National Parks

Arches

Through the Valley

"He moves mountains without their knowing it and overturns them in his anger. He shakes the earth from its place and makes its pillars tremble." -Job 9:5-6

Arches National Park, Utah


Scenery		Brilliant red rock formations jutting from the scrub brush
Uniqueness		Largest concentration of natural arch formations anywhere
Wildlife		Not much seen, mostly nocturnal
Diversity		Many trails, many sights viewable by car
All ratings are on a "4-star" scale - for more on how these were assessed, view the how parks are rated page

The Park Arches National Park, established in 1971, is home to lots of arches! 2000+ as a matter of fact. Besides that, it's got some phenomenal rock formations which will leave you thinking "this is unearthly!"

In a Word "Whimsical"

Park Map
Click on red circles to see photos
archesmapphotos.jpg (31203 bytes)
Map for reference only - not intended for navigation

Our Visit Our visit to Arches in June 2003 can best be described as a "blitz." We took a detour off I-70 about 90 minutes before sunset, so we really had to rush around and skip a lot of hikes.

Our Weather Initially, we had a beautiful, warm evening with sunshine. As the visit progressed, however, the clouds moved in. It was still in the upper 80's in the shade, but the direct sunlight really makes a big difference on those rocks!

1. Turret Arch, in the Window Arches area, Jun 2003

Overall Impression Arches is just plain fun! The formations and arches are amazing making your imagination run wild. Even after just having seen Bryce Canyon, Zion and the Grand Canyon and thinking "we've seen all the cool red rock there is to see," Arches was still sufficiently different and breathtaking. Arches is not a big park, but there are many worthwhile hikes. This is one park I hope to get back to when I can take things a little slower.

Favorite Spot Inside the North Window Arch

Minimum Time Required About 90 minutes. If you're in a time crunch (like we were), take a drive into the park as far as the Delicate Arch Viewpoint. Stops along the road at Park Avenue, Balanced Rock, Three Gossips and the Windows Arches will reward you with some great pictures. The hike up to the Window Arches (like the one below) is short (less than 1 mile) and worth the time--it's the only way to really appreciate the enormity of these arches! We also stopped to see Delicate Arch, the one from the Utah license plate. You'd have to hike a ways to get close, but the lower viewpoint will at least let you get a glimpse.

2. Enormous fins of Park Avenue, Jun 2003

A Longer Visit If we'd had more time, 1/2 to a full day, we certainly would have hiked more. The trails at Park Avenue and Devil's Garden looked the most inviting. The Fiery Furnace, a rock formation resembling Bryce Canyon, looked spectacular from a distance, but we didn't have time to get close. Additionally, Canyonlands National Park is just a few miles away, so a longer visit would allow you to do some exploring there as well.

Other Nearby Attractions Moab, Utah; Canyonlands National Park

Suggestions If you want good pictures, check the weather forecast for sun and go in the early morning or late evening when the sun is low. Arches is a ways off the interstate, so if you're just passing through and want to take a peek, we'd suggest stopping for the night in the quaint little town of Moab, Utah and hitting the park at the end or beginning of a day. If you have a little extra time, we'd highly recommend taking the long way back to I-70 on Highway 128 as it winds through the colorful Colorado river valley.

Arches NP offers very little shade and reaches 110 degrees in the summer. Bring sunscreen and plenty of water!

Photos Click on thumbnails to view larger image

3. The unique formation of Balanced Rock, Jun 2003	4. North Window Arch from the west side. It may not look that big, but check out the next photo, Jun 2003
5. This is North Window Arch from the east side looking back. Angie is standing in front of the arch, so you can see it's several stories tall, Jun 2003	5. The view from the main road through the Park with the Three Gossips on the left, Jun 2003
6. The view from the lower Delicate Arch viewpoint. To get to this famous arch requires a bit of hiking, Jun 2003	8. Three Gossips at sunset, Jun 2003