Delicate Arch

2018, me and James under Delicate Arch

Likely the most famous arch in the world, Delicate Arch is located inside Arches National Park in Moab, Utah.  It is featured on Utah license plates and is probably the most photographed arch on earth.  Delicate Arch is 52 feet high and has an opening of 46 feet by 32 feet wide.  In 2002, the Olympic Torch passed through Delicate Arch as part of the Winter Olympics when it was hosted by Utah.  

I have hiked to Delicate Arch countless times and visiting this iconic arch never gets old. The hike is 1 1/2 miles each way and some of it is very uphill. There is just one very short part of the hike where you walk along a cliff ledge, so that might bother those with a fear of heights.  But if I can handle it with my fear of heights, pretty much anybody can.  

It would be impossible to see this arch in solitude because there are constantly people there.  Around sunset lots of photographers gather to try to capture the perfect photo of the arch.  You can walk around the "bowl" and stand underneath the arch.  My kids have sometimes run down into the bottom of the "bowl" and played around before climbing back up.  You can also climb through Frame Arch, which is right next to Delicate Arch, and see a great view of the famous arch.  

I have loved my many hikes to Delicate Arch.  When we lived in Moab, everyone who came to visit us wanted to see Delicate Arch.  So we'd take them, and they all enjoyed every trip to this spectacular arch.   If you are visiting Moab and only have time for one arch hike, this is the one not to miss.  My sister-in-law Natalie and I once made it to the arch and back in 45 minutes - partly running, partly fast-hiking.  It was near sunset and we didn't want to miss seeing it, but we also didn't want to be hiking in the dark.  Many times my family has sat on the bowl and eaten lunch or just relaxed and watched people posing under the arch.  You can see Delicate Arch from very far away in Arches National Park if you know where to look -- you can't see the opening, but you can see the arch from the side and you can see the bowl.

Here is the official webpage for Arches National Park:  Arches  Delicate Arch is located here:  Delicate Arch

2012, my son James and I by Delicate Arch

2007, people walking around the bowl to get to the arch

2007, me and my sister in law Natalie under Delicate Arch

2007

2012, my son James by Delicate Arch

You can see Delicate Arch and the bowl in the distance in this photo, 2007

2018, my parents hiking to the arch.  You can see the parking lot in the distance in this photo.

2018, this is the longest uphill of the hike

2018, my parents taking a rest on their hike to the arch

2018, my daughter Rebecca on the long up-hill part of the hike

2018, our Call family reunion, cousins resting and playing on the route

2018, the beginning of the Delicate Arch hike

2018, the hike down from Delicate Arch

2018, part of the hike

2018, part of the hike

2007, sunset at Delicate Arch.  People weren't going under the arch because so many photographers were taking photos of it.

2007, me, my sister in law Natalie, my friend Therese

2021, my daughter Rebecca and I under the arch

2021, Rebecca and me

2021, Rebecca at the arch

2021, Rebecca

2021

2021

2019, our Ragnar Race team under the arch

2019, our Ragnar Race team

2018, relaxing on the edge of the bowl and enjoying a view of the arch

2018, me James and Rebecca under the arch

2018

2018

2018

2018

2018, playing by the arch and in the bowl

2018, our Call Family Reunion, in front of the arch

2018, our family by the arch

2018, my parents under the arch

2018, the bowl in front of Delicate Arch

2018, my kids down in the bowl

2018

2018

2015, our family under the arch

2015, our family under the arch, some people down in the bowl

2015, walking to the arch

2012, me and Jamey under the arch

2012, me under the arch

2011, me and James

2011, our family under the arch

2011, me at the arch

2011, our family at the arch

2011, me and Rebecca

2011, my family at Delicate Arch

1998, our sons Micah and Cameron, me and James

1998

1998

1998

2012