Utah · Hiking · Near Moab

Tower Arch Trail

Tower Arch TrailPhoto: NPS/Paul Stolen
Mar–May, Sep–Oct
best months

Is Tower Arch 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.

On the park's quieter side, this trail climbs up a rock wall, cuts across a valley, and then meanders through sandstone fins and sand dunes. Reaching this trailhead requires driving 8 mi (14 km) on unpaved roads. • Roundtrip Distance: 2.6 mi (4.2 km) • Time: 2-3 hours • Elevation Change: 290 ft (89 m) • Difficulty: Strenuous • Hike Description: This trail climbs up a steep rock wall, cuts across a valley, and then meanders through sandstone fins and sand dunes. Climbing sand dunes can be very difficult. Expect no cellular service and little to no shade on this trail. • Bring: Bring at least 2 quarts (2 L) of water per person. Avoid wearing shoes with open toes, high heels, or slick soles. • Accessibility: Due to the steep climbing and sandy sections, this trail is not accessible to wheelchairs. • Dogs are not allowed on this trail. Service animals are allowed in national parks. What is a service animal? The unpaved, less-developed side of the park offers opportunities for quiet reflection. Before recent decades of dramatically increased visitation, the entire park sat in desert silence most of the time.

Around this trail

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

    Canyon Wren Group Campsite

    Campground

    Campground · 4.7 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Bar M Chuckwagon

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 9 mi
  • If it rains

    Interactive Track Museum

    Museum

    On your way back · 8 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Moab

Local outfitters

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

    Best time to visit Tower Arch Trail

    Best months: March–May and September–October. 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

      39° / 17°

      5 wet

    2. Feb

      47° / 25°

      5 wet

    3. Mar

      59° / 32°

      4 wet

    4. Apr

      67° / 39°

      4 wet

    5. May

      78° / 48°

      4 wet

    6. Jun

      90° / 58°

      3 wet

    7. Jul

      96° / 66°

      4 wet

    8. Aug

      92° / 63°

      5 wet

    9. Sep

      83° / 53°

      5 wet

    10. Oct

      68° / 40°

      5 wet

    11. Nov

      52° / 27°

      4 wet

    12. Dec

      39° / 17°

      5 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Moab Canyonland Ap, UT, 5 mi away at 4,561 ft. The station sits about 500 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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Tower ArchPhoto: mtnscll — CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

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