Sand Dune Arch Trail — Attraction in Four Corners States

Sand Dune Arch is a hidden gem in Arches National Park. The trail is super short (about 0.3 miles round trip), flat, and covered in soft sand—perfect for families with kids or anyone looking for a quick, easy hike.

The arch itself is tucked between tall rock walls, providing plenty of shade and a cool, peaceful atmosphere. It’s a fun spot to explore, especially in the early morning or late afternoon when the light makes the red rocks glow.

This trail is easy to access right off the main road, and you can also combine it with the nearby Broken Arch trail if you want a longer adventure. Just be prepared for sand in your shoes!

Great spot for photography and a nice break from the more strenuous hikes in the park. The narrow rock fins leading to the arch make the approach feel like a mini slot canyon. It’s usually less crowded than the more popular arches, which adds to the charm. There’s limited parking, so arriving early helps. Overall, a peaceful, unique, and family-friendly experience you...

Relatively small amount of parking considering the popularity of Sand Dune Arch and that Broken Arch is a relatively short hike (maybe a half-mile or so?) beyond. The only other means of accessing Broken Arch is from the trailhead in the campground; I'm not 100% positive, but I don't believe that's open to non-camping visitors.

Sand Dune Arch was itself not as impressive as others in the area, but all the red beach-quality sand and plenty of boulders to scramble up kept us occupied for quite some time beyond simply walking underneath the arch.

Broken Arch was pretty cool to see - who knows how many other arches have existed like this in the area over the past several million years, only to collapse because a weak point or crack finally becomes too pronounced. Also, decidedly less busy than the area around Sand Dune Arch. Definitely worth the extra mile or so you hike round-trip from...

Sand dune arch is a small jaunt from the parking lot. Broken arch is just a small walk further along the trail. But the trail does go in a loop, which makes for a nice walk. If you take the loop trail some parts are a little tricky to know if you're still on the path, so of course look for the carins. Part of the trail has you go through the campground, and on the day I was there, it was disappointing to see someone gathering wood when their campsite was directly across one of the signs saying not to gather wood... Aside from that, though, a nice trail that is...