The Garden of Eden Overlook at Arches National Park near Moab, Utah is an easy 0.2-mile out-and-back off-trail hike that leads to a beautiful desert garden landscape full of greenery and rock spires.
Hike Description
This very short hike is all off-trail, so hikers should be comfortable with following a path that's loosely-defined. There's a "trailhead" located on the eastern side of the "Garden of Eden Overlook" at Arches National Park, which is essentially a parking lot. Hikers will pass through some shrubs to find a path that leads up the bedrock to reach views of the Garden of Eden. The best views of this landscape is just a bit further uphill -- turn toward the two massive rock spires where you'll spot a pathway that leads through them.
Hidden Garden of Eden View - Mile 0.1
Hike between both rock spires, passing the short ~4-foot scramble uphill to continue onward. Just a few-hundred feet further, up from the rock scramble, is the "hidden" Garden of Eden view that most hikers and visitors totally miss as they stay down at the parking lot.
Seclusion
If you're looking for seclusion in Arches National Park, you can find it here. Most people don't hike up to this hidden view and very few even stick around the parking lot overlook for the Garden of Eden, so you likely won't see many (if any) people on this short hike.
How to Get Into Arches National Park
Note that Arches National Park, as of September 2023 (and earlier) only allows vehicles to enter the park during scheduled time slots. You can read all about Arches' timed entry here and you can find reservation information here. Reservations are grabbed quickly, so be sure to log onto the reservation website when the date opens up to grab your timed entry ticket. Note that vehicles can enter the park outside of the timed entry slots (i.e. before 7AM or after 4PM each day, as of September 2023). If you do not have a timed entry ticket between 7AM and 4PM, do not wait in line to enter the park as you will be turned away and will slow everyone else down. The vehicle line to enter the park is very long and wait-times to enter can be a pain so show up prepared.
Parking
Hikers will find a large parking lot at the coordinates provided at the end of Garden of Eden Overlook Road in Arches National Park. The lot is large enough to fit several dozen vehicles. Parking here fills up very quickly -- generally by late morning.
Pets
Dogs are not allowed on any trails at Arches National Park. Please do not bring your dog here.
Fees
As of September 2023, there's a $30 fee per vehicle to enter Arches National Park.
Warnings
Sun exposure: This trail has very little shade and no water sources. Pack-in all water and wear sun screen and a hat to protect against sun exposure. It's smart to hike either in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid the intense desert sun.
No water: This trail has no water sources so you must pack-in all water. A general rule of thumb in the desert is 1 gallon of water per person per day.
Rattlesnakes: This is rattlesnake territory, so be on the lookout and give any rattlers you find plenty of space.
Hike Description
This very short hike is all off-trail, so hikers should be comfortable with following a path that's loosely-defined. There's a "trailhead" located on the eastern side of the "Garden of Eden Overlook" at Arches National Park, which is essentially a parking lot. Hikers will pass through some shrubs to find a path that leads up the bedrock to reach views of the Garden of Eden. The best views of this landscape is just a bit further uphill -- turn toward the two massive rock spires where you'll spot a pathway that leads through them.
Hidden Garden of Eden View - Mile 0.1
Hike between both rock spires, passing the short ~4-foot scramble uphill to continue onward. Just a few-hundred feet further, up from the rock scramble, is the "hidden" Garden of Eden view that most hikers and visitors totally miss as they stay down at the parking lot.
Seclusion
If you're looking for seclusion in Arches National Park, you can find it here. Most people don't hike up to this hidden view and very few even stick around the parking lot overlook for the Garden of Eden, so you likely won't see many (if any) people on this short hike.
How to Get Into Arches National Park
Note that Arches National Park, as of September 2023 (and earlier) only allows vehicles to enter the park during scheduled time slots. You can read all about Arches' timed entry here and you can find reservation information here. Reservations are grabbed quickly, so be sure to log onto the reservation website when the date opens up to grab your timed entry ticket. Note that vehicles can enter the park outside of the timed entry slots (i.e. before 7AM or after 4PM each day, as of September 2023). If you do not have a timed entry ticket between 7AM and 4PM, do not wait in line to enter the park as you will be turned away and will slow everyone else down. The vehicle line to enter the park is very long and wait-times to enter can be a pain so show up prepared.
Parking
Hikers will find a large parking lot at the coordinates provided at the end of Garden of Eden Overlook Road in Arches National Park. The lot is large enough to fit several dozen vehicles. Parking here fills up very quickly -- generally by late morning.
Pets
Dogs are not allowed on any trails at Arches National Park. Please do not bring your dog here.
Fees
As of September 2023, there's a $30 fee per vehicle to enter Arches National Park.
Warnings
Sun exposure: This trail has very little shade and no water sources. Pack-in all water and wear sun screen and a hat to protect against sun exposure. It's smart to hike either in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid the intense desert sun.
No water: This trail has no water sources so you must pack-in all water. A general rule of thumb in the desert is 1 gallon of water per person per day.
Rattlesnakes: This is rattlesnake territory, so be on the lookout and give any rattlers you find plenty of space.
