Devils Garden Trail

Devils Garden Trail is a landmark hike at the north end of Arches National Park’s scenic drive, built around the park’s “fins” and a dense cluster of arches and spires. The route is straightforward to start, then offers progressively harder terrain once you commit beyond Landscape Arch.

A common out-and-back option runs to Landscape Arch. This segment is described as relatively flat with hard-packed surfaces and limited elevation change, with optional short spurs to Pine Tree Arch and Tunnel Arch before reaching the Landscape Arch area.

From Landscape Arch, the hike becomes more demanding if you continue toward Double O Arch. The trail steeply climbs on sandstone fins, with rocky footing and narrow ledges that require scrambling with hands and feet in places.

Short spurs branch off around the middle of the route: Navajo Arch and Partition Arch are located about one third of the way between Landscape Arch and Double O Arch. Another out-and-back spur goes to Dark Angel from the north side of Double O Arch.

For experienced hikers looking for the hardest terrain, continue via the Primitive Trail. This alternative route to/from Double O Arch is described as the most difficult segment, with difficult route finding, steep slopes, narrow drop-offs, and rock scrambling, including a possible crossing of a pool that may contain water.

Primitive Trail hiking is not recommended when rock is wet or icy, or for parties uncomfortable with exposure, and it’s specifically marked as a “difficult hiking” segment. The route uses a cairned line and slickrock scrambling, so plan on careful navigation and conservative decisions if conditions change.

More information: Visitor information, Hiking the Devils Garden Trail in Arches National Park, Devil's Garden Trail Guide: Arches National Park