Devils Garden and the Primitive Trail

Devils Garden offers many different arches to the hiker; you can pick and choose a few select Arches or take the grand tour and see them all. Start by parking your car in the nearby lot and head out on the paved path (the path is paved up until Landscape Arch).

After only 0.25 miles from the trailhead you will come to the first fork on the trail. To see Tunnel Arch, take the trail leading off to the right and stay right when the trail splits again. It should only be about a minute off the main trail.

To add Pine Tree Arch to your list as well head to the trail coming off of the fork and you will be able to walk up to Pine Tree Arch, which is better protected from the sun than Tunnel Arch. After you have seen enough, head back to the main paved path to continue the hike.

Landscape Arch is the longest arch in Arches National Park, and the longest national arch in the world according to the Natural Arch and Bridge Society. It is 290ft at its longest section. More recently, several chunks have fallen from it, and the trail leading below it has since been closed for safety reasons, but you can still get fairly close from the designated viewing area.

Landscape Arch is only 1 mile from the trailhead, and the path is fairly flat the entire way, with a few minor exceptions. Many hikers choose to end their hike here rather than continuing along the Primitive Trail and onto Double O Arch, Dark Angel, and Private Arch among others. This is also where the paved path ends, and a path along rock fins and slickrock begins. If you are up for it, continue on to some of the other magnificent arches where there are fewer crowds.

Only 0.25 miles further you will reach another optional detour to Partition Arch and Navajo Arch. Stay left at the next fork to visit Partition Arch, which offers a great view of the plateau though the rock window. Head back a little ways; turn left, and continue to Navajo Arch.

Navajo Arch is significantly more shaded than any other arch on the hike, and is great place to rest from the hot desert sun. There are some interesting formations on the walls nearby that look like some mix between rock and Swiss cheese. After you have cooled down a bit, hike back to the main trail to continue on to Double O Arch.

It doesn’t take one long to discover how this arch got its name. Double O Arch is the second largest arch in Devils Garden, after Landscape Arch which is the longest natural arch in the world. The top arch spans 71ft, while the smaller bottom arch spans 21ft.

For a better perspective of the arch, hike through the lower arch to the other side and partially up the slope, where you will get a great view of both arches framing the desert plateau and the horizon in the background. If you plan to take the Primitive Trail to Dark Angel and Private Arch, hike back through the arch and continue along the trail to the left before climbing back up to the main viewpoint.

0.4 miles after leaving Double O Arch you will arrive at what looks like a giant pillar in the ground. It may be somewhat unexpected, as it is not an arch like everything else thus far, but it is still worth the hike. Head back towards Double O Arch, following the Primitive Trail to the left when you are almost back at Double O Arch.

This section of the Primitive Trail is no more difficult that the previous section, but seems much more remote. Be sure to check your water supply before heading out on this last section; the dry heat makes it difficult to know just how much water you are actually losing, and walking along the sandy trail takes longer than expected.

0.4 miles after you start the Primitive Trail you will arrive at a fork leading 0.2 miles to Private Arch, appropriately named as you may not see other hikes until your return to the main trail near Landscape Arch. Head back to the Primitive Trail and turn right to finish the remaining 1.5-mile hike through the desolate area before meeting up with the paved path at Landscape Arch. After that it’s 1 mile further along the paved road until you reach the trailhead.