The Park Avenue Trail is one of the first major stops in Arches National Park. This one way trail descends into a canyon and extends through the Park Avenue area to the Courthouse Towers giving you a preview of Arches' sandstone formations. If you have a shuttle driver, you can begin at one point and be picked up at the other. For round-trip hiking, retrace your steps along the trail rather than walk along the park road.
The trail is the closest to the park entrance. There are no arches, but The Park Avenue Trail offers close views of impressive sandstone formations, these impressive formations will remind you of skyscrapers and buildings that shape Manhattan, hence the name 'Park Avenue'. Each route end has a parking area and is next to the park road.
This hiking trail is rated an easy to moderate hike because of a steep decent and climb. If you take your time and have plenty of water, a hat, sunscreen and protective clothing, the round trip hike should take about an hour. If you are only doing one way, it will take about half an hour.
The entrance to Arches is located 5 miles north of Moab,UTalong Highway 191. The Park Avenue Trail can be accessed from its south or north points. Drive approximately two and a half miles from the main park entrance station and visitor center to the Park Avenue Trailhead (south access) on the left, or three point seven miles to the Courthouse Towers Parking Area (north access) on the right.
Park Avenue Information:
Starting Point - Park Avenue parking area
Ending Point - Courthouse Towers parking area
Length - 1 mile (1.6 km) one way
Time - 30 to 60 minutes
Start - End Elevation - 5,000 feet to 4,680 feet
Elevation change - 320 feet (98 meters)
Skill Level - Easy to moderate because of the steep decent/climb
Pets - not allowed
Water - take your own
Take sunscreen and consider a hat.
From the trailhead you take a steep set of stone stairs to the wide canyon floor. The dirt path is predominantly sandstone throughout the canyon mouth. Once in the canyon there is no trail, but you can only go straight. There are cairns in place to mark the easiest path.
A good map will help you identify sites such as The Courthouse Towers, The Tower of Babel, The Three Gossips and The Organ. Allow the time of day and lighting to determine whether to start this hike from the north or south end.
This August 2009 reviewer said, "The Park Avenue Trail and Viewpoint is near the entrance to the park. The trail is roughly a mile long and takes you through incredible, awe-inspiring formations. It reminds me of the feeling I had when I first visited New York City, looked up and down the streets, and felt so small in the man-made valleys that went on endlessly. What's even greater about this experience, though, is that it's completely natural. Man had no hand in its creation. If you don't want to hike the trail, it's still worth taking a few minutes to stop at the Viewpoint and ponder the greatness of nature and the power of Creation.''
A second online reviewer said, "After having registered at the Visitor Centre at the entrance of the park the journey continues on a curvy road. But all of a sudden you will be amazed by the landscape that opens up in front of you. And this is also the first opportunity to get out of the car and do some hiking. This is Park Avenue! There is a hiking trail here that brings you from Park Avenue to Courthouse Towers. It isn't a loop trail, so if you have no one to pick you up at the end of the trail, you have to return back on the same trail. The hike descends steeply into a spectacular canyon and continues down the wash to Courthouse Towers. The total hike is 1 mile / 1,6 kilometers. Around the Park Avenue trail you can see amazing rock formations with romantic names like "The Organ" and "The Thee Gossips".''
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