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Delicate Arch ... A Stone Icon

March 11, 2025

A stunning, memorable scene of the stone icon 'Delicate Arch', shaped like an upside letter U rising from a sloping red rockface, with snow capped mountains and a vast snow covered desert landscape beyond. (Image created by USA Patriotism! from U.S. National Park Service photo by Neal Herbert.)
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People come from all over the world to visit Arches National Park with the Delicate Arch on the top of many visitors' to-do lists. In a park with over 2,000 stone arches, this particular free-standing arch has become a widely recognized symbol of the state of Utah and one of the most famous geologic features in the world.

The opening beneath the arch is 46 feet high and 32 feet wide, making it the largest free-standing arch in the park. It has had more than a few names in its history, from the colorful ("Cowboy's Chaps", "Old Maid's Bloomers") to the prosaic ("Salt Wash Arch"). The term "Delicate" first appeared in a January 1934 article about the Arches National Monument Scientific Expedition, which described it as "the most delicately chiseled arch in the entire area."

It's difficult to see Delicate Arch from the main park road; you must get out of the car to view it. At Lower Delicate Arch Viewpoint, you can walk a level 100 yards (91 m) to see the arch from one mile away. Nearby, the Upper Viewpoint (0.5 mi / 0.8 km walk with stairs) offers a slightly less obstructed view.

The trail to see Delicate Arch up close and personal is 3 miles (4.8 km) round-trip and climbs 480 feet (146m). Along this steadily uphill trail, you'll also pass the Wolfe Ranch cabin and a wall of Ute Indian petroglyphs.

Image created by USA Patriotism! from U.S. National Park Service photo by Neal Herbert.

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