Archa Glad You Came to Arches National Park

Arches National Park is located 5 miles north of Moab, Utah off US-191 and 236 miles southeast of Salt Lake City, Utah (USA). 

We arrive in Moab in the morning.  The first thing we do is get a hotel room for the next couple of nights.  The sun is shining and we have partly cloudy skies.  We decide to take advantage of the fair weather forecast and visit Arches National Park today.  The sandstone arches against a blue sky is striking.  Tomorrow, the weather is predicted to be cloudy. 

Entrance Sign

Park Map

My Hubby favors the Yellowstone/Grand Teton Parks so we go there every couple of years.  However, Arches is my favorite National Park. It’s been 20 years since we last visited southern Utah and I am excited to return to Arches.  

While Yellowstone NP (2.2 million acres) has the world's greatest concentration of geysers (over 10,000 thermal features), Arches (76,679 acres) has the world’s largest concentration of natural sandstone arches (over 2,000 of them).   It’s a magical wonderland of stone that has been shaped by time and weather into graceful arches, petrified sand dunes, and a variety of fun rock formations.   Use your imagination – what do you see?

We turn off US-191. Our first stop is at the Visitor Center.  The Arches Visitor Guide (newspaper) is free and contains important information about hiking/biking, camping, nature, and safety concerns.  We drive the curvy park road to our first stop … Park Avenue.  

Entrance Road

“Darling, I love you but give me Park Avenue.”  These words were Eva Gabor’s line from the title song to the 1960’s TV Show “Green Acres”.   So, now that theme song is running through my head! 

Park Avenue

The parking lot here isn’t very large but fortunately we find a space.  There is a one mile trail (one-way) here but we know there is so much to see and do that we decide not to hike it.   

I notice some dark gray clouds hovering over the mountains to the south of us.  But the sun is still shining here in the park.  I know that Arches National Park receives an annual rainfall of 10 inches.  It’s a desert so what are the odds of rain today?

We continue our drive down the Park road.  Many of the rock formations have been named.  Some names are obvious and some may require a bit more imagination.

 Three Gossips (left) and Sheep Rock (right)

Parade of Elephants

Our next stop is Balanced Rock which is the size of three school buses.  We hike the third mile loop trail.  When I get near these huge rock formations I feel awed by their beauty and strength.  It is amazing to me how these rocks seem to defy gravity.

Balanced Rock

I don’t think of Arches as a park for wildlife viewing, but if you keep your eyes open you will see some.  Among the ground vegetation, we watch a couple of rabbits playing hide-and-go seek with each other. 

 Rabbits near Balanced Rock Trail

Next, we stop at the Petrified Sand Dunes.  The exhibit sign here state these are “petrified remnants of sand dunes blown from the ancient lakes that once covered the area.” 

Ancient Sand Dunes

My favorite part of the Park is the Windows area.  We turn onto a spur road that will take us there. 

The "Spectacles" (aka North and South Windows)

We want to walk the one mile loop trail around the North and South Windows and Turret Arch (it looks like a hand giving the “okay” sign).  By now, the sky is cloudy and we feel a light sprinkle of rain.   We begin our walk with the sound of thunder rumbling overhead.  We have barely started our hike when a steady rain begins.  We reach into our daypacks and put on our rain ponchos.  The wind is blowing stronger and we struggle to get them on over our heads.  We hurry to the base of the first window for some shelter but the intensity of the storm is increasing. 

 South Window

Turret Arch (resembles the "okay" hand sign?)

We return to the car but not until we are soaking wet.  My shoes and socks are wet making my feet cold.  My jeans are wet (knees down) because the water from the poncho drips down on them.  My coat sleeves are wet too.  I am disappointed that we did not get to hike the trail.

Thunderstorm at the Windows Section

We leave the parking lot and begin driving the spur road back to the main Park road.  My disappointment doesn’t last long because we are rewarded with something we haven’t seen here … intermittent waterfalls dramatically cascading down the rocky wall.

Intermittent Waterfalls

The sun is trying to break through the storm clouds.  A little farther down the road, we see a rainbow. From the spur road, we take another spur road to the Garden of Eden Overlook.  From this vantage point, we see a double rainbow (the second rainbow is very faint). The rain stops and the clouds begin to break up revealing blue skies.

Rainbow over the Garden of Eden

We decide to return to the Windows area to hike the quarter mile trail to Double Arch (two arches that share a common end). 

Trail to Double Arch

Double Arch

Once we get to the base of the arch, my Hubby begins to scramble up the slick rock to the arch’s opening.  There are several people up there.  Just remember - whoever goes up must come down ... Do this at your own risk and exercise extreme caution if you choose to do this!!  By the time we leave the Windows area the late afternoon sun is casting warm colors on the rocky landscape.

Skyline Arch

The "Fins" in the Fiery Furnace District

During our October 2015 visit, the road to Delicate Arch was closed due to flooding.  But I have included a photo of it from a prior visit.  Delicate Arch (65-foot tall) is the iconic symbol for Arches National Park.  When Arches was a National Monument, Delicate Arch was not included within its original boundaries.  The Park was established as a National Monument on April 12, 1929.  In 1938 the park boundaries were enlarged and Delicate Arch became part of the National Monument.   On November 12, 1971, Arches achieved National Park status. 

Delicate Arch

At the end of the Park road is the Devil's Garden Trailhead that leads to Landscape Arch and beyond.  Unfortunately for us, the sun has set and the rocks have lost their warm glow and twilight is settling around us.  We hike the 8/10's mile trail (one way) to Landscape Arch arriving there as darkness descends on the landscape.  Landscape Arch has the longest span (306’ from base to base) in the park.   A crescent moon is shining through a thin layer of clouds.  Since I had a difficult time with the night photography, I am including a photo taken from a previous visit.

Trail to Landscape Arch

Landscape Arch

Fortunately, we have our headlamps to light the way while we hike in the dark back to the car.  If you have some extra time, you can see Pine Tree Arch and Tunnel Arch.  While you are on your way to Landscape Arch, take the short spur trail located a short distance from the Devil's Garden Trail head parking lot to find these two arches.

Pine Tree Arch

Tunnel Arch

There is so much more to see in Arches National Park but this is our only day here.  During past visits, we hiked past Landscape Arch through the Devil’s Garden to Dark Angel (end of the trail). Another hike we really enjoyed was a Park Ranger led hike through the Fiery Furnace area.  

For information and photos on other places we visited in southern Utah, I invite you to view my other blog posts by clicking on the following links:

Burr-Raving the Burr Trail (Utah)

Scenic Highway 12 (Utah)

Plan Your Visit - Canyonlands NP

Capitol Reef NP

Bryce NP

High On Zion NP

Grand Canyon - North Rim

Goblin Valley State Park

Grafton - A BOO-tiful Spot for a Ghost Town

There are several campgrounds within Arches National Park. Reservations for campgrounds are recommended.  Road construction may make some roads and certain trails inaccessible. You can consult the Park’s website for current information on campground, road, and trail closures by clicking on the “Plan Your Visit” link at the end of this blog post. 

The only services in the Park are restrooms, campgrounds, and picnic areas.  Moab (population 5,130 in 2013) is the closest town with food, gas, and lodging services.  The Super 8 we stayed at is about four miles from the Park’s entrance and there is a Denny's restaurant next to it. 

Since opinions, preferences, and budgets vary, I recommend checking a trusted travel source for current reviews on lodging and dining options.  .  

CONTACT INFORMATION:  Arches National Park, Telephone: (435) 719-2299

HOURS/FEES:  Arches NP is open year round with 24 hour accessibility.  The Visitor Center is open daily (except Christmas Day) but hours vary with the seasons.  The typical entrance fee is $25 and is good for seven days.   For more information on the different types of passes and fees, please click on the “Plan Your Visit” link at the end of this blog post. 

Family vacations created some of my favorite memories.  To start planning your memorable trip to Arches National Park click on the “Plan Your Visit” link below: 

Plan Your Visit - Arches NP