Ring Arch: Arches National Park's Hidden, Off-the-Map Arch

If you've done the main stops and you're looking for something quieter, Ring Arch in Arches National Park might be exactly what you're after. Unlike Delicate Arch or Landscape Arch, Ring Arch isn't listed on the park's official map, has no marked trailhead, and sees a fraction of the visitors—which is exactly the point.

The arch was first reported in 1940 by Harry Reed, a Moab photographer who served as custodian of what was then Arches National Monument. It wasn't formally named until 1961, when district ranger Slim Mabery gave it the name it carries today, based simply on its rounded, ring-like shape.

WHERE TO FIND IT:

Ring Arch sits near Courthouse Wash, not far from the Park Avenue area covered on the main Arches Scenic Drive. There's no official trailhead or parking area—just an unmarked pullout and a well-worn social trail that hikers have created over the years. Most routes run somewhere between 1 and 3 miles roundtrip, depending on which path you take in.

Because there's no maintained trail, the route can be sandy, occasionally muddy near the wash, and easy to lose for a stretch—bring a downloaded map, start early to beat the heat, and expect little to no shade along the way.

TAKE A SELF-GUIDED TOUR OF ARCHES:

If Ring Arch is your bonus stop, the Arches National Park Driving Tour is the best way to cover the park's main landmarks first. This self-guided audio tour follows the full 18-mile Arches Scenic Drive, with stories triggering automatically as you reach each stop.

Along the way you'll learn:

• Why Balanced Rock's smaller companion collapsed overnight in 1975 with zero warning

• How Delicate Arch nearly kept a much less dignified nickname

• What's actually holding up Landscape Arch, the longest natural arch on Earth, at just six feet thick

Most visitors spend 3 to 5 hours exploring the main scenic drive with stops.

Check out the Arches National Park Driving Tour here.

WHAT MAKES RING ARCH WORTH THE DETOUR:

At roughly 40 to 50 feet across, Ring Arch isn't the biggest arch in the park, but its quiet setting is the real draw. Unlike the crowds at Delicate Arch or Double Arch, hikers on the Ring Arch route often see no one else at all.

Recent reports note a partial collapse has changed its exact shape slightly, a reminder that every arch in this park is temporary—some are just disappearing more visibly than others.

PLAN YOUR TRIP:

Want the full rundown on entrance fees, where to eat and stay near Moab, and how to plan a one or two-day visit? Our Arches travel guide covers all of it.

Check out our Arches National Park travel guide to plan your trip.