UpToWhereWhat can you see from Delicate Arch (Arches)?
Cowboys called it "Old Maid's Bloomers" before science gave it a nicer name.
From Delicate Arch (Arches), the terrain-limited line of sight reaches up to 62.7 km. The single farthest piece of visible terrain lies 62.7 km to the north (bearing 358°), at 2,638 m elevation. These results account for Earth's curvature and standard atmospheric refraction, computed from 30-meter resolution Copernicus GLO-30 elevation data across 2,140,096 terrain samples.
Open the interactive visibility map →Visibility by direction
The horizon is most open toward the north-northwest, where sightlines run 46.3 km on average; terrain closes the view down fastest to the south, at 2.2 km.
| N | 28.0 km | |
| NNE | 4.1 km | |
| NE | 7.4 km | |
| ENE | 7.6 km | |
| E | 3.6 km | |
| ESE | 13.0 km | |
| SE | 33.6 km | |
| SSE | 18.4 km | |
| S | 2.2 km | |
| SSW | 4.3 km | |
| SW | 13.3 km | |
| WSW | 20.2 km | |
| W | 7.9 km | |
| WNW | 8.9 km | |
| NW | 41.7 km | |
| NNW | 46.3 km |
Farthest named landmarks in view
16 named peaks, hills and headlands stand inside this viewshed. These are the farthest ones you could pick out on a clear day:
| Landmark | Visible distance | Direction | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westwater Point | 60.9 km | N · 0° | 2,638 m |
| Roan Peaks | 55.3 km | NNW · 334° | 2,873 m |
| Deer Point | 42.6 km | NNW · 328° | 2,238 m |
| Mount Peale | 41.3 km | SE · 145° | 3,877 m |
| Mount Tukuhnikivatz | 39.7 km | SSE · 148° | 3,810 m |
| Mount Mellenthin | 38.8 km | SE · 143° | 3,852 m |
About Delicate Arch (Arches)
This 52-foot freestanding arch formed as a sandstone fin slowly lost its softer material to wind and water over millions of years, leaving only the harder Entrada Sandstone standing free. Early cowboys and settlers had less poetic names for it, including "Cowboy's Chaps" and "Old Maid's Bloomers," until a 1934 scientific survey formally dubbed it "Delicate Arch." It has since become the most photographed formation in Utah, appearing on the state's license plates.
Did you know?
- The arch's opening measures 46 feet high and 32 feet wide, the largest free-standing arch opening in the park.
- Nearby Wall Arch, a formation similar in age and structure, collapsed without warning overnight in 2008 — a reminder that Delicate Arch, too, is a temporary feature on a geological clock.
- Beneath Arches National Park lies an ancient buried salt bed; as it shifted and dissolved over millions of years, it cracked the rock above into the parallel fins that later eroded into arches.
- Delicate Arch appears on Utah license plates and a postage stamp marking the state's centennial.
- The La Sal Mountains rise directly behind the arch, snow-capped for much of the year and visible through the opening at sunset.
Frequently asked questions
How far can you see from Delicate Arch (Arches)?
On a clear day the terrain allows a line of sight of up to 62.7 km from Delicate Arch (Arches). The average visible distance across all 360 directions is 16.3 km. Atmospheric conditions (haze, humidity) usually reduce practical visibility below the terrain-limited maximum.
What is the farthest point visible from Delicate Arch (Arches)?
The farthest terrain visible from Delicate Arch (Arches) lies 62.7 km to the north, at an elevation of 2,638 m. Earth's curvature and atmospheric refraction are accounted for in this calculation.
How high is Delicate Arch (Arches)?
The observation point at Delicate Arch (Arches) sits at 1,479 m above sea level (Copernicus GLO-30 elevation model).
How is this visibility map calculated?
UpToWhere traces lines of sight in 360 directions from the observer using 30 m-resolution Copernicus terrain data, correcting for Earth curvature and standard atmospheric refraction. You can run the same analysis for any point on Earth with the free calculator.
Run your own analysis
Want to know what you can see from your house, a summit you're planning to climb, or a plot of land? UpToWhere computes the same 360° viewshed for any point on Earth in seconds — free.
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