5. Devil’s Garden, Arches National Park

If a single hike could pretty much sum up Arches National Park, it’d be the Devil’s Garden Loop. If it’s not too icy, experienced and prepared hikers should take the primitive trail that’s marked with cairns through the harsh desert landscape past sheer walls of sandstone fins and over giant boulders to see what you came here to see, arches! The track is challenging, exposed, slippery and steep in some sections so take care and carry lots of water.

 

Pro tip: To avoid getting lost, locate the next cairn before you keep walking

Difficulty: Intermediate

Pros: Takes you up close to numerous arches, fun trail, varied landscapes, loop trail, less congestion on the primitive trail

Cons: Hot and exposed with little shade, steep and slippery in sections, no water on trail, relatively unmarked

Congestion: Medium

Total Distance & Duration: 7.2-mile round trip, 4-5hrs

Ideal Time of Year to Hike: Spring, Fall

Trail Uses: Hiking

Dog-Friendly: No

Recommended Gear: CamelBak Cloud Walker 18 Hydration Day Pack, Merrell Moab Ventilator Hiking Boot, Columbia OMNI-Shade UPF 40 sun protection, long roll-up sleeve shirt

Elevation at trailhead: 5,200ft

Costs: $25 for 7 day pass

State: Utah

Directions to trailhead: Park at the Devil’s Garden trailhead lot at the very end of the main road that leads through the park