Park Avenue Hike

One of the most prominent and accessible short hikes in Utah's Arches National Park is the Park Avenue Trail. The well-marked trailhead appears very soon after leaving the visitor center and climbing the steep road up into the park. For those with very little time, this short hike is a great introduction to the monuments and formations of the park. For those who aren't in a rush, it is still a very worthwhile hike to enjoy a beautiful and broad wash flanked by spectacular rock monuments. An added bonus is apparent after a rain storm, as the flat rock foundation of the broad wash forms many pools that reflect the surrounding monuments, particularly in early morning or late afternoon.

The trail runs between two popular turnouts, the Park Avenue parking area and the smaller area at the base of Courthouse Towers, about 1.5 miles further up the park road. It can be hiked one-way if a car shuttle is available or as an out-and-back from either end. The Courthouse Towers end is at the lower elevation. The route passes some of the most well-known monuments in the park: Three Gossips, Sheep Rock and The Organ. All of these rocks can be seen from the road, so the trail doesn't offer anything unique in this regard, but it is a very different experience to be walking among these formations than to see them from the road.