tips for avoiding crowds at Arches
It’s one of the busiest National Parks in the country, and for good reason! The sandstone arches and blue skies are stunning. Everyone has got to see it.
But busy crowds also means crazy lines to enter the park, lots of people on the trails, and no spots in the parking lot.
Here are three tips to avoiding crowds at Arches:
Go in the winter! It’s chilly, but it’s worth it. And better yet, you don’t have to worry about getting a timed-entry permit to get into the park. Arches required a permit to enter April - October. During the winter, you can just drive right in. Bring warm clothing and even some crampons—Arches gets snow and some of the most popular trails (Delicate Arch) even get icy.
Visit in the evening! We went this February and the park was empty by 4 pm. We had the trail to ourselves and plenty of sunlight left. Oh, and no problem entering or parking. Evening is also a great time to get your photo at the entrance sign!
If you’re going to do Delicate Arch (which we highly recommend), go in the early morning. I promise, it’ll be so much better. The line to enter the park can get gnarly after 9 am (sometimes even in the winter). If you can get up and get in the park before 9, you have a much better chance at finding parking at the trail head. Chances are, you might see some wildlife in the early morning hours too! We ran into a bunch of mule deer on our way up!
What other tips do you have?
So worth the visit, even with the crowds. But totally a different experience in the winter, and so memorable!