Eye of the Whale Trail
View Photos
Eye of the Whale Trail
Difficulty Rating:
The Eye of the Whale Trail is a great, family-friendly hike to a neat, tunnel-like arch that resembles, believe it or not, the eye of a whale. This hike is in the Herdinia Area of Arches National Park and can be a great way to escape the crowds of more popular areas like Devils Garden. This hike is also used as an OHV trail, so be mindful of vehicles trying to pass you by as you hike along.
Getting there
The Eye of the Whale Trail begins at the picnic area on Willow Springs road, just 9.6mi up Main Park Road from the Arches Visitor Center off of highway 191.
About
| Backcountry Campground | No |
| When to do | Year-Round |
| Pets allowed | No |
| Family friendly | Older Children only |
| Route Signage | Average |
| Crowd Levels | Low |
| Route Type | Out and back |
Eye of the Whale Trail
Elevation Graph
Weather
Eye of the Whale Trail Description
The Eye of the Whale Trail is a beautiful out-and-back hike in a low-traffic area of Arches National Park. This trail is shared by hikers, bikers, and OHV drivers, so be considerate of your fellow trail users and let folks pass. Most of this hike is along the OHV road which is well defined and well-travelled. The last little section up to the arch is over uneven, loose terrain, but should be very doable for families with older children. The Eye of the Whale Arch is a unique and fascinating formation—be sure to bring a camera along with you to snap a shot of this natural wonder.
From the picnic area on Willow Spring Road, just off of Main Park Road, follow the road west for 0.5mi to a divide. Take a right onto the Herdina Park trail to head north/northwest. 1.9mi down this path the trail will divide. Take a left here to hike the last 0.2mi to the Eye of the Whale Arch.
Rest in the shade of the arch before turning around and following the same trail back to the parking area.
Similar hikes to the Eye of the Whale Trail hike
Big Horn Overlook Trail
The Big Horn Overlook Trail is a family-friendly hike in Dead Horse Point State Park. This trail takes you to…
Colorado River Overlook Trail
The Colorado River Overlook Trail is a short and easy route that affords hikers stunning views of the Utah desert.…
Dead Horse Rim Loop and Big Horn Overlook Trail
The Dead Horse Rim Loop and Big Horn Overlook Trail is a fantastic day-hike in the southern section of Dead…
Comments