Delicate Arch

Delicate Arch

Delicate Arch is a 65-foot-tall (20 m) freestanding natural arch located in Arches National Park near Moab, Utah. It is the most widely recognized landmark in Arches National Park and is depicted on Utah license plates and on a postage stamp commemorating.

Because of its distinctive shape, the arch was known as "the Chaps" and "the Schoolmarm's Bloomers" by local cowboys. It was given its current name by Frank Beckwith, leader of the Arches National Monument Scientific Expedition, who explored the area in the winter of 1933-1934. (The story that the names of Delicate Arch and Landscape Arch were inadvertently exchanged due to a signage mixup by the National Park Service [NPS] is false.)

This arch played no part in the original designation of the area as a U.S. National Monument in 1929, and was not included within the original boundaries; it was added when the monument was enlarged in 1938.

Location

Arches National Park
Utah, USA

Getting There

There is no public transportation to Delicate Arch. The only way to get to the arch is by hiking or biking. There is a shuttle service that runs from the visitor center to the Delicate Arch trailhead, but this shuttle is only available during certain times of the year and may require reservations. If you do not have a car, you may be able to hire a taxi or ride-sharing service to take you to the trailhead.

Nearby Airports

This is a list of primary airports in Utah that have scheduled passenger service on commercial airlines.