- Arches National Park is less than four hours from Telluride and features more than 2,000 strangely shaped sandstone formations.
- The park is open year-round, but some features are only accessed with guided tours.
- Entrance to the park is $5 for individuals and $10 for vehicles.
Overview
Arches National Park is a 73,000 acre region home to more than 2,000 strangely shaped sandstone formations. The red hued, hot and arid desert here is dotted with pinnacles, spires, and, of course, arches.
A 40-mile paved road guides visitors to the major sandstone formations, and there is a campground and RV park nearby.
Hours/Seasons
The park is open year-round, 24 hours a day. The visitor center is open 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. April through October, and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. November through March.
Fees/Cost
Entrance to the park is $5 for individuals and $10 for vehicles. Camp sites at the nearby Devils Garden Campground are $20 per night.
Contact
For more information, call visitor information at (435) 719-2299.
Highlights
The most famous feature at the park is the Delicate Arch, a cliff-side half-ark featured on Utah license plates and stamps.
Exploring the Fiery Furnace, a series of narrow passages through tall rock columns, is much like navigating a natural maze. The Fiery Furnace is viewed by tour only, however, and needs to be booked in advance.
Other well-known features include the Devil’s Garden, a ridge scattered with tall columns and arches, and the Balanced Rock, a rock the size of three school buses ominously resting atop a narrow column.
Getting Here
To reach Telluride from Arches, exit the park to the south and turn left at US-191. After 25 miles look for the left turn to UT-46 east, and continue onto CO-90 at the border. This turns into CO-145, which continues all the way to Telluride.
