Arches National Park Climbing Climbing Guide

A curated route guide to Arches National Park Climbing.

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Arches National Park Climbing

Arches delivers classic desert tower climbing on bomber Entrada sandstone, with everything from mellow chimneys to technical face routes. The park's iconic spires and walls offer some of Utah's most scenic climbing, though you'll need to navigate NPS regulations and seasonal closures. Most routes are traditional multi-pitch affairs that reward solid gear skills and route-finding.

Classic Routes

Essential climbing scattered throughout the park, from warm-up problems to world-class testpieces. These routes showcase the unique movement and features of Arches' sandstone across both bouldering and traditional climbing.

Routes

Beginner Routes (5.4–5.8)

Perfect for getting your feet wet on desert towers or stepping up your trad game on quality stone. These routes offer solid introductions to chimney systems, hand cracks, and the unique movement of Entrada sandstone.

Routes

Intermediate Routes (5.9–5.11c)

Step up to more technical terrain and sustained climbing on some of the park's premier formations. These routes demand solid trad skills and the fitness for longer, more committing objectives.

Routes

Hard Routes (5.11c+)

The park's most demanding traditional routes, all concentrated on The Three Gossips formation. These lines require advanced trad skills and serious commitment for the full desert tower experience.

Routes