Utah · Hiking · Near Moab

Arches Visitor Center Nature Trail

Arches Visitor Center Nature TrailPhoto: NPS/Annette Jones
Mar–May, Oct–Nov
best months

Is Arches Visitor Center Nature Trail open right now?

No closures listed

The National Park Service lists no closures for Arches National Park.

As of · Source: NPS · Arches National Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Walk a short path behind the visitor center to learn about native desert plants and their traditional uses. • Roundtrip Distance: 150 feet (45 m) • Time: 10 min • Elevation Change: 0 ft (0 m) • Difficulty: Easy • Hike Description: Learn about native desert plants on this short trail behind Arches Visitor Center. • Accessibility: This trail is mostly level, with surfaces of paving stone, cement, or dirt. • Dogs are not allowed on this trail. Service animals are allowed in national parks. What is a service animal? Many visitors are surprised at the amount of vegetation in Arches. Plants are critical components of all ecosystems, and Arches is no exception. Plants capture particulate dust in the air, filter gaseous pollutants, convert carbon dioxide to oxygen, provide animal habitat, and possess many raw materials useful to humans. Diverse plant communities thrive in patches of biological soil crust, while others seem to grow right out of cracks in the rock. Many adaptations enable desert plants to survive the extremes of temperature and aridity found in Arches.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Designated Campsite #6

    Campground

    Campground · 2.4 mi from the trail
  • If it rains

    Zuki Hill

    Attraction

    On your way back · 3 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Moab

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Mar–May, Oct–Nov

    Best time to visit Arches Visitor Center Nature Trail

    Best months: March–May and October–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      42° / 22°

      4 wet

    2. Feb

      50° / 29°

      4 wet

    3. Mar

      62° / 37°

      5 wet

    4. Apr

      70° / 44°

      5 wet

    5. May

      80° / 53°

      5 wet

    6. Jun

      93° / 63°

      3 wet

    7. Jul

      99° / 70°

      5 wet

    8. Aug

      96° / 68°

      6 wet

    9. Sep

      87° / 58°

      5 wet

    10. Oct

      72° / 44°

      5 wet

    11. Nov

      56° / 33°

      4 wet

    12. Dec

      42° / 24°

      4 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Arches Np Hqs, UT, 0.1 mi away at 4,093 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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