Arches National Park

Arches packs the highest concentration of natural stone arches on Earth into a compact stretch of Utah high desert, more than 2,000 of them, ranging from delicate ribbons of rock to spans you could drive a bus through. The park's improbable formations, Delicate Arch, Landscape Arch, Balanced Rock, the Windows, are the work of a hidden salt bed buried far below, which shifted and buckled over eons, cracking the overlying sandstone into fins that wind and water then sculpted into arches.

Geology you can walk right up to

The signature rock is Entrada sandstone, glowing orange and red at either end of the day. It is a landscape in slow motion: arches form, thin and eventually collapse, and the park you see is a single frame in a film running over millions of years. Long before it was a park, the region was home to ancestral Puebloan and Ute peoples, whose rock art survives nearby. For a UK family raised on green and grey, Arches is a jolt of the alien: red rock against an impossibly blue sky, a place that looks less like Earth and more like the backdrop to a science-fiction film.

You come to Arches for the moment you first stand beneath Delicate Arch at golden hour, the freestanding span framing the snow-dusted La Sal Mountains, and understand why it is on Utah's licence plates. The park delivers wonder with unusual efficiency: many of its greatest sights are a short walk from the road, so even reluctant teenagers can rack up jaw-dropping views without a death march. You scramble through the fins, peer through the Windows, and watch the whole landscape catch fire as the sun drops. There is a playfulness to Arches, an invitation to clamber, explore and pose for photographs that will make everyone back home jealous. It is compact, dramatic and endlessly photogenic, the kind of place that turns kids into keen photographers overnight.

Arches is explored almost entirely by car along a single paved scenic road that climbs from the entrance and branches to the major viewpoints and trailheads, from Balanced Rock to the Windows to Devils Garden at the road's end. Distances are short, and you will spend your days driving from car park to car park, then walking to each formation. There is no shuttle system, so a hire car is essential. Parking is the main challenge: popular lots fill by mid-morning in peak season, which is another reason to start early. Some spur roads and trailheads may see seasonal or weather-related restrictions. Keep an eye on your fuel, as there are no services inside the park, and always carry water in the vehicle for the desert heat.

There is no public transport into or within Arches National Park. Moab has some local shuttle and tour operators, and guided tours can ferry you in without your own vehicle, but for a family of five a hire car is by far the most practical choice. It gives you the freedom to arrive at dawn for the best light and to combine Arches with nearby Canyonlands. Plan to drive yourselves, base in Moab, and treat the car as your mobile basecamp for the red-rock country.

• A timed-entry reservation is required during peak months, so book your entry slot well ahead or arrive very early or late in the day to avoid the requirement.
• Hike to Delicate Arch for sunset, but bring head torches for the walk back and plenty of water.
• Start early: by mid-morning the car parks fill and the desert heat becomes punishing in summer.
• The Fiery Furnace requires a permit or ranger-led tour and is worth the effort for older teens.
• Carry far more water than you think you need, at least a few litres per person.
• Base yourself in Moab, which has food, supplies and easy access to nearby Canyonlands.
• Devils Garden trail links several arches for those wanting a longer walk.

Arches sits in high desert, which means big temperature swings. Summers are brutally hot, often well above comfortable hiking temperatures by midday, so any walking should be done at dawn or dusk. Spring and autumn are ideal, with warm days and cool nights. Winter brings freezing temperatures, occasional snow and quiet trails. The air is dry and the sun intense year-round. Pack layers, a wide-brimmed hat, high-factor sunscreen, sturdy hiking shoes and, above all, far more water than feels necessary. Sudden summer thunderstorms can trigger flash floods, so heed weather warnings.

The most convenient airport is tiny Canyonlands Field near Moab (CNY), but it has very limited service. Most UK families will fly into Salt Lake City (SLC) via one connection, then make the scenic drive south to Moab, around three and a half to four hours through classic Utah canyon country. Grand Junction, Colorado (GJT) is a closer alternative at roughly ninety minutes' drive. Hiring a car is non-negotiable here; there is no realistic way to reach or explore the park without one. The Salt Lake drive is genuinely enjoyable, so consider it part of the trip, breaking the journey with a stop en route. Base yourself in Moab, which sits just five minutes from the park entrance and doubles as a gateway to Canyonlands. Fill up on fuel, water and snacks in town before each day's exploring.