The Windows Section of Arches National Park is one of the most visited areas of this beautiful national park, and for good reason. There are a large concentration of named arches all in one small area with hiking trails that connect many of them! Another thing that makes this very popular is that the marked trails here are very easy!
Quick Info About Arches National Park, In General
PARK HOURS: Arches National Park is open 24/7, but the visitor center hours, which vary based on the season, are more limited. 9am-4pm are the most limited the visitor center hours will be other than it’s complete closure on Christmas day.
ENTRANCE FEE: $30 for vehicles with up to 15 passengers (non-commercial). $25 for motorcycles. $15 for individuals. Each of these passes are valid for seven days. Also, if entering during peak hours, you’ll have to pay the $2 timed entry fee as well, this must be purchased in advance.
The America The Beautiful Annual Pass is typically the way we go each year. It’s $80 for a full year and this gets you into every national park and most other sites run by the NPS (like National Monuments).
TIMED ENTRY: Currently, when visiting Arches between the months of April and October, you’ll need a timed entry to be able to enter the park between 6am and 5pm; by the way, we loved it. Each vehicle can get one, 1-hour time slot per day from Recreation.gov. Dates are released on the first of each month for up-to three months out. (So, for instance, on January 1st at 8am MST, you could book through the end of April.) Spots are limited, so the further out you book, the better. There will also be a limited number of passes released the night before. If you don’t get a spot at all, you can enter the park before or after those hours as well.
PEAK SEASON: Arches National Park’s peak season is March to October. The timed entry does help alleviate the crowds.
NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PETS: Pets are not allowed on any of the trails inside Arches National Park. They’re also not permitted to be in vehicles unattended. Because of both of these regulations, this specific park wouldn’t be a great place to visit if you can’t leave your furry friends at home.
Getting to the Windows Section
The road leading to Windows Section is just past the turnout for Balanced Rock off of the main national park road, Arches National Park Road. It’s the first road on the right past Balanced Rock. The road is aptly named The Windows Road. This road has one pull out before you reach the trailheads. This is the Garden of Eden Viewpoint to the left when first going down the road. The road continues to the parking area for the hiking trails, which loops and returns the way it came. This parking area can become quite crowded so you may have to do a couple of loops to find a spot. There is an upper section of the parking lot that’s closer to the Windows and a lower section that’s closer to Double Arch.
Top Sites in the Windows Section of Arches National Park
GARDEN OF EDEN – This is a scenic overlook I mentioned briefly above. This is an area in the Windows Section that you can sort-of roam free to see some amazing and unique formations as well as a few bonus arches along the way. This is also a great place to check out some rock climbers making their way up some of the formations there. When you’re roaming around this area, though, be sure to be mindful of the cryptobiotic soil.
DOUBLE ARCH – Double Arch is one of the most iconic arches in the park, after Delicate Arch, of course. It’s the tallest and second longest arch inside the park! And just like the name suggests, it’s two arches in one stop! To really comprehend the massive size of Double Arch, I highly recommend walking to the bottom of it and not simply viewing it from the parking area. Once you’re at the base of the arch, it is possible to climb up to the base of the upper of the two arches. This takes you across slick rock and is not part of the trail. However, the view from the top is truly beautiful. It gets crowded up there and is a very narrow space. It’s a popular spot for photos, so be patient, but also be respectful if you’re trying to get a pic up there. In 2020 we waited a very long time (probably 15 minutes) just for two girls to get their perfectly modeled ‘gram shot. Try to be respectful on both sides.
Accessing Double Arch – A super easy and flat 0.6 mile round-trip hike will lead you to the base of the arch. However, you can climb up and this takes some skill and I definitely wouldn’t recommend it if you have balance issues or for small children.
TURRET ARCH – Turret Arch is located across-from and between the two Windows on the upper section of the parking area. Turret is another arch that you can walk through. Next to Turret Arch is a large spire, adding to the beauty of it, as well as a small hole in the fin next to the arch opening.
Accessing Turret Arch – From the upper parking lot, there is a 1-mile loop that connects the two windows and Turret Arch. This is another very easy hike that I highly recommend taking the time to do.
THE WINDOWS (NORTH + SOUTH) – North Window is the first you’ll come across and can be seen from the parking area. There are stairs leading up to the mouth of this arch and a photo from here looking over at Turret Arch is one that will impress everyone back home.
South Window is the last stop on this three-arch loop. The trail seemingly ends at the base of it. This is the one that fewer people see if they’re in a rush, and it’s a shame because this beauty is actually the third largest in the park!
Accessing North Window and South Window – These are found on the same 1-mile loop trail I mentioned above for Turret Arch. It’s such an easy hike and realistically pretty quick! Definitely check out all three.
PRIMITIVE TRAIL BEHIND THE WINDOWS – When you get to South Window, you’ll see a sign that says Primitive Trail. Something like this can sometimes be intimidating in a national park because you don’t know what to expect. Let me tell you, this is the way to get back! It has all the Wow!-factor and none of the crowds. We clocked this hike at just under 1.5 miles total if you go to the front of the other arches and then take the primitive trail back to the parking area. The primitive trail just has some really beautiful views of the La Sals and other formations and overlooks behind the windows.
FIND THE PERFECT SPOT FOR STAR-GAZING – On our trip in 2020, we were there at the perfect time to see the Milk Way. We came to the Windows the second night we went star-gazing and it was quite stunning! Things to remember, though, are to use a red flashlight, regular flashlights will alter your eye-adjustment, as well as fellow star-gazers’ adjustment. It can take up to 30 minutes to let your eyes adjust.
LESSER-KNOWN ARCHES IN THE AREA – There are several lesser known arches in the Windows area, but many of them are still named. Ribbon Arch is an unmarked 2-mile hike to check out (it’s on our list for our next visit!). Cove Arch is about a one-mile hike, also on our to do list, and is found just past Double Arch and the Cove of Caves.
Before You Go, You Might Want to Pack These Things
We love to let you in on the things we use on our hiking trips and absolutely love! From hiking shoes to packs, we’ve put a lot of miles in with some of the best (and worst) equipment. For the parents who hike, the Deuter Kid Comfort is truly a game-changer. It’s been the best purchase we’ve made since becoming parents to help sustain our outdoor-loving-lifestyle.
It’s very easy to see why The Windows is such a popular section within Arches National Park and should be part of any unforgettable adventure here.
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