Beyond being renowned for housing over 2,000 stone arches, Arches National Park in Moab, Utah, is equally famous for some truly spectacular sunrises. As dawn breaks, Arches is bathed in golden light that transforms the red rock landscape with every passing minute. And while Delicate Arch draws the most crowds, we’ve rounded up 10 more stunning sunrise-watching spots to introduce you to in this guide!
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🏆Top 5 Sunrises in Arches National Park
If you’re just looking for the best of the best, here are the top 5 spots we recommend for watching the sunrise in Arches National Park. Click on the name to read more, or continue reading for a complete list of 11!
🥇 Our Top Pick: Broken Arch was the perfect balance of beauty and solitude.
👩👩👧👧 Most Popular: Delicate Arch is the most visited arch in the park!
👀 Panoramic Views: Panorama Point is excellent for sunrise, sunset, and stargazing.
🪟 Most Arches: The Windows Loop & Double Arch let you see many arches in a short distance.
📸 Unique Photo Opp: Balanced Rock is a quick, peaceful visit with unique photo opps.
Please respect the outdoors and Leave No Trace! Before embarking on your outdoor adventure, review the seven principles of Leave No Trace, which include planning ahead and preparing, traveling and camping on durable surfaces, disposing of waste properly (pack out what you pack in), leaving what you find, minimizing campfire impacts, respecting wildlife, and being considerate of others. Abiding by these principles helps keep these places beautiful so others can enjoy them for years to come!
❌ Don’t Bust the Crust! Throughout all of Arches National Park, you must stay on marked trails. These arid landscapes are home to Biological Soil Crust (Living Crust), a delicate ecosystem that takes decades to form and can be destroyed with just a single step off-trail.
1. Delicate Arch
Delicate Arch is Arches National Park’s most popular sunrise spot, and for good reason—it’s absolutely stunning. To ensure we reached the arch in time for the sunrise, we arrived at the parking lot by 4:45 AM, hit the Delicate Arch Trail by 5:10 AM, and reached the arch by 5:45 AM. Even that early, about 15 cars were already there, so don’t expect to be the only ones, even if you get up early.
💡 If you have a larger vehicle, RV parking is available across the street from the normal lot.
Hiking this trail before dawn means navigating a mix of rock cairns and posted signs to guide your way in the dark, so be prepared with a headlamp to be able to see where you’re going. The last section features a narrow ledge with a steep drop-off, and the viewing area itself can be steep, so a solid pair of hiking shoes with proper traction is another must.
By the time we arrived at the arch itself, 20-30 other people were already enjoying the view. Despite its popularity, we found the crowd to be respectful; everyone took turns for photos and maintained a low volume. Getting there early allows you to choose your perfect spot and soak in the cool, peaceful morning before the sun peeks its head over the horizon.
Crowds: High
Photogenic: High
Hike or Viewpoint: Hike
Hike Difficulty: Moderate (3.2 miles, 5.1 km)
Parking: Although the parking lot is a decent size, the arch’s popularity makes parking limited.
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2. Broken Arch
For a quieter yet equally stunning sunrise experience, Broken Arch stands as our top recommendation. This arch affords you views of the sun peeking over the horizon and the desert rock formations erupting in vibrant color (some lookouts give you one but not the other).
When we visited, we had the entire arch to ourselves—a rare treat in Arches National Park! The Broken Arch Trail itself is considerably easier than that of Delicate Arch, with minimal elevation gain. Nevertheless, it still delivers spectacular views that beautifully frame the distant La Sal Mountains against the glowing dawn. It’s truly an incredible reward for minimal hiking effort!
Crowds: Low
Photogenic: High
Hike or Viewpoint: Hike
Hike Difficulty: Easy (1.8 miles, 2.9 km)
Parking: Ample parking since it doesn’t draw big crowds.
3. Park Avenue
While we wouldn’t exactly consider Park Avenue Overlook a can’t-miss sunrise destination, as the valley it’s in obscures the first glimpse of the sun, it still offers serene morning views just a 7-minute drive from the Visitor Center. To get to this overlook, head just halfway down the Park Avenue Trail just before sunrise for a quick photo as dawn breaks.
If you’d like to continue to the end of the trail, you’ll be rewarded with expansive views of massive rock features that resemble a city skyline as they gradually illuminate.
Crowds: Low
Photogenic: High
Hike or Viewpoint: Short Hike
Hike Difficulty: Easy (1.8 miles, 2.9 km)
Parking: Ample parking. Park at the Park Avenue Trailhead or Tower Arch Viewpoint to access Park Avenue.
4. Panorama Point
Perched at a higher elevation, Panorama Point offers sweeping, wide-open vistas that stretch over much of Arches National Park, including distant views of the La Sal Mountains, the Fiery Furnace, and even Devils Garden.
This almost 360-degree perspective makes it an ideal spot for both sunrise and sunset, allowing you to witness the golden light spread across the vast red rock landscape or paint the formations with colorful evening hues.
Crowds: Medium
Photogenic: High
Hike or Viewpoint: Viewpoint
Hike Difficulty: N/A
Parking: Plenty of parking, but it can get busy as it’s right off the main Arches Scenic Drive.
5. Courthouse Towers Viewpoint
At Courthouse Towers Viewpoint, prepare for a breathtaking sunrise that transforms towering monoliths, resembling an ancient courthouse, into a vibrant display of colors. From this no-hike viewpoint, you’ll be able to see the golden light slowly creep down the colossal spires, bringing out incredible reds and oranges. Although we didn’t make it here ourselves, we were told that this is a unique photography spot in the park!
Crowds: Medium
Photogenic: High
Hike or Viewpoint: Viewpoint
Hike Difficulty: N/A
Parking: Limited Parking
6. Balanced Rock
Balanced Rock is another viewpoint out on a short trail that’s great for both sunrise and sunset. As the rock is very exposed, you’ll have some beautiful early morning light as well as direct afternoon light later in the day.
We visited this one during sunset, and it was stunning, and we were told it’s stunning for sunrise as well. Just the way this massive rock, balancing on a spire, is illuminated by the golden light makes it a must-see in general!
Crowds: Low
Photogenic: High
Hike or Viewpoint: Both
Hike Difficulty: Easy (0.3 miles, 0.5 km)
Parking: Limited Parking
7. The Windows
For a truly iconic sunrise shot, we highly recommend watching the North Window Arch perfectly frame Turret Arch on the Window Loop Trail. As the first light hits the sky, head around to the backside of these formations to watch as the sun lights up both of their surfaces from behind. While this area is incredibly popular for sunset, it’s also spectacular (and less crowded) at dawn.
The entire Windows section provides immense “bang for your buck” for any visit, featuring three distinct arches on just this one trail (North Window, South Window, and Turret Arch), along with the Double Arch located just across the parking lot. This concentration of windows and arches makes it a must-visit area, regardless of the time of day you visit.
Crowds: Medium
Photogenic: High
Hike or Viewpoint: Hike (0.7 miles, 1.1 km)
Hike Difficulty: Easy
Parking: Ample parking
8. Double Arch
For a short hike to a truly grand sunrise, Double Arch is an excellent choice. Located just across the parking lot from The Windows Loop, it’s just a short stroll to one of the park’s most massive and uniquely formed arches. As the golden light paints the sky, you can capture breathtaking photos of its 2 connected arches, enjoying the quiet before more crowds roll in later in the day.
Crowds: Medium
Photogenic: High
Hike or Viewpoint: Hike
Hike Difficulty: Easy (0.6 miles, 1 km)
Parking: Ample parking
9. Devil’s Garden
For the truly adventurous sunrise seeker, the vast Devil’s Garden Loop offers a spectacular and more solitary dawn experience. To witness the park’s iconic fins ignite with color, you’ll need to start this lengthy trail early.
We recommend heading clockwise on this trail, approximately ¾ of a mile past the iconic Landscape Arch. This will bring you to a stunning section of narrow fins just before Black Arch. Another section we loved for photos was on top of the fins between Navajo Arch and Partition Arch.
Crowds: Low
Photogenic: High
Hike or Viewpoint: Hike
Hike Difficulty: Moderate (8 miles, 12.9 km)
Parking: Ample parking
10. Fiery Furnace
The intricate, maze-like depths of the Fiery Furnace Trail make it an excellent hike for beating the desert heat in the morning. However, due to its shadowed canyons, don’t expect to watch the sun rise over the horizon from within the trail itself. We went on this trail around 9 AM via a guided ranger tour. If you’re not on a tour, you need a permit to do this hike.
If you want to watch the sunrise, start at the Fiery Furnace Viewpoint overlooking the entrance to catch the rising sun casting a golden glow across the fins. Then, if you’ve secured the necessary permit, you can set off on the hike to explore its unique geology in the cooler morning temperatures.
🎫 Permit Required! A permit from the Visitor Center is required to hike this trail.
Crowds: Medium
Photogenic: High
Hike or Viewpoint: Both
Hike Difficulty: Challenging (2.1 miles, 3.4 km)
Parking: Medium, 24 spaces
11. La Sal Mountains Viewpoint
We found the La Sal Mountains Viewpoint to be an underrated spot for sunrise viewing, offering a stunning backdrop during the first hours of the day. From this vantage point, you can witness the sun illuminating the distant, often snow-capped peaks, creating a breathtaking contrast against the foreground of red rock arches and fins.
Crowds: Medium
Photogenic: High
Hike or Viewpoint: Viewpoint
Hike Difficulty: N/A
Parking: Medium, 18 parking spots
🗺️ Map of Sunrise Spots in Arches National Park
How to use this map: We have saved the locations from this guide on this map. You can save this map to your Google Maps by pressing the star icon. In your Google Maps, click the menu icon and then Saved Maps, where this map will appear.
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ℹ️ 5 Sunrise Tips for Arches National Park
- Bring a headlight. If you plan on hitting a trail before sunrise, a headlight helps you when walking in the dark to keep your hands free, allowing you to see any rocks or sandy areas.
- Wear good footwear. We recommend wearing shoes with grippy soles (hiking boots or trail runners). If it’s during the winter and there is snow and ice, we recommend wearing ice spikes for safety on the trails.
- Time it right. Whether a hike or overlook, time your start early enough so that you plan on arriving to your ideal sunrise-watching spot at least 30 minutes before the actual sunrise.
- Bring plenty of water. Just because it’s sunrise doesn’t mean you should go without bringing water in the desert. We always carry a water bladder or a water bottle on every hike.
- Dress in layers. Mornings in the desert can be chilly, even in the warmer months. It’s important to dress in layers so you can stay comfortable when the temperatures change as the sun rises.
⏰ When to Arrive for the Sunrise at Arches National Park
To ensure you’re perfectly positioned for sunrise, plan to be at your chosen viewpoint at least 30 minutes before the official sunrise time. A quick online search will confirm the precise sunrise time for your visit. Remember to factor in your hiking time for trails, as popular spots fill up incredibly fast. Our own experience at Delicate Arch saw 15 cars already in the lot by 5:10 AM, even before the sun appeared!
❌ Sunrise Locations to Avoid at Arches National Park
Although beautiful in and of themselves, there are a few spots that we explicitly don’t recommend watching the sunrise from in Arches National Park. Here’s a bit about each:
- Tower Arch: Tower Arch is a great location for sunset, but not so much for sunrise. The rock formation right behind Tower Arch would make watching the sunrise or getting clear sunrise photos of the arch difficult.
- Tapestry Arch: Tapestry Arch is hidden by rock formations, so the sun doesn’t hit it until later in the morning. That being said, it would make for a great sunset location, especially if you’re staying at the nearby Arches campground!
- Sand Dune Arch: Sand Dune Arch would be better to visit a few hours after the sun has risen, as its location prevents it from getting much sunlight in the early morning. We recommend visiting Sand Dune Arch on your way back from Broken Arch, once the sun has risen a bit more.
🎫 Consider investing in the America the Beautiful pass for $80 like we did if you’re planning on travelling to several parks within the year.
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