Arches National Park Hike Challenge: Tackle Devils Garden 7m Loop

Devils Garden gives you the hardest and most rewarding part of Arches National Park in one long morning. This 7-mile intermediate hike reaches Landscape Arch, Partition Arch, Navajo Arch, and Double O Arch, then the tour covers the park’s scenic drive and major viewpoints.

I like the private format, since your guide can slow down in the heat, provide water, and stop when you need a break. I also like that timed entry is included, along with pickup from hotels, campgrounds, AirbnBs, and other lodging within Moab city limits. The drawback is the price: at $315.12 per person, park admission and a tip cost extra.

• Devils Garden’s full 7-mile route makes this a serious hiking day, not a quick arch walk.
• Landscape Arch, Partition Arch, Navajo Arch, and Double O Arch are all part of the route.
• Paulina has guided this experience with clear explanations of Moab, the park, and its geology.
• Timed entry to Arches National Park is included, so you do not need to arrange that reservation yourself.
• Private pickup and a flexible pace make the outing easier for people who want help with heat, water, and rest stops.
• The $315.12 price excludes park entry, which costs $15 per person unless you already have a qualifying pass.

A demanding morning in Devils Garden

This experience is built around the Devils Garden trail, one of the park’s best places to see several major arches in one outing. You walk the full 7-mile loop, with an intermediate rating that deserves your attention. A moderate fitness level is required, and the length alone means you should arrive ready for a proper hike.

The reward is variety. You do not simply walk to one famous arch, take a picture, and return to the vehicle. You reach Landscape Arch, continue toward the more remote Partition Arch and Navajo Arch, and finish with Double O Arch. Each stop has a different feel, so the route gives you a better sense of the park’s sandstone formations than a short roadside visit.

Your day starts at 7:00 a.m. That early hour matters in Moab, especially when the weather is hot. It gives you a better chance to complete the trail before the strongest heat of the day, though the tour still takes roughly five to six hours from pickup or meeting time through the park visit.

What the private format adds

Moab In A Day LLC is a National Park Service licensed local outfitter. This is a private activity, so only your own group takes part. That arrangement is useful on a hike where people move at different speeds.

A guide can help you manage the day instead of forcing the whole group into a fixed rhythm. One guide, Paulina, is praised for adjusting to slower hiking in hot weather, making sure there was plenty of water, and stopping as needed. She also explains the area, Moab, and the geological features along the route.

I would not treat a private guide as a substitute for physical preparation. The company asks for a moderate fitness level, and the route remains 7 miles long. A flexible pace can make the hike more comfortable, but it does not make Devils Garden a casual walk.

The private setup also suits photographers. The tour is specifically focused on photography and hiking, and the guide can help you use the time well rather than rushing your group from one viewpoint to the next. The experience has also been offered as a sunset tour, though this booking begins at 7:00 a.m., so confirm the exact schedule when reserving.

Landscape Arch gives you the first big payoff

Landscape Arch is the first named hiking stop. It is described as the world’s longest arch, and its thin span is the sort of formation that makes this trail worth the effort. The walk to it is listed as about five minutes at the stop, though that refers to time at the attraction rather than the full approach from the trailhead.

This is a good early target because it gives you an impressive arch before the route becomes more remote. You can take photographs, listen to the guide’s explanation, and get a clear sense of the scale of the sandstone around you.

Do not assume that reaching Landscape Arch means the demanding part is over. The route continues to Partition Arch, Navajo Arch, and Double O Arch. If you are unsure about walking 7 miles, this is the point to judge your energy honestly, but the advertised experience is the complete loop.

Partition Arch and Navajo Arch add variety

Partition Arch is one of the remote arches reached along the hike. It is not treated as a quick roadside photo stop, which is part of its appeal. You have to continue on foot through Devils Garden to reach it.

Navajo Arch is another remote arch on the same route. These two stops help break up the hike and give you different settings for photographs. The route is not simply a straight walk toward one destination. You move through a series of formations, with the guide explaining what you are seeing along the way.

The supplied timing lists about five minutes at each named stop. That is enough for a quick look and photographs, but not a long picnic or extended rest. If photography is your main goal, talk with the guide early about how much time you want at each arch. The private format gives you more room to discuss priorities, but the whole experience still has to fit within roughly five to six hours.

Double O Arch is the remote finish

Double O Arch is the final named arch on the Devils Garden route. Its position farther along the hike makes it feel like a destination earned through distance, not a formation glimpsed from a parking area.

You should arrive with water, suitable walking shoes, and enough energy for the return portion of the loop. The tour includes water stops and rest breaks as needed, but the information provided does not specify how much water is supplied or what footwear is provided. Plan as you would for a serious desert hike.

Double O Arch also shows why the experience suits active visitors more than people wanting a quick national park sampler. The hike takes up a large part of the day, and the scenic drive comes around it. If your main aim is to see several famous arches with little walking, another Arches outing may fit better.

The scenic drive fills out the park visit

The tour does more than Devils Garden. You also travel the entire length of Arches National Park’s scenic drive and stop at its best overlooks. Along the way, the itinerary includes attractions reachable by walks of up to half a mile, plus arches seen from the vehicle.

Balanced Rock Trail is listed as a photo stop, with about five minutes at the attraction. Balanced Rock is a useful contrast to the Devils Garden hike because it requires much less effort and gives you a strong roadside photograph.

The drive also lets you see more of Arches than the 7-mile trail alone would provide. You get a sense of the park’s broader range of formations and viewpoints, including sights that are not part of the Devils Garden loop. Some stops are described only as seeing an arch along the scenic drive or from the vehicle, so do not expect a long walk at every attraction.

The schedule sounds full. You are combining a substantial hike, short walks, several photo stops, and the full scenic drive in five to six hours. That is efficient, but it may feel brisk if you want to linger at every overlook. The guide’s role matters here. Paulina is described as making good use of time, which suits a day with this many objectives.

Pickup from Moab keeps the morning simple

The listed meeting point is 150 E. Center Street in Moab. Pickup is offered from hotels, campgrounds, and AirbnBs within Moab city limits. Pickup from Sorrel River Ranch, Red Cliffs Lodge, Castle Valley, Under Canvas, and Pack Creek Ranch takes place at the company office instead.

The activity ends back at the meeting point. That makes planning easier if you are staying in central Moab, since you do not need to arrange a second ride after the park visit.

The 7:00 a.m. start is worth taking seriously. Be ready at the agreed pickup location, with your hiking gear and water sorted before the guide arrives. The company confirms bookings at the time of purchase, so check the pickup details carefully if your lodging is outside the standard Moab city area.

What the $315.12 price really covers

At $315.12 per person, this is not a budget way to enter Arches National Park. The price pays for a private, guided hiking and photography experience, transportation from eligible Moab lodging, and timed entry reservation handling.

That can be good value if you want to see a great deal of the park in one morning and prefer not to manage the drive, timing, and trail decisions yourself. It also makes sense for a small private group that values a guide’s attention and a flexible pace.

The price does not include national park admission. Entry costs $15 per person, or you can enter free with one existing pass for up to four people. The company advises you not to buy a pass ahead of time if you do not already have one, since you can purchase park entry directly at the park on the tour day. That is practical advice because an advance pass may be nonrefundable.

A tip is also excluded. The suggested amount is typically 15 percent if the guide delivers the kind of day you hoped for. Add that to your budget before comparing this tour with a self-guided visit.

Group discounts are offered, but the supplied details do not state the discount amount. Ask about the current rate if you are booking for several people.

Who should book this Arches outing

I would choose this tour if you want the complete Devils Garden hike but prefer help with the practical parts. A guide can keep the day moving, explain the geology, help with photography, and adjust the pace when the heat makes the trail harder.

It also suits first-time visitors who want more than the park’s easiest roadside stops. The combination of a major hike and the full scenic drive gives you a broad first look at Arches National Park.

This is less suitable if you dislike long walks, want a relaxed morning, or prefer to spend a long time at one viewpoint. The word challenge in the tour name is fair. Devils Garden is the main event, and the other park stops are fitted around it.

People looking for an accessible outing should ask detailed questions before booking. Service animals are allowed, but the tour requires moderate physical fitness, and the information provided does not promise an accessible trail or vehicle setup.

Timing, cancellation, and health rules

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations made inside that window are not refunded, and changes made within 24 hours are not accepted.

The company asks you to cancel if you have a fever of 100.5 F or 38.1 C or higher, chills, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, cough, sore throat, runny nose, muscle aches, or unexplained loss of taste or smell. The stated cancellation policy does not provide a special last-minute refund for sudden illness, so separate travel insurance may be wise.

Confirmation arrives at booking. The activity is offered in English, and mobile tickets are supported.

Simple preparation for a hard desert hike

You should treat this as a hiking day, not as a sightseeing bus ride. Wear footwear suited to a 7-mile intermediate trail, carry water, and plan for sun and heat. The guide can provide water and stops as needed, but the supplied details do not promise a specific water allowance, so ask before departure if you have special needs.

Bring a phone or camera with enough battery for the arches and scenic drive. The tour has a photography focus, and there are several distinct stops where you will want more than one quick picture.

Also budget for park entry and a possible 15 percent tip. Those costs are small beside the tour price, but adding them in advance gives you a more honest total.

FAQ

How long does the Arches National Park hike tour last?

The experience lasts approximately five to six hours.

How long is the Devils Garden hike?

The included Devils Garden hike is 7 miles and is rated intermediate.

What arches are included on the hike?

The hike includes Landscape Arch, Double O Arch, Partition Arch, and Navajo Arch.

Is park entry included in the tour price?

No. National park entry costs $15 per person, or it is free for up to four people with one existing qualifying pass.

Is timed entry to Arches National Park included?

Yes. A timed-entry reservation for Arches National Park is included.

Where does the tour start?

The meeting point is 150 E. Center Street, Moab, Utah. Pickup is offered from hotels, campgrounds, and AirbnBs within Moab city limits.

What time does the tour begin?

The listed start time is 7:00 a.m.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your own group participates in the activity.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start are not refunded.

Should you book the Devils Garden challenge?

Book this tour if you want a serious but organized Arches day, with the full Devils Garden route, several remote arches, the scenic drive, and a private guide to manage the pace. Paulina’s ability to explain local geology and adjust for heat adds real value to a long hike.

Skip it if the price feels too high, you want only easy walks, or you prefer to set your own schedule. The best reason to choose it is not simply seeing Arches National Park. It is combining the park’s most demanding featured hike with a wide tour of the scenic drive while someone else handles the timing.