Natural arches
Examining the expansive plateau geography, elevation ranges, and natural landmarks of the region.
Arches National Park: Structured Geographic Boundaries, Terrain Profiles, and Land Features
Arches National Park comprises a defined 310.31 square kilometer upland landscape situated in the desert environments of Utah. This geographic profile analyzes the park perimeter, its recorded elevation range from 1245 to 1723 meters, and identifies key features like Elephant Butte and Tower Arch. Access comprehensive spatial data documenting the plateau and cliff-dominated terrain, which serves as a foundation for understanding the regional distribution of these desert habitats.
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World's highest concentration of natural sandstone arches in Utah's high desert
Arches National Park
Arches National Park is a United States national park in eastern Utah, renowned for preserving more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches, including the iconic Delicate Arch. The park sits on the Colorado Plateau just 4 miles north of Moab, covering over 76,000 acres of high desert terrain. This extraordinary landscape was shaped by an underground salt bed deposited approximately 300 million years ago, with erosion from water, ice, and wind carving the remarkable arches, spires, balanced rocks, and monoliths visible today. The park contains the world's highest density of natural arches, making it a singular geological treasure that showcases the power of natural forces operating over millennia.
- Location
- United States of America
- Park type
- National park
- Established
- 1971
- Area
- 310.3 km²
- Highest point
- 1,723 m
Regional location and administrative status within the United States
Geographic Setting and Regional Context of Arches National Park
- Countries
- United States of America
- Regions
- Utah
- Primary location
- Utah
- Geographic setting
- Inland
Analyzing the 310 square kilometer geographic footprint and spatial extent.
Geographic Boundaries and Spatial Mapping of Arches National Park
- Boundary area
- 308.9 km²
- Boundary perimeter
- 131.2 km
- Northernmost point
- 38.847° N
- Southernmost point
- 38.6047° N
- Easternmost point
- 109.4777° W
- Westernmost point
- 109.7131° W
- Geographic centre
- 38.7228° N, 109.5864° W
- North–south span
- 26.9 km
- East–west span
- 20.5 km
Upland topography spanning recorded heights from 1245 to 1723 meters.
Arches National Park Terrain and Elevation Range Explorer
- Minimum elevation
- 1,245 m
- Maximum elevation
- 1,723 m
- Highest point
- 1,723 m
Selected named natural features
Cliffs
Klondike Bluffs
1,649 m
Viewpoints
Fiery Furnace Viewpoint
Streams
North Fork of MMI Canyon
Viewpoints
Pine Tree Arch Viewpoint
Viewpoints
South Window Viewpoint
Stored desert habitats, arid climate zones, and upland plateau relief
Arches National Park Environmental Classifications and Physical Setting
- Relief
- Upland
- Climate
- Arid
- Water
- No major water
- Forest cover
- No forest cover
- Seasonality
- Year-round
Landscape features
Plateau · Cliffs
Habitat types
Desert habitat · Grassland
Discover the unique protected landscapes and regional geography surrounding Arches National Park, mapping similar high desert environments.
Compare Other National Parks and Protected Areas Near Arches National Park

West
Manti, La Sal National Forest: Geographic Overview of Utah's Mountain and Canyon Landscapes
Mapped protected forest boundaries across the Colorado Plateau
Spanning over one million acres, Manti, La Sal National Forest defines a critical segment of Utah geography. This protected landscape encompasses diverse terrain including subalpine mountains, aspen-rich uplands, and deep canyon networks. Use this atlas to examine the distinct environmental characteristics that separate the northern forested plateaus from the southern wilderness canyons.
- Area
- 5,143.09 km²
- Established
- 1950
- IUCN
- V
- Visitors
- 900K annual
South
Canyonlands National Park: A Mapped Protected Landscape in Utah's Geography
Explore its vast geography and protected area boundaries.
Canyonlands National Park stands as a significant protected entity within the state of Utah, characterized by its immense scale and dramatic geological formations. This page facilitates an atlas-style exploration of its terrain, emphasizing its mapped boundaries and its crucial role as a protected landscape. Gain a deeper appreciation for its unique geographic setting and its place within the broader regional context.
- Area
- 1,366.21 km²
- Established
- 1964
- IUCN
- II
- Visitors
- 818.5K annual

Southwest
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area: Protected Landscape and High Desert Geography Map
Colorado Plateau canyons, sandstone strata, and reservoir environments
Explore the geological architecture of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, a vast federal protected landscape. The area showcases towering Navajo Sandstone cliffs, deep blue reservoir arms, and remote backcountry canyons that exemplify the distinct high desert terrain of the Colorado Plateau in the United States.
- Area
- 5,075.23 km²
- Established
- 1972
- Visitors
- 5.2M annual
- Relief
- Upland

East
Grand Mesa National Forest: A Comprehensive Atlas of Colorado High-Plateau Geography
Mapping the basalt-capped flat-top mountain terrain
Grand Mesa National Forest stands as a primary protected landscape within the Colorado Rockies, characterized by its signature basalt-capped plateau. This forest unit serves as a vital geographic landmark, offering unique insights into high-altitude mountain terrain, subalpine water systems, and historical forest conservation. Learn about the boundaries and physical landscape features that define this massive elevated tableland above the surrounding dry valleys.
- Area
- 1,402.46 km²
- Established
- 1892
- Relief
- Highland
- Climate
- Alpine
East
Dominguez Canyon Wilderness: Protected Sandstone Canyons of the Uncompahgre Plateau
An expansive BLM wilderness area in western Colorado.
Dominguez Canyon Wilderness protects a diverse landscape of sandstone cliffs, benches, and deep drainage systems that descend from the Uncompahgre Plateau. The geography spans high-desert mesa tops and lush riparian canyons, offering a significant protected area within the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area framework.
- Area
- 268.2 km²
- Established
- 2009
- IUCN
- Ib
- Relief
- Upland
Southeast
San Juan National Forest: Geographic Overview of a Major Southern Colorado Protected Landscape
Mapped terrain across the Southern San Juan Mountains
San Juan National Forest represents a massive protected landscape in western Colorado, defined by its rugged alpine peaks, dense conifer forests, and glacial valleys. This atlas entry details the forest boundary, its position along the Continental Divide, and the surrounding transition into the Colorado Plateau. It provides a structured look at the terrain that connects diverse ecosystems, from high-altitude tundra to expansive mesa country, within one of the largest national forests in the American West.
- Area
- 7,603.42 km²
- Established
- 1905
- Relief
- Mountain
- Climate
- Alpine
West
Capitol Reef National Park: Utah National Park Protected Landscape and Geography
Explore Capitol Reef National Park's mapped terrain and boundaries.
Delve into the protected landscape and geographic identity of Capitol Reef National Park, a key national park in Utah. This resource provides detailed context on its mapped terrain and regional setting, supporting a structured understanding of protected areas for atlas exploration. Discover the specific geographic features and park boundaries that define this protected natural area.
- Area
- 978.95 km²
- Established
- 1971
- IUCN
- II
- Visitors
- 1.4M annual
East
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park: Protected Area Geography and Mapped Landscape
Explore the natural terrain and protected boundaries in Montrose County.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is a national park defined by its profound geological features and its status as a protected landscape. Located within Montrose County, it offers a distinct geographic profile for atlas-based exploration. Users can understand the park's mapped boundaries, its relation to the surrounding regional geography, and the unique natural terrain that defines this protected area, contributing to a structured discovery of its natural landscape identity.
- Area
- 124.4 km²
- Established
- 1999
- IUCN
- II
- Visitors
- 357.1K annual
Continue Exploring Arches National Park's Unique Geographic Landscape and Map Boundaries
Deepen your understanding of Arches National Park by examining its precise protected area boundaries and regional geographic significance. This pathway enables structured exploration of the park's natural terrain and its placement within the Utah atlas, offering valuable context for conservation landscapes and mapped geography without logistical details.
