Set amid the surreal red-rock landscape of Arches National Park, the Park Avenue Trail is a wonderfully scenic walking route. Follow the trail through a canyon surrounded by dramatic sandstone towers and impressive formations and admire the otherworldly nature of the surrounding terrain.
The trail is located in Arches National Park, where the desert-like landscape is covered with rock arches of varying shapes and sizes. Measuring less than 2 miles (3 kilometres) long, this trail is well maintained and relatively easy and should be manageable for visitors of all fitness levels.
Start the hike at the Park Avenue parking area at the south end and follow the trail as it descends into the canyon. After about 100 yards (90 metres), pause at the lookout point and marvel at the scale of the immense sandstone structures.
If you are not comfortable completing the entire round-trip hike, arrange to have a shuttle driver pick you up at the far end. That way, you’ll only have to tackle the downhill leg of the hike. Alternatively, simply retrace your steps and follow the trail uphill back to the starting point.
As you amble along the trail, admire the views of the surrounding rock formations, which have been carved and shaped by weather and erosion over many millennia. The trail’s name refers to their resemblance to the man-made skyscrapers that line New York’s Park Avenue. From the trail, many of the park’s most famous rock spires, columns and arches are visible, including the Organ. Look for the Tower of Babel, a mammoth freestanding wall known in geological circles as a fin. Try to identify the Three Gossips formation, which resembles three standing figures with heads close together as if they are whispering rumours.
Park Avenue Trail is about a 20-minute drive from the town of Moab. Leave your car at the parking lot near the Park Avenue Trailhead or at the Courthouse Towers parking area. Plan your hike for early morning or later afternoon when the weather is milder. You’ll have very little shade on the trail, so bring along water and wear sunscreen.
