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

The main event here is the seven-mile Devils Garden loop, a serious but rewarding walk through Arches National Park. You’ll reach several major arches, including Landscape Arch, Partition Arch, Navajo Arch, and Double O Arch, then ride the park’s scenic road with stops at key sights.

I like the early 7 a.m. start and the fact that timed entry is included. I also like the private format: only your group joins the activity, so the guide can adjust the pace, add water breaks, and help with photos. If Paulina is your guide, expect clear explanations about local geology, town history, and the park.

The catch is the physical demand. Seven miles in desert country is not a casual stroll, and the $315.12 price does not include the park entrance fee. You’ll need moderate fitness, sturdy footwear, water, and a willingness to spend much of the morning on foot.

Key points at a glance

• Seven-mile Devils Garden hike: The core challenge takes you to Landscape, Partition, Navajo, and Double O Arches.
• Timed park entry included: You do not need to arrange the Arches entry reservation yourself.
• Private group format: Your party has the guide’s attention, with room for a slower pace or extra stops.
• Early Moab departure: Pickup begins at 7 a.m., useful for getting an early start on a demanding walk.
• Scenic drive added on: The experience also covers famous sights reachable by short walks, plus overlooks viewed from the road.
• Park admission costs extra: Budget $15 per person, unless an existing pass covers your group.

Why Devils Garden makes this a real hiking day

Many Arches excursions focus on roadside viewpoints and short walks. This one asks more of you. The seven-mile Devils Garden route is the reason to book it, especially if you want to reach the park’s more remote arches rather than only photograph the famous roadside formations.

The hike gives the day a clear purpose. You are not simply collecting quick stops from a vehicle. You are walking into the park, gaining access to arches that require more time and effort, and seeing how the red-rock terrain changes along the route.

I like that the outing combines the hike with the full scenic drive. You get the demanding centerpiece, then a wider look at Arches National Park’s famous road and overlooks. That makes better use of your time than a hiking-only outing if this is your main day in the park.

Still, do not read intermediate as easy. The stated duration is five to six hours, and the walk itself covers seven miles. Heat, uneven ground, and the need to keep moving can make the day tiring. You should be comfortable with a moderate physical effort before booking.

The 7 a.m. start from Moab

The meeting point is 150 East Center Street in Moab. Pickup is offered from hotels, campgrounds, Airbnbs, and other lodging within Moab city limits, which removes one small but useful piece of morning planning.

Pickup from Sorrel River Ranch, Red Cliffs Lodge, Castle Valley, Under Canvas, and Pack Creek Ranch is handled at the Moab office rather than directly at those properties. If you are staying in one of those places, plan your morning around reaching the office.

The start time is 7 a.m. That can feel early on vacation, but it makes sense for a long walk in a desert park. An early departure also gives you a better chance of enjoying the hike before the strongest heat of the day. The tour returns to the same meeting point after the park portion is finished.

This is a private activity, so only your group participates. That matters more here than it would on a simple sightseeing drive. A private guide can pay attention to your pace, pause when needed, and spend more time on the subjects that interest you.

The company, Moab In A Day LLC, is a local Moab outfitter licensed by the National Park Service. That local connection is useful when the day involves both park rules and a demanding route.

Landscape Arch begins the walking portion

Landscape Arch is the first named highlight on the hike. The walk to it is listed as five minutes, and no separate attraction ticket is charged for the stop.

The arch is famous for its extraordinary length and delicate-looking span. It gives you an immediate sense of why Devils Garden deserves more than a quick drive-by. Even if you have seen photographs, the thin red-rock form is more striking when you stand beneath the broad desert sky and see its scale for yourself.

This first stop also helps you judge the day ahead. You will be able to see how your body feels before the route reaches the more remote arches. Use it as a chance to organize water, adjust clothing, and settle into your pace.

The stop itself is short in the stated schedule, but the overall hike is not. The listed five-minute visit describes time at the attraction, not the entire walking commitment. You should avoid treating each time marker as a promise that the day will move at that exact speed.

Partition Arch adds distance and space

Partition Arch is one of the remote arches reached along the hike. Its position away from the main roadside sights is part of its appeal. You have to commit to the trail before the park begins to feel less like a string of overlooks and more like a backcountry-style walk.

I like this part of the route because it rewards effort with a quieter setting. The attraction is not presented as a separate paid stop, so the value comes from the guide, the route, and the chance to experience more of the park in one continuous outing.

The schedule allows five minutes at Partition Arch. That is enough for a focused look and photographs, but not an invitation to linger for a long time. If photography is your main goal, tell the guide early. The tour is built around photography and hiking, and a private format should give you some flexibility, but the full seven-mile route still requires sensible time management.

Navajo Arch brings a different kind of stop

Navajo Arch is another remote arch along the hike. Unlike a broad roadside viewpoint, this stop is part of the walking experience itself. You reach it because you are taking on Devils Garden, not because it happens to sit beside the scenic road.

The itinerary allows five minutes here as well. That short scheduled stop keeps the group moving toward the route’s larger goal, Double O Arch. You can expect a quick look and photographs rather than a long rest period.

This is where good pacing matters. You should not race the first part of the hike and assume you can recover later. Keep your speed steady, drink water before you feel thirsty, and use the guide’s judgment about pauses. The supplied information specifically calls for moderate fitness, so you should plan for effort rather than relying on the guide to turn it into an easy walk.

Double O Arch is the main hiking reward

Double O Arch is the most remote named arch on this outing and one of the main reasons to choose this experience over a short Arches sightseeing tour. It comes along the longer hike, so reaching it gives the day a clear sense of accomplishment.

The stop is again listed at five minutes. That sounds brief, but the significance lies in getting there as part of the full route. You will have already passed Landscape Arch, Partition Arch, and Navajo Arch before arriving, which makes Double O Arch feel like the payoff for the morning’s effort.

I would treat this stop as a goal, not as the only point of the hike. The route between the arches is part of the experience, and a guide can add context about the rock formations and the area as you walk. Paulina, one of the named guides associated with the company, has been praised for explaining geological features and local history while keeping the day moving.

The schedule is active, not leisurely. If you need a very relaxed pace, ask about it before booking. A guide can make reasonable adjustments in a private group, but the distance remains seven miles.

Short walks and roadside sights fill out the day

The hike is only part of the plan. The experience also includes famous attractions reachable within a half-mile walk, as well as the full length of the scenic drive and the best overlooks.

That added coverage is useful if you have one main day in Arches National Park. You are not forced to choose between a strenuous trail and the park’s iconic roadside sights. The tradeoff is that each short stop may be fairly brief, since the Devils Garden hike takes up much of the morning.

Balanced Rock Trail is listed as a photo stop lasting five minutes. This is a good place for a quick image and a break from the longer walk. You will see the formation in a different setting from the remote arches, with the park’s road system making access simple.

Other arches along the scenic drive are viewed from the vehicle. The specific names and stopping points are not provided, so you should think of these as added views rather than a detailed series of separate hikes. If you want a particular arch or overlook, ask the guide what the day’s timing allows.

The tour also promises stops at all the best overlooks along the scenic drive. That broad coverage gives you a useful overview of Arches, though the exact order and length of each stop can depend on park conditions and the needs of your private group.

A guide adds value beyond navigation

A guide is most useful here for more than finding the trail. You are paying for local judgment, timing, park access planning, and interpretation of the rock formations.

The strongest guide feedback centers on Paulina. Her style is described as energetic without wasting time, with explanations about the area, Moab, geological features, and park history. That mix suits this tour because the morning has a lot to cover.

A good guide can also shape the day around your group. One account describes a slower hiking pace in hot conditions, plenty of water, and breaks when needed. You should not assume every day will feel identical, but the private structure gives you a better chance of receiving that kind of attention.

The company calls the outing photography and hiking focused. Bring a camera or phone if that is important to you, and say so at the start. The guide may help you find useful angles or allow more time at a formation when the schedule permits.

What $315.12 really buys you

At $315.12 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Arches National Park. The price makes more sense if you value a private guide, hotel pickup within Moab, timed entry, a long hike to remote arches, and a full scenic-drive overview in one package.

You are paying for convenience and structure as much as transportation. Instead of planning the park reservation, route, parking strategy, and day’s sequence on your own, you can meet the guide and concentrate on the hike and photographs.

The entry fee is extra. It costs $15 per person, unless one existing pass covers your group of up to four. The operator explains that park entry is kept separate because some people already have a pass and because National Park Service rules affect how tours operate. You can buy admission directly at the park on the day of the tour, so do not purchase a nonrefundable pass ahead of time if you are unsure.

For a solo participant, the per-person price may feel steep. For a private group splitting the cost, it can be easier to justify, especially when a full day of planning and driving would otherwise fall on one person.

A 15 percent tip is customary if the guide delivers a strong day. That is optional, but you should include it in your mental budget.

Fitness, heat, and what to bring

The tour requires moderate physical fitness. Seven miles is the central fact to respect. You should be ready for a sustained walk and uneven desert ground, even though the supplied details do not specify every trail surface or elevation change.

Water is essential. The guide can help with breaks, but you are responsible for arriving prepared. Wear comfortable walking footwear and clothing suitable for a warm, exposed outdoor setting.

The early departure helps, but it does not remove the physical demands. If you are not used to long hikes, consider whether the remote arches are worth the effort. The private format may allow a slower pace, yet the outing is still designed as a hiking challenge.

Service animals are allowed. The tour is offered in English. Confirmation arrives at booking, and the activity returns to the Moab meeting point.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations inside that window are not refunded, and late changes are not accepted. The operator also asks you to cancel if you have a fever, chills, breathing trouble, cough, sore throat, runny nose, muscle aches, or unexplained loss of taste or smell on the day of the tour.

Who should book this Devils Garden experience?

I would choose this tour if you want the major value of Arches to come from walking to remote formations rather than simply looking from the car. It suits hikers with moderate fitness who appreciate a planned route, a private guide, and help with photographs.

It also makes sense for a small group that wants one efficient park day. You receive a long hike, scenic-drive coverage, timed entry, and pickup in one outing. That combination can be worth the price if you have limited time in Moab.

I would hesitate if you want a relaxed sightseeing morning, dislike early starts, or prefer to spend a long time at each individual arch. The five-minute stop schedule at the named formations suggests a purposeful pace. You will see a lot, but you may not linger everywhere.

Should you book it?

Book this experience if Double O Arch and the other remote Devils Garden formations are high on your list, and if you want a guide handling the timing and park logistics. The private format, early start, and scenic-drive coverage give it real practical value.

Skip it if a seven-mile hike sounds like too much or if the $315.12 price feels out of proportion to your plans. In that case, a shorter park visit may suit you better. For the right hiker, though, this is a strong way to make Arches more than a roadside photo stop.

FAQ

How long does the Arches hike challenge last?

The experience lasts approximately five to six hours and ends back at the meeting point in Moab.

How far is the main hike?

The included Devils Garden hike covers seven miles and is described as an intermediate hike.

What arches are visited on the hike?

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

Is park admission included in the tour price?

No. National Park entry costs $15 per person, unless an existing pass covers up to four people in your group.

Where does the tour begin?

The meeting point is 150 East Center Street in Moab, Utah. Pickup is available from hotels, campgrounds, and Airbnbs within Moab city limits.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel for a full refund at least 24 hours before the experience starts. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.