South Window

South Window is the southern opening in one of Arches' high sandstone fins. North Window cuts through the same fin, while Turret Arch is a separate formation nearby. The Windows Section packs many arches into a small area, so this is a good stop when you want a short walk with more than one shape to look at.

From the Windows parking area, the National Park Service lists about one mile round trip, 30–60 minutes, and 99 feet of elevation change for the standard visit to North Window, South Window, and Turret Arch. The NPS describes a gentle gravel climb. You can return the way you came or take the longer primitive route around the back. That return has fewer markers and uneven steps up and down, so stick with the main route for a simpler walk.

The main path ends below the sandstone fin; it doesn't take you under South Window. Reaching the arch means going up a slope and stone steps. Only the first 300 feet may be wheelchair-accessible with assistance; the climb to the arches makes South Window itself inaccessible in a chair. The trailhead has a vault/composting toilet and no drinking water. Dogs aren't allowed on the trail.

At Arches, a “window” is an arch that is especially large, high on a fin, or frames a view. The wider geologic story began roughly 65 million years ago, when the region rose and folded and buried salt pushed rock into long fractures. Water and erosion widened those cracks, thinning fins until openings formed. Water is still the strongest force shaping the park's rock, and South Window is a clear example of an opening high in a fin.

For a strong view of both Windows together, continue to Turret Arch and look back through its opening. From there, the pair sits in the same frame and their shared fin is easier to read. Walk around South Window for views from both sides before heading back.