Top 8 Sites to See on an Arches National Park Tour

Located just outside of Moab, Utah, Arches National Park is a bucket-list destination for many Americans. Unmatched by any other landscape in the world, Arches National Park is filled with incredible features and formations that make it truly unique. With so much to explore, it can seem impossible to take it all in during a short vacation.

While hiking and driving the park provide up-close views, a scenic Arches National Park Tour by plane lets you experience the area’s natural beauty from a new perspective—without the crowds. Flying with Redtail Air, the only air tour operator permitted to fly over Arches, allows you to capture the park’s highlights with ease. For more information on park guidelines and seasonal updates, visit the official Arches National Park website.

Perhaps the most famous of the iconic arches located in Arches National Park, Delicate Arch is one that you won’t want to miss! While Arches National Park has over 2,000 arches to see, Delicate Arch is the largest free-standing arch in the whole park! It is widely recognized as a symbol of Utah for its remarkable beauty. 

From the Ground: While Delicate Arch is visible from pull-offs along the road, you’ll want to park and take a short hike to fully experience this iconic formation. Parking is available at Wolfe Ranch, or if that’s full, the Delicate Arch Viewpoint lot. From Wolfe Ranch, a relatively easy 3-mile round-trip hike will bring you up close to this stunning arch.

From the Air: Delicate Arch is a sight you won’t want to miss from above! From your unique vantage point in the air, you’ll see angles of the arch that ground visitors never get to experience. There’s truly nothing like viewing Delicate Arch from a bird’s-eye perspective—capturing it from the plane is an unmatched experience!

Delicate Arch from the ground

Delicate Arch from the air

The Courthouse Towers make up another feature that you won’t want to miss during your trip to Arches National Park. These massive monolithic sandstone towers rise dramatically above the flat desert floor, creating a striking contrast and a truly awe-inspiring sight.

The Courthouse Towers are a must-see feature during your visit to Arches National Park.

From the Ground: Take a 2-mile round-trip hike from the Park Avenue viewpoint to see these massive structures up close. The Courthouse Towers include four distinct formations: The Organ, The Tower of Babel, The Three Gossips, and Sheep Rock.

From the Air: Viewing the Courthouse Towers from an airplane will give you an even greater perspective on the sheer size of the rocks, and a greater appreciation for the area. From above, you can truly gain a greater understanding of the geologic history before you. Seeing the towers aerially will give you a great view that is unrivaled by what you can see from the hiking trail.

Courthouse Towers from the ground

True to its name, Balanced Rock is an enormous 3,600-ton sandstone boulder that seems to teeter atop an eroding mudstone pedestal. This famous formation is one of Arches National Park’s most iconic sights—a must-see, whether on foot or from the air!

From the Ground: An easy loop hike on a partially paved trail brings you up close to Balanced Rock, allowing you to circle around this incredible formation. At just 0.3 miles round-trip with minimal elevation gain, most visitors can complete this short trek easily. The trail also offers views of the Windows area of Arches National Park.

From the Air: Seeing Balanced Rock from the ground is impressive, but from the air, it’s an entirely different experience. From your airplane window, you can fully appreciate the immense size and unique shape of this otherworldly rock formation. Once you see it from above, you won’t want to put your camera down!

Balanced Rock at night

Arches National Park is filled with unique rock formations, but Devil’s Garden offers an especially impressive variety. Here, you can marvel at numerous arches, spires, and fins. For those looking to extend their adventure, the area also offers opportunities for camping and backpacking. Parking is available at the end of Devil’s Garden Road, where a well-marked trailhead provides access to multiple hiking options—from easy strolls to more strenuous hikes. No matter which path you choose, the views are guaranteed to be worth the effort. For additional hiking adventures nearby, check out our guide to the best hikes in Moab.

From the Ground: Hiking the Devil’s Garden loop takes you along a stunning trail with views of nine different arches. This hike is longer and more difficult than others in the park, so be sure to bring water. The full trail, including side spurs, spans around 9 miles, but you can easily modify it for a shorter experience. Along the way, you’ll also enjoy views of the distant La Sal Mountains.

From the Air: Devil’s Garden can take hours to explore on foot, but a scenic flight offers an effortless way to take it all in. If you’re not an avid hiker, this option lets you enjoy the incredible views—no hiking boots required! From the plane, you’ll get a stunning, bird’s-eye view of the unique rock formations in and around Devil’s Garden, with miles of breathtaking scenery stretching in every direction. Ready to experience the beauty of Arches from above? Book your Redtail Air tour today for an unforgettable journey through the skies!

Landscape Arch as seen during a hike near the Devil’s Garden Area

You might think, “If I’ve seen one arch, I’ve seen them all,” but that’s far from true in Arches National Park. With over 2,000 arches, each formation has its own unique beauty that can take your breath away time and time again. Landscape Arch is especially impressive, spanning 306 feet and ranking as one of the longest stone spans in the world!

From the Ground: Reaching Landscape Arch is easy! Just park at the Devil’s Garden trailhead and follow the flat, well-traveled dirt trail for under a mile to get an up-close view. This hike is rated as easy, with very little elevation gain.

From the Air: Landscape Arch is one of the park’s most popular hikes, but if you want to avoid the crowds and lines, an airplane tour offers a perfect alternative. From above, the views are stunning, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Visiting Fiery Furnace will not leave you disappointed! It is a unique assemblage of very narrow sandstone canyons—while you are in it, it feels like a maze of passages within the rock. In the Fiery Furnace area, you can see canyons, fins, and arches! Fiery Furnace is among the more difficult of the Arches National Park hikes. 

From the Ground: Hiking in the Fiery Furnace area can be dangerous, and requires some planning ahead. If you want to explore this area on foot, you need to obtain a permit or register for a guided hike. Reservations can be hard to come by due to the area’s popularity, and the maze-like nature of Fiery Furnace makes it easy to get disoriented. For these reasons, seeing Fiery Furnace from the air might be the best option!

From the Air: Fiery Furnace gets its name from the vibrant orange and red hues it displays, especially around sunset. Viewing Fiery Furnace from the air provides a broad perspective you can’t get on the ground, allowing you to fully appreciate the brilliant colors and intricate formations that make this feature so extraordinary.

The Fiery Furnace as seen from the air. Photo Credit: Tom Till

What sets Elephant Butte apart from other attractions in Arches National Park is its impressive height! Standing at 5,653 feet, it’s the highest point in the park. If you have a fear of heights, this might not be the hike for you, as it requires some rock climbing, scrambling, and rappelling.

From the Ground: The Elephant Butte trail is only 1.6 miles round-trip, but it’s rated as difficult due to the canyoneering, rock scrambling, climbing, and rappelling required. For experienced rock climbers, the routes are relatively straightforward, but novice climbers may find this area quite challenging. Be sure to know your limits and skill level to stay safe.

From the Air: If you wish to avoid any difficult and potentially dangerous canyoneering and climbing experiences, taking in the views of Elephant Butte from the air is your best bet! From above, you can fully appreciate the scale of this incredible butte from multiple angles, making for a thrilling aerial experience!

Elephant Butte as seen from the ground

The Three Gossips is a fascinating rock formation in the Courthouse Towers area of Arches National Park. As the name suggests, this formation resembles three figures gossiping with one another! To reach it, drive 3.5 miles from the Arches Visitor Center until you see the sign for the Courthouse Towers Viewpoint. There, a paved parking lot provides easy access for a hike or rock-climbing adventure.

From the Ground: The Three Gossips formation tends to attract more rock climbers than day hikers, so if you have climbing gear and experience—this is a great place for you to play! For those simply looking to snap some photos, it’s an easy hike to the base of the formation from the nearby parking lot.

From the Air: Since most visitors can’t reach the top of the Three Gossips due to its steepness, views from the ground are somewhat limited. However, an aerial view offers a completely different perspective! From above, you can admire the tops and sides of this impressive formation without the need for climbing gear. An airplane tour provides you with an unmatched view of the grandeur of the Three Gossips.

Three Gossips seen on the far left of this image

Arches National Park attracts over 1.5 million visitors annually, and it’s easy to see why. The park’s formations, carved by millions of years of wind and water erosion, are truly unique. Booking a tour with Redtail Air provides the best way to take in all of the beauty Arches has to offer without the crowds. For more information on preparing for your adventure, check out our complete guide to visiting Arches National Park.

Ready to experience Arches National Park from above? Reserve your seat on a Redtail Air tour today and make memories that will last a lifetime.