Moab, Arches and Canyonlands itinerary: 1 to 2 days
Plans for one and two days from Moab, the base town for both parks, day by day: Arches National Park first, with an early walk to Landscape Arch in Devils Garden, the Windows, Double Arch, Balanced Rock and the Park Avenue fins, and the hike to Delicate Arch towards sunset; then, adding a day, Canyonlands' Island in the Sky from sunrise at Mesa Arch, with the Grand View and Green River overlooks, Upheaval Dome and Dead Horse Point. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
Moab, Arches and Canyonlands in 1 day
Day 1
Landscape Arch (Devils Garden)
One of the longest natural arches in the world, a thin ribbon of rock reached by an easy trail in Devils Garden.
Windows Section (North and South Window)
A cluster of large arches reached by short, easy loops from one car park, with Turret Arch close by.
Double Arch
Two arches springing from the same base, among the tallest in the park, a short flat walk from the Windows car park.
Balanced Rock
A huge boulder perched on a slender pedestal beside the park road, with a short loop trail round its base.
Park Avenue
A canyon of tall sandstone fins near the Arches entrance, likened to city skyscrapers, with a viewpoint and a short trail.
Arches Visitor Center
The park's visitor centre by the entrance north of Moab, with maps, ranger advice, water and exhibits.
Delicate Arch
The free-standing arch on the Utah licence plates, reached by a steady climb over slickrock from Wolfe Ranch, best at sunset.
Moab, Arches and Canyonlands in 2 days
Day 1
Mesa Arch
Short walk to an arch on the cliff edge framing the canyon below, a favourite sunrise spot for photographers.
Grand View Point Overlook
The viewpoint at the southern tip of the Island in the Sky, looking over layer upon layer of canyons.
Green River Overlook
Viewpoint over the canyons of the Green River and the White Rim far below, beside the Island in the Sky road.
Upheaval Dome
A strange crater-like structure of tilted rock layers at the end of the Island in the Sky road, seen from short overlook trails.
Dead Horse Point State Park
State park on a mesa top where the Colorado River makes a deep gooseneck far below, with rim walks and viewpoints.
Day 2
Landscape Arch (Devils Garden)
One of the longest natural arches in the world, a thin ribbon of rock reached by an easy trail in Devils Garden.
Windows Section (North and South Window)
A cluster of large arches reached by short, easy loops from one car park, with Turret Arch close by.
Double Arch
Two arches springing from the same base, among the tallest in the park, a short flat walk from the Windows car park.
Balanced Rock
A huge boulder perched on a slender pedestal beside the park road, with a short loop trail round its base.
Park Avenue
A canyon of tall sandstone fins near the Arches entrance, likened to city skyscrapers, with a viewpoint and a short trail.
Arches Visitor Center
The park's visitor centre by the entrance north of Moab, with maps, ranger advice, water and exhibits.
Delicate Arch
The free-standing arch on the Utah licence plates, reached by a steady climb over slickrock from Wolfe Ranch, best at sunset.
When to go to Moab, Arches and Canyonlands
Spring, from March to May, and autumn, from September to October, are the best seasons, with warm days and cool nights. Summer is very hot, often above 35 degrees, so hike early and late; sudden thunderstorms and flash floods can come in late summer. Winter is quiet and cold, with occasional snow on the red rock.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Moab, Arches and Canyonlands on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Moab, Arches and Canyonlands on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Moab, Arches and Canyonlands on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for United States from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Moab, Arches and Canyonlands
- Arches has no timed-entry reservations in 2026 (only the Fiery Furnace and the Devils Garden campground need them), so the park entrance can queue in summer: arrive early or come back late in the day.
- Hike to Delicate Arch early in the morning or for sunset: the trail climbs over bare rock with no shade, and midday in summer is very hot.
- Carry plenty of water, sun protection and snacks: services inside the parks are few, and summer days often pass 35 degrees.
- Dead Horse Point is a Utah state park with its own entry fee, not covered by the national park pass.
- Mesa Arch is famous at sunrise, when the sun lights the underside of the arch; arrive early, as the viewpoint fills quickly.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Arches Visitor Center: Palacemusic, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Balanced Rock: Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Dead Horse Point State Park: Mike Nielsen, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Delicate Arch: Palacemusic, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Double Arch: Luca Galuzzi (Lucag), CC BY-SA 2.5
- Grand View Point Overlook: Peter K., CC BY-SA 3.0
- Green River Overlook: Peter K., CC BY-SA 3.0
- Landscape Arch (Devils Garden): Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Mesa Arch: Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Park Avenue: Gary, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Upheaval Dome: Doc Searls from Santa Barbara, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Windows Section (North and South Window): Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
