Devils Garden Hike at Arches National Park – 11/21/2021

I love Arches National Park. There are so many good hikes there, and Devils Garden is one of my favorites. It’s also the longest hike in Arches, at 8 miles if you do all the spurs.

HIKE DETAILS
This 8-mile hike is a lollipop with a series of “spurs” or offshoots to go see certain arches or other sites. Most of the spurs are short, but they add up over the hike. On the loop, you can hike clockwise or counterclockwise. I prefer counterclockwise.

It’s also fine to hike part of the loop and then turn around. In that case, go left at the start at the loop so you can see some arches.

You’ll see as many as 7 arches on this hike: Landscape Arch, Pine Tree Arch, Tunnel Arch, Double O Arch, Navajo Arch, Partition Arch, and Private Arch.

Finally, you’ll be hiking on dirt, tons of rock, and occasional sand. Wear proper hiking shoes.

ADVICE
It’s VERY easy to get off trail on this hike. I’ve done this hike several times and gotten lost for most of those. Keep an eye out for signs and for cairns (rock heaps), which can often be above you on the rock. If you notice footprints getting lighter or the trail looking less clear, and no one’s around, you’re probably off trail and should return to the way you came to look for missed signs.

Also, this is a long and exposed hike. Bring lots of water and sun protection.

Finally, there’s a ridge you will hike on with drop-offs on either side. It’s safe, but some people find this section scary. If you think this could be you, take the clockwise route so, if you find it too scary, you can reverse course without making the hike too long.

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