Keep off the arches
Walking, climbing, scrambling and rappelling on arches are prohibited. Stay on trails or at pullouts to protect biological soil crust.
Arches photography spots & timing
NPS names different subjects for morning and afternoon. Moonlight and trail conditions matter as much as the season.
| Photo spot | When to plan it | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Turret Arch, Double Arch and Landscape Arch | Early morning | NPS also lists Moab Fault, the Three Gossips, Sheep Rock, the Great Wall, the Spectacles, Double Arch, Cache Valley, Wolfe Ranch and Double O Arch for early light. |
| Windows, Delicate Arch and Devils Garden fins | Late afternoon | NPS also lists Park Avenue, Courthouse Towers, Petrified Dunes, Balanced Rock, Garden of Eden, Fiery Furnace, Skyline Arch and Tower Arch. Fiery Furnace entry needs a reserved ranger-led hike or private permit. |
| Stars above the Windows | New moon or moon below the horizon | NPS also suggests Balanced Rock Picnic Area, Garden of Eden Viewpoint and Panorama Point. Even a crescent moon can hide faint stars. Arches became an International Dark Sky Park in 2019. |
| Delicate Arch and Devils Garden trails | Winter into early spring | Packed snow and ice can make trails slippery. Carry traction and check the trail report before walking out with camera gear. |
| Exposed afternoon hikes | Summer heat | Plan for little shade. A good light window is not a reason to attempt a strenuous hike in dangerous heat. |
Find your photo area
Match each map number to the photos and location labels below. Parking areas and visitor centers mark approaches, rather than exact camera positions.
Directions to The Windows Section Parking Lot
The Windows Section Parking Lot
Use designated public parking. Check park access and vehicle restrictions before travel.
Directions to Wolfe Ranch Parking Lot
Wolfe Ranch Parking Lot
Use designated public parking. Check park access and vehicle restrictions before travel.
- Numbered locations match the photos
- National park boundary
- State outline
Plan around daylight
These are sample local clock times at the reference point, not a golden-hour forecast. Cliffs, ridges and the local horizon can hide the sun before the listed sunset or delay direct morning light.
| Date | Sunrise and sunset, local clock time | Daylight |
|---|---|---|
| March 21Daylight saving time | SunriseSunset | |
| June 21Daylight saving time | SunriseSunset | |
| September 21Daylight saving time | SunriseSunset | |
| December 21Shortest day shown | SunriseSunset |
Arches crowds by month
May averages 195,001 park visits, the busiest month. Monthly NPS totals describe visits across the park. They do not measure photographers or congestion at an individual viewpoint.
LowestLowModerateHighPeakAverage month: 128,797
Before you set up the camera
Protect the subject, leave room for other visitors and check the rules for your equipment and location.
No light painting or drones
Artificial lighting of rocks and other park features is prohibited. Use light for finding your way, and red light to protect night vision. Unmanned aircraft are prohibited.
Check the permit conditions
Groups of eight or fewer need no camera permit only when all conditions are met: public areas, hand-carried equipment, no exclusive use, no adverse impact on park resources, values or other visitors, and no added NPS administrative cost. Entrance fees still apply. Photography associated with an event authorized by a written permit or agreement needs no separate camera permit. Entrance fees and underlying activity permits still apply.
When a permit is needed
Arches lists a $280 non-refundable application fee, still-photo location fees starting at $50 per day for 1 to 10 people, and monitoring costs. Photography businesses teaching in the park need a commercial use authorization. Confirm requirements before planning a shoot. See the fees and reservations guides for entrance arrangements.
Trail and wildlife limits
Keep at least 150 feet from large animals and 75 feet from smaller animals. Do not enter flooded washes. Fiery Furnace reservations, age limits and route rules also apply to photographers. Children under 5 cannot enter Fiery Furnace.
Arrive for the light and lighter traffic
NPS describes March to October as very busy and recommends entering before 8 a.m. or after 3 p.m. to avoid traffic. These windows overlap the morning and late-afternoon light choices. Check heat and trail conditions before hiking.
Questions about Arches photography
Quick answers to the practical questions below.
Where should I take photos in Arches?
NPS lists Turret Arch, Double Arch, Landscape Arch and Double O Arch for early morning. Its afternoon list includes the Windows, Delicate Arch, Balanced Rock and the Devils Garden fins. The map shows three access areas, not every subject.
When is the best light at Delicate Arch?
NPS places Delicate Arch on its late-afternoon list. Leave time for the hike and return, and check heat, snow and ice before setting out. Sunset does not make the trail safer.
Can I light up an arch for a night photo?
No. NPS prohibits artificial light on landscapes, rock formations and other park features. Lights may be used for route-finding or minimum-impact camping.
Do I need a photography permit in Arches?
Groups of eight or fewer need no camera permit only when all conditions are met: public areas, hand-carried equipment, no exclusive use, no adverse impact on park resources, values or other visitors, and no added NPS administrative cost. Entrance fees still apply. If a permit is needed, consult the Arches filming office. Commercial teaching has separate authorization requirements. Photography associated with an event authorized by a written permit or agreement needs no separate camera permit. Entrance fees and underlying activity permits still apply.
When should I photograph the stars?
Choose a new moon or hours when the moon is below the horizon. NPS says skies become darker as you drive north away from Moab. Its almanac provides moon and meteor dates for the year.
How we built this page.
An independent guide using official data. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Park Service.
- Official guidance
- NPS and the relevant operators. The linked official pages support the access, facilities and rules described here. Confirm details before traveling.
- Crowd context
- 2021–2025 monthly averages. NPS recreation visits describe normal seasonal demand, not trail congestion, parking availability or unique visitors.
- Schedules and conditions
- Planning patterns, not live status. Seasonal information describes the normal pattern or explicitly dated source schedule. Current conditions are handled separately. The official source is the place to confirm today’s access.
Topic sources and data details
Sunrise and sunset come from the U.S. Naval Observatory for 2026 at the Arches Visitor Center in local clock time. Pins are trailhead parking lot locations from NPS parking lot data (the NPS developer API); the park boundary is from the NPS boundary service and state outlines from the U.S. Census.
Subject timing, camera rules and access qualifications come from the official NPS pages linked above. The crowd chart uses the committed NPS monthly park-visitation averages and describes the whole park.
Operational source check: September 11, 2026. Design and emphasized source review: 2026-10-22. A design review does not refresh every underlying record.