What to Wear to Hike Arches National Park
The first stop on our nearly two-week-long road trip was at Moab, Utah, to spend one day at Canyonlands National Park and one day at Arches National Park. If you’ve been reading here since I defended my Master’s degree back in fall 2014 (!), you may remember that I visited both parks during a long weekend trip following my defense. It’s an absolutely beautiful area in the fall!
Korri had never been, so I gladly added the area to our itinerary—it’s definitely worth a return trip! There is so much to do and see in that area that you can easily spend a week there and explore someplace new every day. I’m already adding places to our list for next time! It’s also beautiful in the spring, but while we were there, it definitely felt more like summer—the high temperatures hit the upper 80s to low 90s. 😅
Climate of Moab, Utah
Moab, Utah, in the southeastern corner of the state near the Colorado border. Arches National Park is located just north of Moab, and nearby Canyonlands National Park (Island in the Sky District) is 30 miles from Arches. The area is located on the Colorado Plateau, and the city of Moab is at an elevation of about 4,000 feet above sea level. The climate in the area is semi-arid, which means it’s dry. The average annual precipitation doesn’t reach above 10 inches!
Summers in the Moab area are very hot and dry. Definitely do not plan for outdoor activities in the heat of the day (generally between noon and 4 pm) when the temperatures are around 95°F and above, which is a common occurrence in the summer months. Spring and fall are much more pleasant seasons to visit Moab, and because of that, they’re also busier. Temperatures in the shoulder seasons range between 60 and 80 degrees, which is just about perfect if you ask me. You’ll have a threat of thunderstorms in the spring as well as the monsoon in the late summer/early fall, so be mindful of those and don’t hike in slot canyons if heavy rain is forecast. Winters are chilly but not that snowy; you may see a couple of inches or so but it’s still relatively dry in the winter months.
When we visited Moab at the end of April and beginning of May, we were greeted with temperatures in the upper 80s to low 90s and dry but breezy conditions. On the day we visited Arches, there was a high overcast for part of the day, which made the heat slightly more bearable (but you definitely still don’t want to forget sunscreen or water!). I ended up packing tank tops, a linen tee, a cropped tee, bike shorts, and a variety of other lightweight shorts to pick from during our stay in Moab.
What to Wear to Hike Arches National Park
The first time I visited Moab and Arches National Park was in mid-October 2014, and I ended up wearing long-sleeved tees and leggings layered under running shorts (#fashion). The weather was pleasant besides being a little windy—and it was pretty windy on this most recent trip, so perhaps the area is just prone to wind since it’s on a high plateau! (Or I just got unlucky with the weather pattern both times, which is totally possible, haha.)
This most recent trip was a much different story: HEAT! It definitely felt more like summer than spring. Here’s what I wore to hike around Arches in the hot weather:
Cropped tee (airy and lightweight but provided more shoulder coverage from the sun; linen is another excellent option)
Lightweight seamless sports bra (size small fit snug but was not uncomfortable)
Bike shorts (comfortable and the high rise worked with the cropped tee)
Thin wool socks (don’t want anything too thick for the heat, and wool is a must for its moisture-wicking capabilities)
Hiking sneakers (I tried on a few styles and loved how lightweight these Merrell sneakers were yet they’re still grippy—fit TTS but my heels do slip a bit)
Baseball cap (for added sun protection; definitely recommend a hat of some sort and perhaps a full brimmed hat with a chin tie for the wind gusts at the top of the Delicate Arch hike!)
Sunglasses (protect your eyes!)
Scrunchie (always need a hair tie just in case)
Backpack (read what NOT to forget in your backpack below!)
Even though it was hot, I stayed pretty comfortable all day in this outfit. I’m actually impressed that somehow you can’t tell how sweaty I am in the photos. Trust me when I say I sweat a LOT while hiking Arches (and Canyonlands too for that matter)! I definitely recommend packing items that can keep you cool and comfortable AND hide sweat well—win/win!
What to bring in your hiking backpack
Here’s what NOT to forget in your backpack before you hit the trails. (Keep in mind that I stuck to short trails no longer than three miles round trip. Plan accordingly for longer hikes!)
Water!!!
Sunscreen (if you look closely, you can see where I missed spots lol… I recommend bringing body sunscreen and face sunscreen/powder to reapply if you’ll be out a while/sweating)
Chapstick with SPF (had to buy some because we forgot it and burnt our lips—ugh!)
Cooling towel (we randomly had one at home, so we brought it and it was SO NICE in the heat)
Bandaids (if your shoes rub)
Binoculars (for spotting cool things/animals in the distance)
Snacks (but nothing that will melt in the heat)
Any more questions about what to wear while hiking in Arches National Park? Drop ‘em in the comments!
OUTFIT DETAILS
Parks Project tee / exact
or similar
Girlfriend Collective shorts / exact (also available from Backcountry
and Shopbop) (last seen
here)
Smartwool socks / old; similar from Backcountry
or Zappos
Merrell sneakers / exact style
or exact style on sale
Madewell x Parks Project hat / exact
Girlfriend Collective scrunchie / exact style
Kipling backpack / old; similar
Le Specs sunglasses / exact via Shopbop, Nordstrom, or Net-A-Porter
Dior Lip Glow in pink / exact
