The Windows Area is a great place to see several arches all in close vicinity to each other. In this small area you’ll find the North Window, South Window, Turret and Double Arch. You can park nearby and it’s only a short walk to the area. You can also take the primitive trail if you want to avoid the crowds. Speaking of which, this area can become crowded during the day in the high season. For a more peaceful experience, go early in the morning or visit the park during the week or outside the high season.

Perhaps the most famous arch in the park is the Delicate Arch. It’s the largest free-standing arch in the park, at 46 feet high and 32 feet wide. The arch has become the unofficial symbol of the park and even appears on Utah’s license plate. The trail to get there is about 3 miles roundtrip. As with the windows area, it can become very crowded. Try to go during off hours or outside the peak season. If you’re there at sunset, expect larger crowds as well.

The fiery furnace is an area of narrows canyons that twist through high sandstone walls. You’ll also need to climb over, around and through rocks to reach some of the areas. There are no trail markers and dead ends and you can quickly find yourself lost. It requires decent physical stamina and should not be undertaken lightly. In fact, there are only two ways to visit the area. Either on a ranger-led tour, or with a permit. Permits should be purchased in advance and require the viewing of a training video. Make sure to give yourself plenty of time to get back in case you get lost.