The Shady Sand Dune Trail In Utah Takes You To A Hidden Arch

Arches National Park is home to more than 2,000 natural arches, but most visitors see fewer than two dozen. Iconic Delicate Arch is the most famous natural arch in the world, and visitors often take hikes to some of the other popular arches, like Double-O Arch, Turret Arch, and Landscape Arch. It's always fun to search out some of the lesser-known arches, though.

The next time you visit Arches National Park, check out Sand Dune Arch.

Take a short, shady hike to Sand Dune Arch. It's one of Arches National Park's hidden gems that's still very accessible, and it's just .3 miles to the arch and back.

Find the trailhead to this arch by hopping on Arches Scenic Drive. It's 16 miles down the road.

The trail to Sand Dune Arch is short, but you'll still want to bring along some water and sunscreen.

Take the well-defined path toward the large sandstone fins that tower over the landscape.

As you reach the fins, the desert floor turns to sand, and depending on the time of day, you might find a shady respite here. Make your way past a narrow section...

...then you'll come to Sand Dune Arch!

You can see how this hidden little arch got its name - there's a thick layer of sand here. Tucked between some tall fins, this little cove is typically shady and cool. Take off your shoes and wiggle your toes in the sand, or lay right down and make a sand angel.

Since this little arch isn't visible from the road, and it's much smaller than most of the arches at the park, visitors often overlook it.

This is a fun, easy trail that's great for kids and adults alike. The ankle-deep sand can be a little more strenuous to walk through, but this little spot is quite pretty. Hike in the morning hours when it's less crowded and nice and shady.

Extend your hike a bit, and you can visit Broken Arch. This 60-foot-wide arch isn't actually broken, but it does have a visible crack.

If you continue to Broken Arch, you'll extend your hike to a total of 1.6 miles. It's well worth the extra distance!

Have you ever hiked to Sand Dune Arch?

Delicate Arch is by far the most popular natural arch at Arches National Park. Here are 15 things you didn't know about it, and some reasons you need to see it in person.