Trail Overview

This is an enjoyable trail within Arches NP. It can be an out-and-back if you take it from the bottom, or you can link up with the top half via the Tower Arch 4x4 trail. Lots of sand, lots of small rock obstacles, there is a wash you travel down for a mile or so, and one large rock obstacle that is easy but might need a quick spot! Overall not a difficult or technical trail, but it is rather slow paced due to the amount of rocks that you have to navigate as it alternates between sand and slickrock. Very scenic and even has an arch you can check out called Eye Of The Whale.

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Difficulty

Overall it is not difficult. A stock 4x4 with low range will have no problems. Signs say impassible when wet, but if it is dry it is just technical enough to keep you attentive but not at all difficult.

Technical Rating

greg m

Oct 09, 2025

Open

Did this trail from Salt Valley Road to Tower Arch 4x4 trail and then took this into the main park. Was a fun and pretty simple trail as long as you’re in a capable vehicle and I’d definitely recommend it as a more fun way to get into Arches NP if you go the way I did. Just don’t forget you will need a park pass unless theres a government shutdown going on. Signs do say “high clearance 4x4 with low gear” which I’d recommend especially for the Tower Arch 4x4 trail but this trail requires a but less clearance than that one.

Zack Heid

Sep 17, 2025

Open

Vehicles in excess of 18 ft (160" WB) will likely get high centered on rock face if not careful around halfway through trail. My F250 dragged on the fuel skid but was able to pull off of it. Same area may cause issues with departure angles of not taken properly. The rest of the trail is sand, rock, and some off cambered sections that will require proper tire placement. Trail will take you 1.5-2 hrs from start to finish. Doing this trail with the Tower Arch trail is a nice getaway from the public in Arches.

Chris Mathis

Aug 31, 2025

Open

Easily doable in my Outback Wilderness. Fun trail for sure!

Doug G

Jul 19, 2025

Open

Fun trail with mix of sand and rock obstacles. Great views!

Jared Mancha

Jun 30, 2025

Open

Decent shape, lots of sand in some spots, washboard and a few easier-level technical climbs going north to south. Lighter rock crawling. Mostly a sandy two track with some exposed rocks mixed at times throughout the trail.

Dan Jaquez

Jun 20, 2025

Open

Whales eye arch

Daniel Guttormson

Jun 01, 2025

Open

Brandon Henrichsen

Apr 01, 2025

Open

Charles Bourgeois

Sep 30, 2024

Open

Beautiful trail. A bit much for a stock truck but well worth the run. There are some steep slick rock sections and very sandy areas where you need to keep the speed up.

Bryan Dillehay

Jul 02, 2024

Open

Fun trail with plenty of sand. Great views of the park.

Yazir Nauhm-Barrios

Jun 14, 2024

Open

Chris Santarcangelo

Jun 01, 2024

Open

An easier trail if you have a bit of off-highway experience. The worst obstacles were rocks less than 12” and loose sand in a few spots. While we did not air down, the sand would have been much easier if we had.

Scott Herdina

Apr 25, 2024

Open

Cole Haaf

Mar 25, 2024

Open

Fairly easy route. I would imagine it is the same difficulty in either direction. We started near tower arch and rove toward balance rock. It took us a little over an hour.

Joe Kington

Feb 16, 2024

Open

It looks like a grader had been though a few days before. Many of the ledges and rougher spots on this have been smoothed over. This was quite a bit easier than it used to be. The sand was a non-issue today, but on a dry, hot summer day that would be quite different.