Arches: The Windows Primitive Trail

Arches: The Windows Primitive Trail

Arches National Park is full of a lot of amazing natural wonders. Delicate Arch is probably the most popular, but before you get that far into the park there is a wonderful section off a side road called the Windows. These feature a beautiful double arch and is very popular. Most people enjoy it using the short, main trail that takes you right to the windows. However, if you are looking for a little more adventure, the Windows Primitive Trail is a wonderful way to view the rock feature!

Getting Started

The Windows Section of Arches National Park is about half way down the main road with the turn off located just past Balanced Rock and before you get to Delicate Arch. The road to get to the main parking area was under construction on my trip and a Pilot car was leading cars to the parking area in small groups. At the trailhead there is a large circular parking area and some restrooms are available. From the parking area there are two options to get views of the Windows. The main trail is hard packed and includes some stairs to get you right up to the windows. Alternatively, there is a Primitive Trail that feels more like a real trail and is a little less crowded. The Primitive Trail also takes you behind the Windows for a unique perspective.

The Primitive Trail

The Primitive Trail starts out across the sandy scrub brush and walks almost away from the windows as it makes it way behind the rock formation. The trail is a little hard to follow and for the most part you need to be on a look out for where logs and branches are blocking a certain direction. There are also a couple of places with small signs to point you in the right direction. Once you make it towards the back of the Windows, you have your one big elevation gain up a small incline and through a rock opening that reveals the back side of the Windows and so much more! The trail will also move from more sandy to more rocky at this point.

The trail stays a little challenging to follow on the back side of the Windows. The rocks have a few cairns set up but there is also some freedom of movement on the rocky terrain that can get you off the trail a little bit. However, if you spot the cairns you should be ok. The view of the rock formations behind the Windows is really impressive and the wonderful part about this area is there were about 1/10th the amount of people that took the traditional trail.

Rear Windows

One of the best parts of the Windows Primitive trail is being able to enjoy the windows from a completely new perspective, the backside. While there are a ton of people who gather on the front side of the windows, I was able to stand and look at these impressive rocks completely alone for a few minutes. Something I wouldn’t have been able to do on the front side. I also thought the windows gave more of a human look on the backside. Almost looking like eyes watching me as I was looking at them.

The back side of the Windows doesn’t allow you to get as close to the formation as the front side does but it does allow for more views without people getting in the way. The trail circles widely around the back side and heads up the far side and does a loop to the front side. So doing the primitive trail does let you see the entire wonder of the Windows!

Front Side of the Windows

As I mentioned, the Primitive trail does loop around to give views of the front side of the Windows. It also connects to the main trail which allows you to complete that trail as well. The views from the main trail are just as great but a bit more crowded.

Overall, the Windows Primitive Trail is a great hike at Arches. It isn’t as long as some of the others in the park but does give a chance to see some really cool rock formations and even get up close. It does get crowded but not nearly as crowded as Delicate Arch. Being fully exposed it does get warm but it is short enough to hopefully be able to enjoy the main trail without risking too much exposure.

Video of the The Windows Primitive Trail

I have created a time-lapsed video of the Arches: Windows Primitive Trail to give you a feel for what it is like. I call these time lapsed versions of the hikes my hikers edits. If you enjoy the video, don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube Channel. It is free to subscribe and you will get the latest updates.

Distance and Elevation

Unfortunately, I forgot to start my All Trails app so was not able to measure the hike for myself. The park lists the trail as just over a mile with an elevation of around 99 feet. I feel like that is pretty accurate for this hike.

Effort

While the Primitive Trail is a bit tougher than the main trail to the Windows, I still think most people will think that it is pretty easy. There are a couple of small uphill inclines to clear some rocks but otherwise it is mostly flat. The hardest part of the Primitive Trail is making sure to stay on the designated path by following the proper trail markers. I am going to set this trial as an Easier hike due to the short distance and small elevation gain.

Terrain

The Windows Primitive Trail is a mix between sandy trail and walking on rocks. There isn’t much as far as inclines but it is a challenge to follow the trail through the sandy and rocky sections. Make sure to look for rock cairns and logs blocking the wrong way to keep you on track. This trail is also completely exposed to the elements so you will want to make sure to have water, sun and wind protection and be prepared for extremely hot days in the summer.

Access to The Windows Primitive Trail

The Windows Primitive Trail is located down the Windows road about half way through Arches National Park. There are some facilities at the trail head. Arches is part of the National Park System and there is a $30/vehicle fee for day use. An annual National Park pass and other passes are accepted. Arches uses a ticketing system from April 1st through October 31st. For this you will need to get a timed entry pass through Recreation.Gov website and enter only at the time that your pass allows. Check the Arches website for more inforation.

Final Thoughts on Arches: The Windows Primitive Trail

What a fun and short trail at Arches that still has some really impressive views! I was really impressed with the Windows Primitive Trail as a way to see a popular trail without as many people and a slight bit of solitude. The trail can be a little hard to follow in places but the views make it worth it!

Any hike in Arches, especially in the summer, can be a challenge with heat and the elements. This one is a little shorter and if you are concerned you can always check out the main trail for an even shorter experience. It won’t give you the wonder of Delicate Arch but it is a great rock feature to really get a feel for the park!

I have added this hike and all of my hikes to my interactive map page that you can find here. If you have a suggestion or comment you can email me at fatmanlittletrails@gmail.com. Or follow me on any of the below social media platforms. Happy Hiking!

Gallery of Arches: The Windows Primitive Trail