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

Seven miles of red rock rewards steady walkers. This private Moab outing pairs the full Devils Garden hike with major Arches sights, scenic-drive overlooks, and a timed-entry reservation. I especially like the early 7:00 am start, which gives you a better shot at cooler hiking conditions, and the fact that a guide can adjust the pace for heat, water breaks, and photo stops. The main drawback is the price: $315.12 per person, with park admission extra, so this makes the most sense when you value private transport, local guiding, and a tightly planned day.

You will cover an intermediate 7-mile route and return to the Moab meeting point after roughly five to six hours. Pickup is available from hotels, campgrounds, and vacation rentals inside Moab city limits. The outing is a good match for active visitors who want more than a quick arch photo, but it is a serious walk rather than a casual park shuttle stop.

The essential facts at a glance

• A full Devils Garden challenge: The included hike covers seven miles and reaches Landscape Arch, Double O Arch, Partition Arch, and Navajo Arch.
• A 7:00 am departure: An early start helps make a long walk more manageable in Utah’s heat.
• Private activity: Only your own group participates, which allows more control over pace and stops.
• A guide named Paulina may be available: Her praised approach included clear explanations, flexible pacing, water breaks, and photography help.
• Park entry costs extra: Admission is $15 per person, unless one existing pass covers up to four people.
• Scenic-drive coverage is included: The day also includes major sights accessible by short walks, plus stops at overlooks and Balanced Rock.

Starting in Moab at 7:00 am

The tour begins at 150 East Center Street in Moab, with return to the same meeting point. If you stay inside Moab city limits, pickup can be arranged from your hotel, campground, or Airbnb. A few outlying places are handled differently: people staying at Sorrel River Ranch, Red Cliffs Lodge, Castle Valley, Under Canvas, or Pack Creek Ranch meet at the downtown office instead.

That detail matters because Moab lodging can be spread across a wide area. Check your pickup arrangement before the morning of the hike, especially if you are not staying in central Moab.

Moab In A Day LLC is licensed by the National Park Service and operates locally. The tour is offered in English, includes a mobile ticket, and is a private activity. That private format is one of the better reasons to consider the cost. You are not trying to match the pace of a large busload or waiting for strangers at every photo stop.

The early departure also gives the day a practical shape. You can spend the first part on the demanding Devils Garden walk, then use the remaining time for shorter walks and viewpoints along the park road. It is still a full morning and afternoon outing, but the schedule is more useful than spending the whole day on a single quick arch stop.

What the Devils Garden hike asks of you

The central feature is an intermediate 7-mile hike through Devils Garden. The route includes several arches, including remote-feeling sections that require more effort than the famous roadside viewpoints elsewhere in Arches National Park.

You should approach this as a fitness activity with sightseeing attached. The tour information asks for a moderate physical fitness level, and that is an important warning. Seven miles can feel very different in hot, dry weather, particularly when you are stopping for photos, walking over uneven ground, and carrying water.

The operator’s cancellation guidance asks you not to participate with a fever, chills, breathing trouble, cough, sore throat, runny nose, muscle aches, or unexplained loss of taste or smell. That is sensible advice for a demanding hike and a close vehicle experience.

Guide Paulina received particular praise for adapting the walk to slower hiking in the heat, allowing water stops, and explaining the park’s geology and past. Her approach sounds ideal for this route. Still, a specific guide is not guaranteed, so treat Paulina as a possible highlight rather than a promised part of every departure.

Landscape Arch: a powerful first goal

Landscape Arch is one of the early rewards on the route. The walk to it is listed as about five minutes, and the admission ticket is included in the tour. It is described as the world’s longest arch, a striking span that looks almost too thin to hold itself together.

This is a good first stop because it gives you a major sight before the harder part of the day. You can take photographs, get a feel for the scale of the rock, and then continue rather than spending your best energy on a long approach to a single feature.

The short walk does not mean the stop is minor. Landscape Arch is the sort of formation that works best when you pause and study its shape. A guide can also add context about the geology and erosion that created Arches National Park’s unusual forms.

Double O Arch and Partition Arch add the effort

Double O Arch is reached along the longer hike and is listed as a five-minute stop. Its name comes from the two openings in the rock, and its location makes it feel more remote than the short walks near the park road.

Partition Arch is another remote arch along the route. Both stops give the hike a stronger sense of progress than a string of drive-up viewpoints. You are not only collecting photographs. You are walking farther into the park and earning views that are tied to the route itself.

The tradeoff is simple: the farther sections demand more stamina. If your group includes one person who dislikes long walks, this may not be the right main activity. The private format helps with breaks and pacing, but it does not remove the physical distance.

Navajo Arch brings another quieter stop

Navajo Arch is also reached during the extended hike and receives its own short visit. It is one of the remote arch stops included in the day, giving you another chance to see a formation away from the easiest road access.

The tour places attention on photography, so this stop should suit anyone who likes to take time with framing rather than rush from one point to the next. I would still keep your expectations practical. The listed stop length is about five minutes, and the day has several other sights to cover, so this is a guided highlight stop rather than an unlimited photography session.

If you want to photograph every arch from multiple angles, ask about the pace at the start. The private setting may allow some flexibility, but the total outing lasts only about five to six hours.

Balanced Rock and the scenic road

The day is not only about the seven-mile walk. It also includes the full length of the scenic drive, the best overlooks, and major attractions accessible within a half-mile walk.

Balanced Rock Trail is listed as a five-minute photo stop. It is an efficient way to see one of the park’s instantly recognizable formations without adding another major hike after Devils Garden. Other arches and sights are viewed from the vehicle or along the scenic drive.

This combination improves the value of the day. A hike-only outing could leave you with little energy for the rest of Arches National Park. A drive-only tour would miss the more remote arches. Here, you get both the strenuous core walk and a broad look at the park’s road-accessible sights.

The limitation is time. The itinerary refers to stopping at famous attractions and overlooks, but not every stop has a detailed duration. You should expect selected highlights, not a leisurely exploration of every pullout.

What the guide adds to the experience

The guide is more than a driver on this outing. The strongest praise centers on clear explanations of Moab, the park’s geology, and its past. That matters in Arches, where a quick photograph can otherwise become the whole story.

A good guide can also make the day run smoothly. Paulina was praised for not wasting time, adjusting the pace when the heat made the walk harder, and keeping water stops practical. Those are useful skills on a seven-mile route.

Photography is another stated focus. You can expect help with finding attractive angles and making better use of the stops, though the supplied details do not promise professional photography equipment or edited photographs. The tour includes photography guidance, not a formal portrait package.

Because the activity is private, you can raise specific needs early. Ask about pace, water breaks, and how much time is available at the arches. The more clearly you explain your priorities, the easier it is for the guide to shape the day.

Is $315.12 per person good value?

At $315.12 per person, this is not a budget park transfer. You are paying for a private outing, a local NPS-licensed operator, pickup within Moab city limits, a timed-entry reservation, transportation, a guide, and a demanding route that combines remote arches with the scenic drive.

The price is easier to justify for a small group that wants a private day and does not want to plan the park logistics alone. It also has more value if you want explanations, photography help, and a guide who can slow the pace when needed.

Park admission is not included. The added cost is $15 per person, unless you already have a pass that covers your group, up to four people with one existing pass. The operator advises buying entry directly at the park on the day of the tour if you do not already have a pass, rather than purchasing a nonrefundable pass ahead of time.

There is also a customary tip expectation. A 15 percent tip is typical if the guide delivers an excellent day. Add that to your budget before deciding.

Group discounts are offered, but the activity remains private. Ask the operator how the discount applies to your party size before booking. Since the experience is often reserved well ahead, with an average booking lead time of 84 days, popular dates may require planning.

Who should book this hike?

I would recommend it to an active visitor who has one day for Arches National Park and wants both a substantial hike and the main road-accessible sights. It is also a good fit if you prefer a private guide, hotel pickup, and a day arranged around your group rather than a fixed large-group schedule.

It may suit photographers who enjoy several arch settings and want help with stops and angles. It also works for people who like learning about geology and local history while walking, rather than simply following a map.

I would be cautious if you want a relaxed sightseeing day. The seven-mile hike is the deciding factor. Moderate fitness is required, and heat can make the route harder. If anyone in your party has trouble walking that distance, you may get more from a shorter Arches outing.

Service animals are allowed. The operator asks people with listed illness symptoms to cancel rather than attempt the hike. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time, but cancellations or changes inside that window are not refunded or accepted.

Practical ways to prepare

Bring the mindset of a hiker, not just a passenger. You will want suitable walking shoes, water, sun protection, and clothing that can handle a hot, exposed Utah day. The tour information specifically highlights water stops, but you should still arrive ready to carry what you need between them.

Keep your morning flexible. The start time is 7:00 am, and pickup details vary by lodging location. Confirm where you will meet and allow enough time to be ready before departure.

Have your park pass situation settled. If you have an existing pass, bring it. If not, the operator says you can purchase park entry directly on the day. The national park entry fee is separate from the tour price.

Finally, tell the guide what matters most to you. If your priority is reaching every listed arch, say so. If you want more time for photographs or need a slower pace, say that too. A private tour has value only when you use its flexibility.

Should you book the Devils Garden challenge?

Book it if you want a serious hike, several remote arches, scenic-drive highlights, and a private guide in one organized day. The strongest reasons are the full seven-mile route, early start, private format, and guide support with pacing, water, geology, and photography.

Skip it if the price feels high, your group is not ready for an intermediate seven-mile walk, or you prefer to explore at a very slow and independent pace. For the right group, this is a focused way to see much of Arches National Park in five to six hours, with enough structure to keep the day moving and enough private attention to make the effort worthwhile.

FAQ

How long does the Arches hike tour last?

The experience lasts approximately five to six hours.

What time does the tour start?

The scheduled start time is 7:00 am.

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at 150 E. Center Street, Moab, Utah 84532.

Does the tour provide hotel pickup?

Yes. Pickup is offered from hotels, campgrounds, and Airbnbs within Moab city limits.

Where do guests staying at outlying properties meet?

People staying at Sorrel River Ranch, Red Cliffs Lodge, Castle Valley, Under Canvas, or Pack Creek Ranch meet at the office at 150 E. Center Street in Moab.

Is the tour private?

Yes. Only your own group participates in this activity.

How long is the hike?

The included Devils Garden hike covers approximately seven miles and is rated intermediate.

Which arches are visited on the hike?

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

Is Arches National Park admission included?

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

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not refunded or accepted.