Exploring Sand Dune Arch in 2024: Everything to Know About Visiting
THINKING ABOUT VISITING SAND DUNE ARCH?
You’ve landed on the right article! We have spent months traveling around Southern Utah, enjoying as many hiking trails as we can, and Sand Dune Arch is one of our favorites for young families. Using what we learned from our experience, we’ve put together a guide with helpful tips and details to help best enjoy your time at Sand Dune Arch.
During our last trip to Moab, we spent lots of time exploring Arches National Park. One of our favorite things to do in Moab with kids was hiking to Sand Dune Arch. It was a short hike, perfect for our younger kids. We brought some sand toys and enjoyed spending an hour in this little section of the park.
Sand Dune Arch in Moab, Utah is a small arch found in between some impressive canyon walls. It is tucked away in such a cool part of the park and is well worth the quick stop. We had a great time and would highly recommend visiting.
Getting to Sand Dune Arch
The arch is located in Arches National Park. From Moab, you will head north on US 191N and turn right on the Arches Entrance Road. Continue for 16 miles past the Visitor Center on Arches Scenic Drive, the main road in the park.
You will go through the entrance station to Arches National Park. There is a $25 per vehicle charge to enter the park.
The parking lot for Sand Dune and Broken Arch Trail will be on the right or east side of the road towards the far north end of the main drag going through the park.
The parking lot is about two miles from the end of the road and the campground.
Sand Dune Arch Parking Lot
The Sand Dune Arch Parking area is not overly large. There are a few oversized RV parking spots, along with maybe 20 parking spots. There are overflow parking spots out on the road as well.
When we visited in October, the parking lot was full most of the day. You may need to wait for parking or circle back around if you find the parking lot is full.
The trail head starts at this parking lot.
Trail Summary:
- Roundtrip Distance: 0.4 miles or 0.6 km
- Hiking Time: 15 to 30 minutes
- Elevation Gain: 0 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
- Pets: No (Service Animals are Allowed)
Sand Dune Arch and Broken Arch Loop Trail:
- Roundtrip Distance: 2.3 miles or 3.6 km
- Hiking Time: 60 to 70 minutes
- Elevation Gain: 65 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Description:
The hike, or rather walk, to the arch is really fun. It is a really short walk which makes it a perfect Moab hiking trail for those with young kids or groups looking to avoid hiking.
After starting on the main trail, you will reach a junction in the trail after a short distance, leading to either Sand Dune Arch or Broken Arch. This is about 100 yards into the trail. You will see great views of Broken Arch as well as the La Sal Mountains in the distance. You cannot see Sand Dune Arch from this sign.
After taking the spur to the right toward Sand Dune Arch, you will walk through a really neat slot canyon-like structure. The narrow passages are made from two tall sandstone fins. My kids thought it was so cool to get to walk through this section of the hike.
The Sand Dune Arch Trail also has tons of shade, making it a great thing to do if you’re exploring Arches on a really hot day. While the trail is short and easy, the trail does have some soft sand. It can be a challenge to walk through the deep sand.
Once you get there, there are a few little areas to explore, but they are not very big. There are small little crevices to explore, but that’s about it.
After spending time at the arch, you will walk back through the narrow canyon. After getting to the junction, you can either continue on the side trail to the Broken Arch Trail, or you can return to the Sand Dune Arch trailhead.
Tip: Bring Your Sand Toys
If you’re going to be visiting with kids who like to play in the sand, make sure to bring some sand toys. We brought along our sand toy bag, and since the hike is so short, it is really easy to bring them. This is also a great way occupy the kids as you wait for people to move out of the way for pictures.
Our kids would have played in the sand there for half the day. We also got to share our sand toys with some other kids who were visiting at the same time, so we got to make some new friends along the way.
Other Fun Things to Do in Arches National Park
- Drive the Scenic Road: There is a beautiful 18-mile scenic road that goes through Arches National Park with plenty to see from your vehicle.
- Go Camping: The Devils Garden Campground is a great place to enjoy Arches National Park. The views from the campground are amazing. There is also lots of dispersed camping in Moab if you can’t get a reservation in the park.
- Hike to Delicate Arch: Delicate Arch is one of the most popular hikes and photos to come out of southern Utah. The effort to get to Delicate Arch is well worth it.
- Explore the Windows Trail: This short trail will take you through some really unique and cool rock formations in the park.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the hike to Sand Dune arch?
The Sand Dune Arch Trail in Arches National Park is 0.4 miles round-trip.
How tall is the Sand Dune arch?
The arch is about 16 feet tall and 31 feet wide. There is a large opening under the sand dune where you can stand to take pictures and walk behind the arch. It is a small arch but really cool to see.
What is the most famous arch in Moab?
The most famous arch in Moab is Delicate Arch. It is just up the road from Sand Dune Arch, making it easy to see both amazing arches in one day in Arches National Park.
Where is the famous arch in Moab?
Delicate Arch, arguably the most famous arch in Moab, is located in Arches National Park.
Do You Need to Book in Advance to visit Sand Dune Arch?
You do not need a specific reservation to see this arch. However, depending on the time of year you visit, you may need to secure a time entry into the national park. You can read about the timed-entry requirements for Arches National Park here.
What’s the Best Way to See Sand Dune Arch?
The best, and only, way to see this arch in Arches National Park is by hiking. Fortunately, it is a really short and easy hike. The only tricky part of the trail is the deep and loose sand around the arch.
Conclusion: Sand Dunes National Park
We hope you have found this guide helpful in planning a visit to Arches National Park. This was one of our kids’ favorite hikes in the park and things to do in Moab. It is a great place to let your kids explore and play while you relax for a bit. They loved playing in the sand and walking through the narrow slot canyon.
Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and the surrounding Moab area is a place that we love to visit. This area in Southern Utah is so beautiful, with lots of fun activities to do. If you’re looking for other fun things to do in Moab with kids, we recommend the Jeep Arch trail and Corona Arch trail.
More Moab Adventures
Island in the Sky Canyonlands: A Complete Visitor’s Guide
Canyonlands National Park in One Day
11 Best Hotels in Moab Downtown
Hiking to Mesa Arch in Canyonlands
6 Best Thrilling Moab Jeep Tours
