Hike-in Required
No
ADA accessible
No
Guided tours
No
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Skyline Arch is a great way to see a large natural sandstone arch up close, and it does not require a difficult hike to enjoy. The flat and sandy trail is less than a half-mile round trip, so most of the family will get the opportunity to walk through the foreboding desert environment of Arches National Park in a safe manner. There are several sandstone "fins" to see along the way. Most arches begin as fins after water and ice erode sections of the rock face. The Entrada layer of stone that is common in this park was formed about 163 million years ago and then later exposed to us by the changing weather.

In 1940 a large piece of the inside of the arch broke away, nearly doubling the size of the hole and demonstrating that Arches is a living park with features that constantly change.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Spring
Fall

Congestion

High

Parking Pass

National Park Pass

Pros

Short and easy trail.

Cons

Not the prettiest arch in the area. Hot in summer.

Pets allowed

Not Allowed

Features

Wildflowers
Big vistas
Geologically significant

Location

Comments

Have updates, photos, alerts, or just want to leave a comment?
Sign In and share them.