Delicate Arch and 2,000 Other Stone Arches

This free-standing span has become a widely recognized emblem of Utah, and you will find it pictured on the state's license plate. No other free-standing arch in the park is bigger: the open space beneath it rises 46 feet and stretches 32 feet across. Shaped like an upside-down letter U, it stands on a tilted face of red rock.

More than 2,000 sandstone arches are scattered across Arches National Park, a denser collection than any other place on Earth. The arches share the landscape with balanced rocks, fins, pinnacles and hoodoos, all set off by shifting colors and textures in the stone. Where faulting has cut through the rock, layers holding millions of years of geologic history lie exposed.

Reaching the arch on foot takes a hike of about three miles. For a look without the walk, head to the Lower and Upper Delicate Arch Viewpoints, which take in the arch from a distance.

Hikers who want to see many arches in one outing can take on the Devils Garden Trail, where a primitive path leads past eight of them. Other highlights, such as The Windows and Double Arch, sit just a short walk from where you park.

A scenic drive works well too. From the road, several arches and unusual rock formations come into view, so you can take in a good share of the park without leaving your seat.