Last updated on December 27th, 2022 at 09:48 am

Delicate Arch Framed Photo

I photographed this photo of the Delicate Arch seen through a small arch on the hiking trail on the way back from hiking to the Delicate Arch. The Delicate Ach is in the background being framed by a different arch in the foreground.

I was at Arches National Park during August of 2021 when my family and I took a two-week road trip to 9 national parks. Out of all of the parks we visited on this trip, I’m pretty sure Arches National Park was my favorite, and the Delicate Arch was my favorite arch.

Notably, this photo was taken in the early morning just after sunrise as you can see some of the sun rays in the sky.

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Delicate arch in the distance at Arches National Park

Camera settings for hike to delicate arch photo:

  • Camera Body: Canon EOS 6D Mark II
  • Shutter Speed: 1/800 seconds
  • Lens Aperature: f/9
  • Focal Length: 24 mm
  • ISO: 400
  • Image Quality: RAW

Details of The Delicate Arch Hike with Pictures

The hike to Delicate Arch wasn’t easy, but we’ve done harder hikes before. Just the day before we did this hike, we hiked the Firery Furnace trail (where we got lost) which is considered one of the toughest trails in the park. This hike is 3 miles round trip, but it was well worth it. I couldn’t imagine visiting Arches National Park without seeing this iconic arch. Now I know why Utah has an image of the Delicate Arch on their license plates.

The picture below is of my husband and oldest daughter just starting out on the steepest part of the hike. In fact, this part was a steep rock hill that lasted probably 1/4 of a mile.

Hiking to Delicate Arch
My husband and oldest daughter hiking up the steep rock hill on the way to Delicate Arch

The Big Hill

The photo below shows the hill I’m talking about from way back. The picture above is from about the middle of that hill, so we were about halfway up. The rocks sticking up at the top is where the hike isn’t steep anymore, but instead, you are along a cliff’s edge.

Arches National Park

My youngest daughter was leading the way up the steep rocky hill (photo below). She was 7 years old at the time so young children are definitely capable. It was also the middle of the summer and almost 100 degrees outside. We started hiking around 7:30 am so the temperature hadn’t reached 100 degrees yet, but it was still probably in the ’90s.

Hiking to the Delicate Arch
Arches National Park

Uniquely, there were some fun stairs carved into the stone trail at the top of the hill.

Stairs carved in rock

After the quarter of a mile steep rock hill section of the hike, you arrive at the top where the trail winds along a rocky cliff. I always have my children stay close to the inside and never on the edge where the cliff is.

The picture below shows my youngest daughter staying on the inside edge of the trail that has a cliff on the left side.

Hiking to Delicate Arch
My youngest daughter hiking to Delicate Arch

The views on this hike are amazing! Just look at the photo below. The formations of the rock are like nothing I’ve ever seen!

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Views along the final stretch of the Delicate Arch hike

At the Delicate Arch

After you get through the cliff’s edge part of the hike, the Delicate Arch is right there! It took me by surprise because I thought we had quite a bit more hiking left to get to it. On the final stretch, we had to turn a corner and right around that corner there it was! What a spectacular sight!

The Delicate Arch

There was a line in order to take your photo in front of the arch, so we stood in line and got the photo of our family below! I put my camera on a tripod, set up the correct exposure, and some kind stranger pushed the shutter button for us.

Delicate Arch Hike
My family at the Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, Utah

Hiking Back to the Car

After we were done hanging out at the Delicate Arch is when we stopped by this small arch where you can see the Delicate Arch in the distance as shown in the first photo in this post. This is not visible from the hike itself, you have to climb up this really steep sidehill. On the way to the Delicate Arch, we saw people climbing up but we didn’t know why so on the way back I told my husband I want to see what’s up there. I am so glad we climbed up! In conclusion, it was an amazing view of the Delicate Arch through a much smaller arch.

My family at the window to the Delicate Arch

Delicate Arch and Arches National Park Gallery

Look at the gallery below to see some more of my favorite Arches National Park photos that I have photographed. The gallery below contains the photo above as well as other related pictures. This photo is available to buy as a print or digital download.

Comments or Questions?

If you have any comments or questions about this hike or my photography, please comment below. I would love to hear what you have to say!

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