Wind and water erosion and a collapsing underlayment of salt created the remarkable formations in Arches National Park, where early inhabitants left petroglyphs to mark their presence. Fortunate visitors catch a glimpse of bighorn sheep, an animal that once ranged freely in the area, and overnight visitors have a view of the stars unimpeded by man-made light. The desert floor is covered with a living soil crust made from lichen, algae and mosses. The relatively small park has hiking trails leading to notable features like Tower Arch and the canyons of the Fiery Furnace area. Cycling is permitted on park roads; overlooks, which fill quickly during the summer, provide views for visitors driving Arches’ scenic biways.
Spacious, sandy sites at the Devils Garden Campground, defined by huge red rock boulders and shaded by scrubby juniper trees and pinyon pines, have picnic tables and grills. While the roads are paved and some sites are large enough for 30-foot-long RVs, the campground has no hookups or dump stations. Potable water is available at the campground, but there are no showers. The 50-site campground 18 miles from the park entrance remains open year-round but fills quickly from March through October, when reservations are required. From November through February, half the sites remain open on a self-serve basis. Biting insects can plague campers in late spring and early summer -- bring repellent and anti-itch cream.
Campground reservations must be made online or by calling 877-444-6777; Arches National Park does not take reservations directly. Reservations can be made between 180 and four days before your arrival date from March 1 through the end of October. Devils Garden Campground is pet-friendly, but pets are not allowed in most other areas of the park. Campers should bring their own firewood or camp stove fuel; a campground host, on duty during the high season, sells firewood. Sites accommodate up to 10 campers. The park allows generator use for a few hours in the morning and again in the evening.
Because the campground at Devils Garden fills quickly, campers without reservations will generally need to find an alternative campground. The Park Service allows backcountry camping in a limited number of areas around Arches. Backcountry campers must have a permit and should be prepared to pack in everything they need to their campsite. Dead Horse Point State Park, about 30 miles from the Arches visitor center, has a small campground that accepts reservations. Sites at the Willow Flat campground in Canyonlands National Park, 35 miles away, are available on a first-come, first-served basis, but fill quickly. The Bureau of Land Management operates several campgrounds south of Arches. Campers in search of more amenities should check out one of the commercial campgrounds in Moab.
