Arches National Park
Exploring the Wonders of Natural rock Formations
USA
Arches National Park located in eastern Utah has more than 2000 natural sandstone arches and is home to the world-famous Delicate Arch. The park is so popular with visitors that you are required to reserve a date and time of visit on the National Park Service website prior to arriving.
We were lucky to be able to reserve a 9 am spot the day before due to someone else cancelling. My recommendation is to reserve your spot as far in advance as possible to get the time and date you want. It costs $2 USD to make a reservation, or you can enter the park without a reservation before 7 am and after 4 pm.
Next we hopped back in the car and drove down the Arches Scenic Drive and turned onto Delicate Arch Road. Delicate Arch, can be seen from a distance from the Upper and Lower Delicate Arch Viewpoints. But the best view of Delicate Arch is up close and personal, which requires doing a 5 km roundtrip hike.
The trail is well-marked and has a steady incline that is a total ascent of 146 m. Some areas of the trail had been carved right out of the rock. We were no strangers to climbing hills, but we felt this hike was a bit more strenuous due to the heat. It was 35°C and the mid-afternoon sun was beating down on us.
The hard work was worth it as the views of Delicate arch up close are spectacular. It almost looks like Delicate Arch was just placed there as it is such a unique feature on the landscape. If you do this hike during the day be sure to bring plenty of water as we drank 3 liters and ate fruits to stay hydrated.
After the hike we continued up Arches main road up to the very end at the Devil's Garden Trailhead. Here we hiked up to Landscape arch. This arch is the longest arch in North America with a light opening of 306 feet (93.3 meters). This awe-inspiring expanse is only 6 feet (1.8 meters) in diameter at its narrowest.
As we drove up the road, I was amazed by the hundreds of soaring pinnacles, massive rock fins, and giant balanced rocks all around us. Most of these formations could be viewed from the main road, we were constantly stopping to take pictures.
Our first stop was Park Ave. This is a short hike where towering sandstone formations line both sides of the trail, creating a majestic corridor that transports visitors to another world. The sheer size and grandeur of these monoliths is awe-inspiring, with their red and orange hues contrasting against the clear blue sky.
The towering cliffs and intricate rock formations serve as a testament to the power of nature's forces over millions of years. Park Avenue is a must-see destination and offered us a glimpse into what other stunning geological wonders lay ahead in Arches National Park.
After Balance Rock we turned right on The Windows Road to get to the parking for Double Arch, North Window, South Window, and Turret Arch. Just a short walk from the parking lot, we did the Double Arch trail first and these arches stand 34 m and 44 m tall.
Next we walked to the other side of the parking lot to make our way to The Windows trail and walked to the North and South Window. These two arches are spectacular on their own but from some angles can look like eyes peering at you. These arches were a very unique sight to see. As we were hiking along we also got to see a little lizard on the trail.
Arches National Park's beauty is unparalleled, with its towering red sandstone arches and breathtaking landscapes. The vibrant colors of the rocks, illuminated by the setting sun, create a mesmerizing sight that will forever be imprinted in our memories. Happy exploring!
The sun was starting to dip on the horizon and we made our way back to The Window's Road to watch the sunset. This beautiful landscape becomes even more dreamy as you watch the sun disappear behind the rock formations.
Our next stop was at balanced rock. This structure stands 39 m tall, is one of the most iconic features in the park. From a distance you can see this giant boulder balancing on its tiny body. It looks even more impressive up-close when you realize how big the boulder truly is and how it seems to lean to one side.
Next we walked around the loop to turret arch to find some shade for a snack. Janet was able to line up turret arch with the North Window Arch so you get to see both Turret and North Window in one photo.
We visited the park in mid-October and the line for entry was about 15 mins. We found that the park had done a fantastic job managing the crowds and we were able to leisurely enjoy these natural wonders. We started our day at the Visitor center where Aliya had fun playing around the rocks and wildlife statues at the entrance.
