Devils Garden Trail

Devils Garden Trail is a 7.9-mile loop from Devils Garden Trailhead through sandstone fins and a string of arches, then back by the Primitive Trail. That full figure includes the named arch spurs and the Dark Angel spur. Allow about five hours for the complete route with stops; it takes longer if you linger at each arch. The easy start can make the hike look simpler than it is. If you want a shorter walk, Landscape Arch and back is 1.9 miles, while Double O Arch and back is 4.1 miles. Both use the same approach, so decide at Landscape Arch whether the rough upper route is for you.

The first stretch is hard-packed and relatively flat, with small rises but no significant elevation gain. It winds through tall sandstone fins, with short spurs to Tunnel Arch and Pine Tree Arch before reaching Landscape Arch. The view is a good payoff for a relaxed walk: the opening spans 306 feet, yet the narrowest part of the rock is only about six feet across. Large sections fell away in the 1990s, a reminder that these formations keep changing. The two early arch spurs add about half a mile together.

Beyond Landscape Arch, the trail becomes steep and rocky as it climbs over sandstone fins toward Double O. Expect narrow ledges above steep drop-offs and sections where you use both hands and feet. Navajo Arch and Partition Arch sit on short side trails along this upper stretch; both are worth the detour if you have the time and footing feels good. The exposed slickrock ridges give you the route’s broader views, but they are also where the height and scrambling start to matter. This is a poor choice if narrow edges make you freeze up.

Double O Arch is the main decision point. Its two openings sit one above the other, and it marks the end of the 4.1-mile out-and-back option. A separate 0.8-mile round-trip spur continues north to Dark Angel, a tall dark sandstone spire rather than an arch. For the full circuit, continue around on the Primitive Trail instead of retracing the main route. Private Arch is a short out-and-back spur along that return, about 0.42 miles from the Double O and Primitive Trail junction.

This is the hardest part of the route: steep slopes, narrow drop-offs, hands-on scrambling and more route-finding than the maintained approach. A pool on the Primitive Trail may hold water. Skip this section when the rock is wet or icy, and turn back if the exposure is already wearing you down. The side trip to Private Arch adds another rocky alcove to the day, but the return through desert terrain is quieter on formations and more demanding on navigation. Stay on the established path; the dark, bumpy soil crust beside it is a living layer that helps desert plants take hold.

Start at the Devils Garden Trailhead lot at the end of the park road, about 18 miles and a 45-minute drive from the visitor center. The lot gets very busy during peak season and holiday weekends. Summer heat is a serious factor on exposed rock, so avoid the middle of the day and plan for enough water and food before leaving the trailhead. A picnic area sits south of the campground as a separate stop. Pets are not allowed on hiking trails in Arches; service animals are allowed.