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Park · Utah · Colorado Plateau

Arches

What makes it unique

A low desert park with no shade and very short trails, which makes it entirely a temperature question — and a crowd question, because the good months and the busy months are the same months.

Acreage76,679
National park since1971
Best lightApr, Oct
Visited2026
Terrain profile · W→E from Moab Canyon over the fins · 38.73°N · 4,275–5,098 ftElevation data · Open-Meteo

The photographs

23 selects
Field notes

If you go

From Parks by Month →
A · When to go

Best for photography in Apr, Oct.

photography
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B · Before you go
Access

Timed entry was dropped for the 2026 season. Fiery Furnace still requires a self-guided permit or ranger tour from rec.gov. Devils Garden lot fills by 8am in spring.

Avoid

June through August: shadeless slickrock above 100°F, with afternoon monsoon lightning from mid-July.

C · How I shot it

21 of 23 frames on the FE 16–35mm.

FE 16–35mm F4 ZA OSS21 of 23
FE 70–200mm F4 Macro G OSS II2 of 23
Most used35mm · 11 frames
Typical aperturef/4.5 – f/6.3
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