Park Avenue Trail
Park Avenue Trail
4.6
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The most popular hike in the park because of its ease and scenery.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.6
297 reviews
Excellent
202
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80
Average
13
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2
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garbagecollector
Saint Cloud, FL1,120 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
My wife and I allocated time to check-in and have dinner in moab, then drive over to Arches National Park around 6pm-7pm to be there for sunset. I'd visited the park many times, but never at sunrise or sunset. Since I am not an early riser, I chose sunset. Many articles suggest that certain sites like Delicate Arch are pretty crowded at sunset, I chose Park Avenue and vicinity. We hiked down the hill from the parking lot and enjoyed Park Avenue all to ourselves! We actually talked to one other hiker for a short while, but otherwise for more than a half hour we enjoyed Park Avenue in its glorious beauty without anyone around. As the sun started to set, we walked back up towards the parking lot, stopping for pictures as the sun shone on the tops of the Park Avenue hills and nearby areas. The experience -- and photos -- was very memorable!
Written August 28, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravelerCentralFLA
Clermont, FL2,032 contributions
May 2022
We hiked Park Avenue on our recent visit to Arches. My son and I really enjoyed this area. We hiked it in the afternoon and the Sun is pretty strong down on the canyon floor at that time of day. Be sure to bring plenty of water to drink. The hike down is not too difficult because it is mostly downhill. However, coming back up from the Canyon is more work. The National Park Service says this hike is moderate when it comes to difficulty rating. The views down in the canyon are terrific. The rock formations that make sheer rock walls on either side are beautiful. It is very different that many of the other areas of Arches. This area is not a collection arches, but a canyon that you walk through the wash. Do be aware this area can be dangerous if there is a flash flood so check the weather before taking this hike. If you are physically fit for a moderate hike I recommend Park Avenue.
Written May 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Grover R
Pensacola, FL22,712 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
Unfortunately, a sprained ankle and a rain shower prevented our group from hiking Park Avenue. In many ways, Arches seems like two different parks. You have the various arches in the back of the park and these great monoliths and towers in the front. However, we did get to see the monoliths and towers from several of the parking lots. I love the 3 gossips and the courthouse. It was also great to see down the Park Avenue Trail to see how it is lined with towers on both sides to give the appearance that one is walking an urban street with skyscrapers on both sides. Don't miss this part of the park.
Written June 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NatParkLove
Peoria, IL1,924 contributions
Jul 2020
If you just want to view Park Avenue, go in the middle of the day to get a photo of all the rock formations lit up by the sun. If you want to hike it, go at sunset. The entire trail will be in the shade but you will see the setting sun through some of the rock formations and the tops of them will be lit in gold.
We started the hike around 8 PM in July. It was still warm out, but not being in the sun helped tremendously. Honestly, I would start this trail at the Courthouse Towers parking area (this is where the trail ends). It's definitely a huge climb back up a bunch of rock steps if you start at the Park Avenue lot. An easier exit if you start at the other end. Hiking it around sunset, we saw a few other people but basically had the trail to ourselves. It was very peaceful and surreal being down at the bottom of these sandstone giants rising up around you.
We started the hike around 8 PM in July. It was still warm out, but not being in the sun helped tremendously. Honestly, I would start this trail at the Courthouse Towers parking area (this is where the trail ends). It's definitely a huge climb back up a bunch of rock steps if you start at the Park Avenue lot. An easier exit if you start at the other end. Hiking it around sunset, we saw a few other people but basically had the trail to ourselves. It was very peaceful and surreal being down at the bottom of these sandstone giants rising up around you.
Written July 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James C
Williamsburg, VA1,108 contributions
May 2021 • Solo
I just had to visit Park Avenue twice! It’s a great safe pull shortly after you enter Arches NP and provides immediate gratification. You can get great photos here depending on the light. Ive posted a few from 5:00pm and took a nice picture of a couple I met there where we swapped a few photos. Take a hike into the canyon if you have time.
Written May 12, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dean_Amy-2004
Gettysburg, PA8,350 contributions
Sep 2022 • Couples
We made this our first stop and hike. We did it early in our day, around 8:30, and benefited from shade most of the hike. It’s 1-mile one way. If you do a return from the 5th Avenue viewing area, there is a large step area to climb at the end. We also discovered the trail goes all the way through to the parking area by the courthouse. Starting from that point and returning back avoids the steep steps and gives you downhill on your return.
Written September 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CATTSAR
Provincetown, MA22,594 contributions
Nov 2020
This was the first trail that I came across after entering the park. The hike is not particularly long as I clocked it at about 2.36 miles (3.8 km). It is considered easy to moderate due to some hills and changing terrain. This trail will take you past the gigantic monoliths, most notably The Three Gossips, The Courthouse Towers and The Organ just to name a few. You will also hike through canyons with amazing views. It will also follow along a smooth, multi colored wash that resembles poured cake mix. This is an out and back hike as opposed to a loop. With numerous stops for pictures and observation it was still under an hour. Take your map, bring water, if you carry it in carry it out and descending always yields to ascending!
Written November 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravelingSoccerLoon
Saint Paul, MN8,566 contributions
Aug 2020
Spectacular view on both sides as you walk along Park Avenue Trail. It was hard to know the best time of day to do this as the rock formations are in the shade if you go too early or too late in the day. I ended up going around 11am. The lighting was good for photography but it was also getting pretty hot. I started at the Park Ave Trailhead. I would say the best views are right at the start from the observation area. Views of the Courtland Towers are spectacular at the end of the hike although you can also experience this area by parking near them. If you can arrange for a one way hike catching a ride at the end of the hike to drive you back to the start where you left your car, this would be ideal. As a solo hiker, I was tempted to hitch a ride but lost the nerve. I'm not sure if anyone out there has experience doing this? If I were to do again, unless I could arrange the ride back, I would probably just visit both ends and walk a short ways in and back from each trailhead as I didn't find the middle section as interesting.
Written September 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ItchyFeet
Camarillo, CA12,077 contributions
Nov 2020 • Couples
One of the first stops in Arches NP is the Park Avenue Viewpoint. We did not go on a hike here because we went on hikes in other locations where there were arches. There are tall colorful rocks here worth the stop in or out of the park.
Written November 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
talk2planes
Athens, AL1,280 contributions
Sep 2020 • Couples
Moderate hike to stroll through park avenue in the arches. Surrounded by beautiful towering rock formations easy to see how it got it’s name. A down and back trail or you can continue to another parking area. Great desert scenery all along the way. Parking area fills up quickly during busy times. Take plenty of water, good sturdy hiking shoes, and a hat. In the hot months go early.
Written September 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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