While 1986’s Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (the inspiration for episode 8) was filmed mostly in Australia, any of Utah’s “Mighty Five” national parks, including Arches, offer plenty of red rocks, post-apocalyptic vistas, and challenging hikes—just leave the flamethrowers at home.

Experience the epic beauty of soaring sandstone arches in one of America's most famous national parks.

The Devil's Garden trail is the most difficult maintained trail in Arches National Park. Only Fiery Furnace—the unmarked, unsigned, and unmaintained scrambling area—is more difficult… until you get into full-on rock climbing and bouldering, that is. The scenery in Devil's Garden is absolutely stunning, with natural sandstone arches, narrow rock fins, and more.

The soaring sandstone arches found in Arches National Park are some of the largest and most impressive on the planet! You’ve undoubtedly seen images of the ultra-famous Delicate Arch, even if you didn’t realize it at the time. But Arches National Park is home to so much more than just Delicate Arch, with a plethora of strange and beautiful arch formations and weather-worn sandstone rock sculptures.

Arches National Park in Moab offers the largest density of natural sandstone arches in the world – over 2,000! A great destination for families, the astounding views will delight adventurers of all ages. There are a wide variety of trails as well as scenic driving routes for viewing some of the park’s largest arches, including a drive to one of the most iconic rock formations in the world, the Delicate Arch Viewpoint.

The soaring sandstone arches found in the park are some of the largest and most impressive on the planet! You’ve undoubtedly seen images of the ultra-famous Delicate Arch, even if you didn’t realize it at the time. But Arches National Park is home to so much more than just Delicate Arch, with a plethora of strange and beautiful arch formations and weather-worn sandstone rock sculptures. This guidebook rounds up both the most famous hikes in Arches, along with some of the most under-rated hikes.

Located in southeastern Utah north of Moab, Arches National Park features approximately 73,000 acres (30,000ha) of colorful desert landscape along with over 2,000 natural red rock arches. To qualify as an arch, the opening must be at least three feet (1m) wide. Officially becoming a national park in 1971, this national treasure will entice anyone to explore its beauty either through hiking, biking, climbing, off-roading or camping.

Taking a scenic drive along Arches National Park’s paved roads is one way to get a lot out of the park if your time is limited. Make sure to visit the Windows section of the park to peer at some of the largest arches in the park, and the Delicate Arch Viewpoint to see the world’s most famous stone arch. Parking at popular viewpoints can be limited, especially during peak hours, so try to plan your trip early in the morning or later in the afternoon or evening to avoid crowds.

Arches National Park offers a bounty of accessible hikes to enjoy views of the park’s many namesake arch formations. A trek to Double Arch is an easy, half-mile walk that allows you to view two large arches, or opt to take a 1.9-mile hike to Landscape Arch, a thin arch with a span that’s longer than the length of a football field. This Utah park also contains other rock formations, including Balanced Rock, which looks as though its delicate placement could come crashing down at any moment.

The stars can be seen from just about anywhere at Arches National Park on a clear night. The farther north you drive, the darker the sky will be with the best views located at Balanced Rock Picnic Area, the Windows Section, Garden of Eden Viewpoint, and Panorama Point. Enjoy the concrete presentation bay, seating for 75 people, and telescope pads available at Panorama Point, just 30 minutes from the park’s visitor center. Check the park’s website for more information.

Arches National Park is so named for the 2,000 wind-sculpted sandstone arches gracing the area—the largest such concentration in the world. The most famous of these is the iconic 52-foot-tall Delicate Arch, whose image can be seen on Utah license plates; but Arches will amaze you with its sheer range of soaring pinnacles, massive rock fins, and giant balanced rocks. Arches is also one of the few national parks where many of the top formations can be seen from the comfort of your car.

The namesake structures of Arches National Park are worth visiting, but first-time visitors should note that there’s plenty more to do than take snapshots of the geological features. Horseback riding, canyoneering, rock climbing, stargazing and more can easily be added to your schedule. If you’re short on time, take an auto-tour along the 18mi (29km) scenic road en route to Zion – your next Grand Circle destination.