Arches National Park

Arches National Park contains the highest density of natural stone arches in the world -- over 2,000 catalogued arches ranging from 3-foot openings to the 306-foot-span Landscape Arch. Located 5 miles north of Moab, it is the most accessible of Utah's Mighty Five national parks and the best for families with young children thanks to its short hikes, scenic drive, and iconic formations.

The Windows Section is the family hub. Three massive arches (North Window, South Window, and Turret Arch) are reachable by short, easy trails (0. 5-1 mile round trip).

Kids can walk through the arch openings and peer through the 'windows' at the desert landscape beyond. Double Arch -- two arches sharing a single foundation -- is nearby and equally impressive. All are suitable for strollers on packed gravel trails.

Delicate Arch is the park's icon and Utah's unofficial symbol -- a freestanding 52-foot arch balanced on the edge of a slickrock bowl. The hike to reach it is 3 miles round trip with 480 feet of elevation gain, entirely exposed with no shade. It is strenuous for kids under 8 and dangerous in summer heat.

Families who make the effort are rewarded with one of the most memorable views in the national park system.

Balanced Rock is a roadside stop where a 128-foot pillar of rock is capped by a boulder the size of three school buses. A short paved loop circles the formation. Park Avenue is a short trail through towering sandstone walls that resemble Manhattan skyscrapers. Landscape Arch (the longest arch in North America) is reached by a 1.6-mile flat trail.

The 18-mile scenic drive passes most major formations with pullouts and short walks. Families with infants and toddlers can experience the park entirely from the car, stopping at viewpoints. The visitor center has exhibits and the Junior Ranger program -- kids complete activities in a booklet and earn a badge from a ranger.

Critical planning note: timed entry reservations are required April through October. Book at recreation.gov up to 3 months in advance. Without a reservation, you can enter before 7 AM or after 4 PM. Summer temperatures exceed 100°F -- hike only in early morning or evening.